Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: The government has announced a “special session” of Parliament from September 18 to 22, and this has raised questions about the legislative agenda for the session.
About the Special session:
The term “special session” is not defined in the Constitution but is often used for sessions convened for specific occasions or commemorating milestones.
Key points about the parliamentary special session:
| Key Points | Description |
| Special Sessions | The term “special session” may refer to sessions convened for specific occasions or purposes, often with limitations on parliamentary procedures. Presiding officers chair these sessions. |
| Emergency Provisions | Article 352 of the Constitution mentions a “special sitting of the House” in the context of a Proclamation of Emergency. If Parliament is not in session, one-tenth of Lok Sabha MPs can request a special meeting to disapprove the Emergency. |
| Determining Parliamentary Sessions | The government, through the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, decides when Parliament meets, including session dates and durations. |
| The President is informed of the Committee’s decisions, and MPs are summoned for the session. | |
| Constitutional Requirement (Article 85) | The Constitution mandates that there should not be more than a six-month gap between two parliamentary sessions. This provision was adapted from the Government of India Act of 1935 |
| Parliamentary Calendar | India does not have a fixed parliamentary calendar. Traditionally, Parliament meets for three sessions in a year:
· Budget Session (February-May) · Monsoon Session (July-August) · Winter Session (November-December) |
| Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Perspective | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar believed in regular parliamentary sessions and rejected proposals for year-round or longer sessions to prevent fatigue among legislators. |
| Frequency of Sessions | Session frequency has varied over the years. Pre-independence, the central assembly met for about 60 days annually, increasing to 120 days in the first two decades after independence. |
| Efforts to Increase Sitting Days | Various recommendations have suggested increasing the number of sitting days for Parliament, exceeding 100 days annually. Some private member Bills proposed specific session durations. |
