Consider the following statements: 1. Salary and allowances of the Speaker of Lok Sabha are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India 2. In the Warrant of precedence, the Speaker of Lok Sabha ranks higher than all the Union Cabinet Ministers other than Prime Minister Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is correct as the salaries and allowances of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India [2]. This means they are not subject to the annual vote of Parliament, ensuring the independence of the office [1]. Statement 2 is also correct regarding the Warrant of Precedence. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is placed at Rank 6, sharing this position with the Chief Justice of India [3]. This rank is higher than that of Union Cabinet Ministers, who are placed at Rank 7 [4]. The only ministers ranking higher than the Speaker are the Prime Minister (Rank 3) and the Deputy Prime Minister (Rank 5A) . Consequently, the Speaker ranks higher than all Union Cabinet Ministers except the Prime Minister (and Deputy Prime Minister if the post exists) [4].

Sources

1. [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Salaries and Allowances > p. 229
2. [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Salaries and Allowances > p. 229
3. [3] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Speaker of Lok Sabha > p. 231
4. [4] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Speaker of Lok Sabha > p. 231