Sessions of Parliament Types, Procedures & Article 85
Sessions of Parliament are the periods during which both Houses of the Indian Parliament meet to conduct business. Article 85 empowers the President to summon each House at intervals not exceeding six months. By convention, three sessions are held annually — Budget, Monsoon, and Winter.
What are the Sessions of Parliament?
Sessions of Parliament are the periods during which both Houses of the Indian Parliament meet to conduct their business. Article 85 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to summon each House at intervals not exceeding six months. By convention, three sessions of Parliament are held annually in India — namely the Budget Session, the Monsoon Session, and the Winter Session — with the Budget Session being the longest.
Furthermore, these sessions are governed by the Indian Constitution and the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Constitutional Provisions — Article 85
Sessions of Parliament serve as a forum for people's representatives to debate, discuss, and enact laws that shape the country's governance and development. Article 85 deals with the sessions of Parliament, including how and when they are held, and the President's powers to summon, prorogue, and dissolve Parliament.
- Article 85(1): The President shall summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as deemed appropriate, ensuring that no more than six months intervene between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next session.
- Article 85(2): It empowers the President to prorogue the Houses or either House of Parliament, and to dissolve the House of the People (Lok Sabha) as needed.
Types of Parliament Sessions
Sessions of Parliament are typically conducted three times a year to ensure ongoing legislative engagement throughout the year. However, the Constitution does not specify a fixed number of sessions or sitting days.
1. Budget Session
The Budget Session begins with the President's address and includes the presentation of the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, followed by discussions in both Houses. It is the longest and most important of the sessions, usually held from February to March, and features a recess for Parliamentary Committees to review budgetary proposals.
- Objective: To discuss, debate, and approve the annual Union Budget, which outlines the government's fiscal policies and priorities for the upcoming financial year.
- Activities: MPs conduct a thorough examination of budget proposals, propose amendments, and participate in constructive discussions to enhance transparency and accountability in fund allocation. The session also includes other legislative business and debates, which further enrich the legislative process.
2. Monsoon Session
The Monsoon Session typically occurs between July and August, named for the coinciding monsoon season. It primarily focuses on enacting legislation, allowing MPs to introduce bills, engage in extensive debates, and collectively decide on their passage. In addition to legislative functions, it facilitates discussions on various national issues, enabling the government to address concerns raised by the opposition and seek their support.
3. Winter Session
The Winter Session, occurring between November and December, is the final parliamentary session of the calendar year. Its primary purpose is to conduct a thorough review of the government's policies and initiatives, enabling MPs to critically assess their effectiveness. Bills are introduced, pending legislation is discussed, and the government's performance is examined through questions, motions, and debates.
4. Special Session
The "Special Session of Parliament" is a unique assembly convened by the government, outside the regular sessions, to address urgent or specific issues. Unlike the standard Budget, Monsoon, or Winter sessions, a special session is typically called to focus on a single agenda or landmark event and can sometimes involve legislative or constitutional discussions of national importance.
- Although the term "Special Session" is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution or the rules of either House, Article 352 refers to a special sitting of the House in the context of a Proclamation of Emergency.
- Examples: 1962 — to address the India-China war; 1971 — for discussions during the India-Pakistan conflict.
Components of a Session
The sessions of Parliament are scheduled by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), composed of several Cabinet ministers who determine both the dates and the number of sittings. Once the schedule is finalised, the President summons the MPs to gather for the upcoming session, providing information about the number of sittings and the tentative business of the House through an official summons.
- A session of Parliament includes multiple daily meetings, each with morning and afternoon sittings.
Procedures of Parliament Sessions
Sessions of Parliament employ various procedures from start to finish to ensure they are conducted in an organised and efficient manner. However, in some cases, sessions are shortened or postponed to allow the government to issue Ordinances.
For example, in 2016, the Budget Session was divided into two distinct sessions to enable the issuance of an Ordinance.
Summoning
Parliament sessions begin with a "summoning" by the President, based on the CCPA's recommendation. As per Article 85, the President must summon each House at least twice a year, with no more than six months between sessions.
Adjournment
An adjournment temporarily suspends a Parliament sitting for hours, days, or weeks, without affecting pending bills or business, which resume upon reconvening. A sitting may end by adjournment, adjournment sine die, prorogation, or dissolution (for the Lok Sabha).
Adjournment Sine Die
Adjournment sine die ends a parliamentary sitting indefinitely without a set reassembly date. The presiding officer can adjourn, adjourn sine die, or reconvene the House anytime after an adjournment.
Prorogation
Prorogation formally ends a session of either House of Parliament by the President. A session begins with the first sitting and ends with prorogation (or dissolution for the Lok Sabha). After business concludes, the Presiding Officer adjourns the House sine die, followed by a presidential notification of prorogation. The President may also prorogue the House while in session.
Recess
Recess refers to the period between the prorogation of a House and its reassembly for a new session — essentially, the time gap between two consecutive sessions. Recess cannot exceed six months, requiring Parliament to meet at least twice a year.
Dissolution
Dissolution refers to the complete termination of the Lok Sabha, requiring new elections, and occurs either automatically after a five-year term or through a Presidential decree. Unlike prorogation, which only suspends proceedings, dissolution is final and irreversible, with only the Rajya Sabha remaining permanent.
Lapsing of Bills Upon Dissolution of Lok Sabha
Upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, all pending business — including bills, motions, resolutions, and petitions — lapses and must be reintroduced in the new Lok Sabha. However, certain bills and assurances under review by the Committee on Government Assurances do not lapse. The status is outlined as follows:
| Status of the Bill | Lapses / Does Not Lapse |
|---|---|
| Bills pending in the Lok Sabha | Lapses |
| Bills passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha | Lapses |
| Bills with a scheduled joint sitting | Does NOT lapse |
| Bills passed by both Houses awaiting presidential assent | Does NOT lapse |
| Bills pending only in the Rajya Sabha (not passed by Lok Sabha) | Does NOT lapse |
| Bills returned by the President for reconsideration | Does NOT lapse |
Quorum, Lame Duck Session & Voting
Quorum
The quorum is the minimum number of members required for proceedings, set at one-tenth of the total membership, including the presiding officer. In the Lok Sabha, 55 members are needed, while the Rajya Sabha requires at least 25. If the quorum is not met, the presiding officer must adjourn or suspend the meeting until it is reached.
Lame Duck Session
The lame duck session refers to the final session of the existing Lok Sabha after a new Lok Sabha has been elected. Members of the outgoing Lok Sabha who were not re-elected to the new Lok Sabha are referred to as "lame ducks."
Voting in the House
Voting is a method used in every session of Parliament to decide upon all parliamentary matters. Decisions are made by a majority of votes from members present and voting, excluding the presiding officer. However, specific issues outlined in the Constitution — such as the impeachment of the President, constitutional amendments, and the removal of presiding officers — require a special majority instead of an ordinary one.
The presiding officer refrains from voting in the first instance but has the right to exercise a casting vote in the event of a tie. The proceedings of a House remain valid despite any unauthorised voting, participation, or vacancies in its membership. The Lok Sabha applies different methods of voting:
- Voice Vote: After the debate, the Speaker/Presiding Officer asks members to respond with "Aye" or "No." If unchallenged, the Speaker declares the majority opinion twice to finalise the outcome.
- Division Vote: If contested, members have three minutes to clear the Lobby, after which votes are recorded either electronically, on slips, or by members standing. The Speaker may also conduct a count without recording names if needed.
- Casting Vote: In case of a tie, the Speaker casts the deciding vote. The presiding officer does not vote initially, but only to break a tie.
Adjournment vs Prorogation vs Dissolution: Adjournment is done by the presiding officer and does not end the session; prorogation is done by the President and ends the session (but pending bills survive); dissolution ends the life of the Lok Sabha itself and causes most pending bills to lapse. Only dissolution triggers fresh elections. The Rajya Sabha, being a permanent House, is never dissolved.
Article 85's six-month recess cap directly feeds the ordinance rule: because Parliament must reassemble within six months, and an ordinance lapses six weeks after reassembly, the maximum life of an ordinance is six months + six weeks. Sessions of Parliament and Article 123 are best revised together.
Learn the vocabulary precisely — summoning, adjournment, prorogation, dissolution. UPSC rarely asks "what is a session"; it asks which authority does what, and what survives each. That distinction is where marks are won. — Legacy IAS Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many sessions of Parliament are held in a year?
By convention, three sessions are held each year — Budget, Monsoon, and Winter. The Constitution does not fix the number of sessions or sitting days; it only mandates that the gap between two sessions must not exceed six months.
What is the difference between prorogation and dissolution?
Prorogation ends a session but keeps pending bills alive and does not end the House's life. Dissolution ends the very life of the Lok Sabha, triggers fresh elections, and causes most pending bills to lapse.
What is the quorum for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?
One-tenth of the total membership, including the presiding officer — 55 members in the Lok Sabha and 25 in the Rajya Sabha.
Is a Special Session mentioned in the Constitution?
No. The term "Special Session" is not explicitly used. Article 352 refers to a special sitting only in the context of a Proclamation of Emergency.
UPSC Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Consider the following statements:
1. The President of India can summon a session of Parliament at such place as he/she thinks fit.
2. The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions.
3. There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2 and 3 only
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only. Statement 2 is wrong because the Constitution does not provide for three sessions — that is only a convention.
Key Takeaways
- Article 85 governs sessions — the President summons each House so that no more than six months pass between two sessions.
- The three conventional sessions are Budget (Feb–Mar, longest), Monsoon (Jul–Aug), and Winter (Nov–Dec); the number of sessions is not fixed by the Constitution.
- A Special Session is not named in the Constitution; Article 352 references a special sitting during an Emergency (examples: 1962, 1971).
- Sittings end by adjournment, adjournment sine die, prorogation, or dissolution — only dissolution ends the Lok Sabha's life and triggers elections.
- Quorum is one-tenth of membership — 55 in Lok Sabha, 25 in Rajya Sabha; the Rajya Sabha is never dissolved.
- Bills pending in / passed by the Lok Sabha lapse on dissolution; bills pending only in the Rajya Sabha or awaiting assent do not lapse.
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