In 1977, an act was passed to govern the salary and allowances of which of the following positions?

The correct answer is Leaders of Opposition in Parliament.

Key Points

• The salary and allowances of leaders of opposition in parliament are governed by the Act passed for the first time by the parliament in the year 1977.
• Leader of the Opposition:
  • In each House of Parliament, there is the 'Leader of the Opposition'.
  • The leader of the largest Opposition party having not less than one-tenth of the seats of the total strength of the House is recognized as the leader of the Opposition in that House opposition cabinet. 
  • In a parliamentary system of government, the leader of the opposition has a significant role to play.
  • His main functions are to provide constructive criticism of the policies of the government and to provide an alternative government.
  • Therefore, the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were accorded statutory recognition in 1977.
  • They are also entitled to the salary, allowances, and other facilities equivalent to that of a cabinet minister. 
  • It was in 1969 that an official leader of the opposition was recognized for the first time.

Additional Information

• The same functionary in the USA is known as the 'minority leader'.
• The British political system has a unique institution called the 'Shadow Cabinet'.
• It is formed by the Opposition party to balance the ruling cabinet and to prepare its members for future ministerial offices.
• In this shadow cabinet, almost every member in the ruling cabinet is 'shadowed' by a corresponding member in the opposition cabinet.
• This shadow cabinet serves as the 'alternate cabinet' if there is a change of government.
• That is why Ivor Jennings described the leader of the Opposition as the 'alternative Prime Minister'.
• He enjoys the status of a minister and is paid by the government.