Sessions of Parliament: Meaning, Types, Adjournment & More | UPSC Notes

Sessions of Parliament are crucial gatherings where elected representatives come together. They discuss and make decisions on important matters that affect our lives. These periodic meetings serve as platforms for open debate, deliberation, and lawmaking. During a session, members of parliament present their ideas, raise concerns, and propose solutions. They work to address various social, economic, and political issues. 

Sessions of Parliament is an important topic for UPSC CSE Exam as it deals with the governance aspects of the state. It is a topic under the Polity section of General Studies Paper II.

Let's delve into the inner workings of these significant parliamentary sessions. In this article, we will examine Parliamentary Sessions and Parliamentary Procedures. This topic of UPSC Polity is essential for both the UPSC Prelims and Mains Exams.

What are Sessions of Parliament?

Sessions of Parliament refer to the regular meetings of the legislative body of a country. Here members gather to discuss and make decisions on various legislative matters. In India, the Parliament is the supreme legislative authority. It consists of two houses, namely the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

Also, read about the Parliamentary System here.

Types of Sessions of the Indian Parliament

Here's a table representing the Sessions of the Indian Parliament:

Budget Session of Parliament

Every year, the budget session takes place between February and May. It is widely regarded as a pivotal session of Parliament. On the last business day of February, the budget is normally delivered. After the Finance Minister presents the budget, the members analyse the different sections of the budget as well as taxes issues.

The budget session is usually divided into two parts, each with a one-month interval between them. Every year, this session begins with the President’s Address to both Houses.

Monsoon Session of Parliament

Every year, the monsoon season lasts from July until September. This comes after a two-month hiatus following the budget session. This session is dedicated to discussing issues of public concern.

Winter Session of Parliament

Every year, the winter session of Parliament is held from mid-November until mid-December. It is the shortest of all sessions. It takes up issues that could not be addressed earlier and compensates for the absence of legislative business during the Parliament’s second session.

Special Session of Parliament

A special session of the Lok Sabha is held under Article 352(8) of the 44th Amendment Act in addition to the special session of Parliament. If not less than one-tenth of the Lok Sabha members write to the President (if the Lok Sabha is not in session) or the Speaker, a special session of the Lok Sabha can be called (if Lok Sabha is in session). It is conducted to conduct a specific business as specified in the notice of invitation addressed to members of parliament. No other business is considered during this session.

Also, read about the Motion of Thanks here.

Joint Session of Parliament

A Joint Parliament session is mentioned in Article 108 of the Constitution. The Indian Constitution allows for a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. It aims to break any stalemate between the two Houses of Parliament, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

The President of the country convenes a joint session of Parliament. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, or, in his or her absence, the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, presides over such a session. In the absence of both, it is presided over by Rajya Sabha’s Deputy Chairman. If any of the above are unable to preside, any other member of Parliament can do so with the approval of both Houses.

Lame-duck Session

The lame-duck session is the last session of the old Lok Sabha after a new Lok Sabha is elected. Lame ducks are current Lok Sabha MPs who did not gain re-election to the next Lok Sabha.

Read about the Emergency Provisions of the Indian Constitution here.

Quorum

The number of members who must be present in the House before it may take action is referred to as the quorum.

• It is one-tenth of the entire membership of each House, including the Presiding Officer.
  • If the House has a total membership of 250, for example, at least 25 members must be present in order for the House to conduct business.
  • If any business is to be conducted, at least 55 members of the Lok Sabha and 25 members of the Rajya Sabha must be present.
• According to Article 100 of the Indian Constitution, at least 10% of the total number of members of the House must be present to form a quorum for a sitting of either House of Parliament.

• If there is no quorum during a House meeting, it is the presiding officer’s responsibility to either adjourn or suspend the meeting.

Adjournment of Parliament

A Parliamentary session is made up of many sessions, with two sittings every day: 

• one in the morning from 11am to 1pm and 
• one after lunch from 2pm to 6pm 

A Parliamentary session can be ended by adjournment or Adjournment Sine Die, Prorogation, or dissolution (in the case of the Lok Sabha). An adjournment is when a session’s work is placed on hold for a certain period of time, which might be hours, days, or weeks.

Read about the Zero Hour in Parliament here.

Adjournment Sine Die

It requires halting a Parliamentary session for an indeterminate period of time. Adjournment sine die occurs when the House is adjourned without a date for reconvening. The presiding officer of the House possesses the authority of adjournment, as well as sine die, and he or she has the ability to convene a sitting of the House before the day or hour to which it has been postponed or at any moment after the House has been adjourned sine die.

Prorogation of Parliament

When a session’s business is done, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha proclaims the House adjourned sine die. Within a few days, the President provides notification of the session’s prorogation. The President has the authority to prorogate the House of Representatives while it is in session.

Dissolution of Parliament

A dissolution ends the current House’s tenure and results in the formation of a new House following general elections. The Rajya Sabha is not susceptible to dissolution because it is a perpetual House. As a result, only the Lok Sabha may be dissolved.

Read about the Decline of the Indian Parliament here.

Dissolution of the Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha can be dissolved in one of two ways, for example:

• The expiration of its five-year mandate or the terms extended during a national emergency is known as automatic dissolution.
• When the President decides to dissolve the House, which he or she has the authority to do.

If the Lok Sabha is dissolved before the end of its usual term, the dissolution is irreversible. All matters outstanding before the Lok Sabha or its committees die when it is dissolved.

Learn more about the parliament and state legislature!

Summoning of Parliamentary Sessions

According to the Constitution, the President may call a meeting of each House of Parliament at any time and place he thinks suitable, although no more than six months must pass between the last and first sittings of one session. The Parliament, in other words, should assemble at least twice a year. The maximum gap between two sessions of parliament can’t be more than six months. The sessions of the Indian parliament are conducted every year.

In a typical year, there are three sessions of Parliament: the Budget Session, the Monsoon Session, and the Winter Session. They are: –

• The Session on Budget (February to May).
• The Monsoon Season is a period of time when the weather is wet and humid (July to September).
• This is the Winter Session (November to December).

Read about the Parliamentary Privileges and Immunities here.

We hope all your doubts regarding the Sessions of Parliament are cleared. Here at Testbook, we are making a constant endeavor to provide you with the best and most updated study material to keep you ahead with your UPSC IAS exam preparations. Testbook also provides UPSC Coaching, Study Notes, Live classes, and Test Series for various competitive exams, including- SSC, CDS, BANK, Railways, and many more. To avail of the maximum discount on courses, download the Testbook App now!