The Indian Parliament, comprising the President and two houses—the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States)—plays crucial roles in legislative, financial, and oversight functions. Here’s an analysis of these functions and their procedures, along with a comparison to parliamentary control mechanisms in other countries:

Legislative Function:
Introduction and Passing of Bills:

Procedure: Bills can be introduced in either house of Parliament (except money bills, which must be introduced in the Lok Sabha). After introduction, bills undergo scrutiny in committees and debates on the floor.
Passage: Bills require approval from both houses and the assent of the President to become law. In case of disagreement between the houses, a joint sitting can be called, where decisions are taken by a majority vote.
Types of Bills:

Money Bills: Solely related to matters like taxation and government expenditure, these can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
Ordinary Bills: Cover various other legislative matters and can be introduced in either house.
Constitution Amendment Bills: Require special procedures, including approval by a two-thirds majority in each house and ratification by at least half of the state legislatures.
Financial Function:
Budget Debate and Approval:

Annual Budget: Presented by the Finance Minister, the budget undergoes detailed discussion and scrutiny by both houses, focusing on revenue and expenditure proposals.
Approval: The Lok Sabha must pass the budget before it can come into effect. The Rajya Sabha can suggest amendments but cannot reject it outright.
Financial Legislation:

Finance Bills: To give effect to the financial proposals of the government.
Appropriation Bills: Authorize expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Oversight Function:
Scrutiny of Executive Actions:

Question Hour: Members of Parliament (MPs) can ask questions of ministers, holding them accountable for their departments’ actions and policies.
Committees: Parliamentary committees like Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Estimates Committee, and Standing Committees examine executive actions and performance.
Debates and Resolutions:

MPs debate government policies and actions, providing a platform for scrutiny and critique.
Resolutions can be passed to express Parliament’s opinion on various issues.
Comparison with Other Countries:
United Kingdom (Westminster System):

Similarities: Both India and the UK have a bicameral legislature, with the House of Commons as the lower house and the House of Lords (Rajya Sabha equivalent) as the upper house.
Differences: The UK lacks a written constitution and has a more centralized structure of government compared to India’s federal structure.
United States (Congressional System):

Similarities: Both have a bicameral legislature (House of Representatives and Senate in the US), where bills must pass both houses and receive presidential assent.
Differences: The US has a stronger system of checks and balances between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches compared to India’s parliamentary system.
Australia (Bicameral Parliament):

Similarities: Both have a bicameral legislature (House of Representatives and Senate in Australia), with similar procedures for introducing and passing bills.
Differences: Australia’s Senate has more powers compared to the Rajya Sabha, particularly in terms of amending and blocking legislation.
Conclusion:
The Indian Parliament exercises significant legislative, financial, and oversight functions, crucial for democratic governance. Its procedures for introducing and passing bills, debating budgets, and scrutinizing executive actions are fundamental to ensuring accountability and effective governance. While parliamentary control mechanisms in India share similarities with other parliamentary systems, each country’s unique constitutional framework and political context shape the extent and operation of these mechanisms.