Difference between Censure Motion and No-Confidence Motion

By Sudheer Kumar K|Updated : February 16th, 2021

In the Parliamentary form of government, executive (i.e. Government) is responsible to the Parliament. Censure motion and No-Confidence motion, among several, are two Parlimenatary devices, through which it exercises the control over the government.

Censure motion is moved by the opposition to disapprove the policy or acts of a minister, while the No-confidence motion is moved to dismiss the government of the day. No-confidence motion can be moved only in the lower house of the Parliament (i.e., Lok Sabha) and not in the upper house or Rajya Sabha. The No-confidence motion requires the support of 50 members for its adoption.

Both Censure motion and No-confidence motion can be passed in the lower house of the Parliament or a lower house in the state legislatures.

In this article, we will be discussing the difference between Censure Motion and No-confidence Motion.

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Difference between Censure Motion and No-Confidence Motion

S. No.	Censure Motion	No-Confidence Motion
1	Censure means “expressing severe disapproval of someone or something, especially in a formal statement.”	No-confidence means lack of confidence (lack of majority support in government). Article 75 says that the council of ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Council of Ministers stays in office as long as they enjoy the confidence of the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha.
2	The motion can be moved against an individual minister or group of ministers or entire council of ministers.	It can be moved against the council of ministers only and not individual ministers or private members. .
3	While passing the motion, the reason (or grounds for which it is adopted) or charges must be stated for its adoption in the Lok Sabha.	While passing the motion, reason need not be stated for its adoption in the Lok Sabha.
4	The motion is moved to censure the policies of an individual minister or council of ministers. It can also be moved to criticise some acts.	It is moved to demonstrate the confidence of Lok Sabha in the council of ministers.
5	If it is passed in the Lok Sabha, it will not result in the resignation of ministers.	If a vote of no confidence is passed in the Lok Sabha, it will lead to dismissal of the council of ministers and the government from office.