16 Nov 2023 Parliamentary Sessions in India
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “ Parliamentary Sessions in India”. This topic has relevance in the Polity and Governance section of the UPSC CSE exam.
GS 2: Polity and Governance
Why in the news?
The Parliament’s Winter session is scheduled to start on December 4th and extend till December 22nd.
About:
Parliamentary sessions in India, as delineated in Part-V (Article 79 – 122) of the Constitution, are pivotal periods for legislative activities. A nuanced grasp of the organization, composition, duration, officers, procedures, privileges, and powers of the Parliament is essential for a comprehensive understanding of its functioning.
Sessions:
- Budget Session (February to May): Primarily centered on budgetary deliberations.
- Monsoon Session (July to September): Addresses a diverse range of legislative issues.
- Winter Session (November to December): Focuses on specific agenda items.
Session Structure:
- Meetings and Sittings: A session consists of multiple meetings, each featuring two sittings – one in the morning (11 am to 1 pm) and another post-lunch (2 pm to 6 pm).
Summoning:
- Summoning involves calling all members of Parliament to convene.
- It is the responsibility of the Indian President to summon each House of Parliament periodically.
- Parliament is required to meet at least twice a year, with a maximum gap between two sessions not exceeding six months.
Adjournment:
- Adjournment temporarily halts the proceedings during a sitting for a specified period, which can range from hours to days or weeks.
- An adjournment concludes a sitting but does not end a session of the House.
- The authority to adjourn lies with the presiding officer of the House.
Adjournment Sine Die:
- Adjournment sine die signifies concluding a parliamentary sitting indefinitely without specifying a date for reconvening.
- When the House is adjourned without setting a day for reassembly, it is termed adjournment sine die.
- The power to adjourn sine die rests with the presiding officer of the House.
Prorogation:
- Prorogation refers to ending a session of the House through a presidential order under Article 85(2) (a) of the Constitution.
- Prorogation terminates both the sitting and session of the House.
- Typically, shortly after the presiding officer adjourns the House sine die, the President issues a notification for proroguing the session. However, the President can also prorogue the House while in session.
Dissolution:
- Dissolution marks the conclusion of the existing House’s tenure, leading to the formation of a new House after general elections.
- The Rajya Sabha, being a permanent House, is not subject to dissolution; only the Lok Sabha can be dissolved.
- The dissolution of the Lok Sabha can occur in two ways: automatic dissolution or by the President’s order.
Source: Winter Session of Parliament to commence from December 4 – The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)
Download Yojna daily current affairs eng med 16th November 2023
Q.1 With reference to summoning of Parliament, consider the following statements:
- It is the responsibility of the Presiding officer of the house to summon each House of Parliament periodically.
- Parliament is required to meet at least twice a year, with a maximum gap between two sessions not exceeding six months.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: B
Q.2 Regarding adjournment and adjournment sine die,Consider the following statements:
- An adjournment concludes a sitting but does not end a session of the House.
- When the House is adjourned without setting a day for reassembly, it is termed adjournment sine die.
- The power to adjourn sine die rests with the President.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
ANSWER: B
Q.3 Discuss the significance and functions of parliamentary sessions in a democratic system. Elaborate on how the structure of parliamentary sessions contributes to effective governance, legislative processes, and the representation of citizens’ interests.
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