Answer: 

Introduction

Parliamentary sovereignty refers to the supreme legal authority vested in the parliament, empowering it to enact, amend, and repeal laws, superseding any other government institution. While derived from the British colonial legacy, the Indian and British approaches to parliamentary sovereignty have evolved distinctly due to the diverse constitutional provisions and judicial interpretations.

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Differences between the British and Indian approaches to Parliamentary sovereignty

Similarities between the British and Indian approaches to Parliamentary sovereignty

• Supreme Legislative Body: In both the UK and India, the parliament holds the supreme position in legislative matters. The UK Parliament has passed landmark legislations like the Brexit bill, while the Indian Parliament has been instrumental in passing the GST Bill.
• Accountability of the Executive: The executive branch in both nations is answerable to the Parliament. Eg: Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the UK and in India, ministers are regularly questioned by members on the floor of the house.
• Legislative Processes: Both nations have rigorous processes for law-making. Eg: The Anti-defection Law in India went through thorough scrutiny and debates before being added to the constitution. Similarly, the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act was debated extensively in Parliament.
• Financial Control: Both parliaments oversee the national budget and economic policies. Eg: In India, the Union Budget is presented annually in the Lok Sabha. In the UK, the Chancellor of the Exchequer presents the budget in the House of Commons.
• Both systems recognize the principle of separation of powers, where the judiciary is independent of the legislature and executive
• Privilege Motion: In both countries, this motion is a powerful tool for MPs. Eg: In 2018, privilege motions were moved in India against the then Defence Minister over the Rafale deal. In the UK, similar motions have been raised over issues of misleading the parliament.
• The role of the monarch: in both systems is largely ceremonial, with limited powers to veto legislation or dissolve parliament.
• Committee System: Committees play a crucial role in detailed analysis of issues. Eg: The Public Accounts Committee in both the UK and India oversees government expenditures to ensure they are lawful and efficient.
• Question Hour: This is an essential tool for the opposition and other MPs to seek answers. Eg: In India, during the 2020 monsoon session, issues ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to border tensions were raised. The UK sees similar rigorous question hours.
• Adjournment Motion: It’s a tool to discuss urgent matters. Eg: In India, adjournment motions have been raised regarding issues like the Delhi riots. In the UK, such motions were raised during emergencies like the 2008 financial crisis.

Conclusion

Overall, while the British and Indian parliaments share a democratic foundation and function based on representing the will of the people with a structured legislative process, they differ fundamentally in their approach to parliamentary sovereignty, rooted in their constitutional setups.