Sessions of Parliament

• A session of Parliament refers to a specific period during which both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) meet to conduct legislative business.

• There is no constitutional mandate on the number of sessions.

• However, Article 85 states that there should not be a gap of more than six months between two sessions of Parliament. 

Types of Sessions:

Budget Session (February-May):

• Focuses on the presentation, discussion, and approval of the Union Budget.

• Includes the Economic Survey and the Finance Bill.

Monsoon Session (July-August):

• Conducts legislative business, including passing bills.

• Addresses urgent matters.

Winter Session (November-December):

• Similar to the Monsoon Session.

• Addresses pending bills and other issues.

Sessions provide a platform for democratic deliberation, law making, and accountability.

Summoning of Parliament:

• Summoning refers to the process of calling all members of the Parliament to convene.

• As specified in Article 85, it is the duty of the President to summon each House of Parliament from time to time.

• The maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament cannot exceed six months. In other words, Parliament should meet at least twice a year.

Adjournment:

• Adjournment suspends the work during a sitting for a specified time, which can be hours, days, or weeks.

• The time of reassembly is explicitly specified.

• Importantly, an adjournment only terminates a sitting of the House, not the entire session.

Adjournment Sine Die:

• Adjournment sine die means terminating a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period.

• When the House is adjourned without naming a day for reassembly, it is called adjournment sine die.

• The power to adjourn sine die lies with the presiding officer of the House.

Prorogation:

• Prorogation signifies the termination of a session of the House by an order made by the President under Article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution.

• Prorogation effectively concludes both the sitting and the session of the House.

• Usually, within a few days after the House is adjourned sine die, the President issues a notification for the prorogation of the session