Sessions of Parliament
Three Sessions per Year
| Session | Months | Key Business |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Session | February – May (longest) | Union Budget, Finance Bill, Appropriation Bill |
| Monsoon Session | July – August | Legislative business; Questions |
| Winter Session | November – December | Legislative business; Private Member Bills |
Prorogation: End of session by President's order. Dissolution: End of Lok Sabha's life (by President on PM's advice). Adjournment: Temporary suspension during session.
Quorum: 1/10 of total House membership (55 in LS; 25 in RS) — if quorum not present, House adjourned.
Question Hour and Devices of Parliamentary Control
Question Hour (11 AM – 12 PM)
| Type | Answer | Supplementary? | Notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Starred ()** | Oral | Yes — follow-up allowed | 10 days |
| Unstarred ()** | Written | No | 10 days |
| Short Notice | Oral | Yes | Less than 10 days (urgent) |
Zero Hour (12 PM onwards)
- Not mentioned in Rules — evolved as Indian parliamentary convention
- Members raise urgent public importance matters without notice
- Speaker has full discretion to allow or disallow
- No time limit per convention
Other Devices
| Device | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Calling Attention Motion | Member calls Minister's attention to urgent matter; Minister gives statement |
| Adjournment Motion | Debate on definite matter of urgent public importance; displaces normal business; requires 50 supporters; only in Lok Sabha |
| No-Confidence Motion | Withdraw confidence from Council of Ministers; only in Lok Sabha; requires 50 supporters; if passed, government must resign |
| Confidence Motion | Government itself moves to prove majority |
| Censure Motion | Against specific Minister(s); can be moved in either House |
| Cut Motion | During Demands for Grants — reduce demand; three types (Disapproval Cut, Economy Cut, Token Cut) |
| Private Member's Resolution | Non-binding expression of House opinion |
Types of Bills
1. Ordinary Bill
- Can be introduced in either House
- Passed by simple majority in both Houses
- If disagreement → Joint Sitting (Art 108) — presided by Speaker of Lok Sabha
- President can send back ONCE for reconsideration — if both Houses pass again, President MUST assent
- Joint sitting NOT possible for: Money Bills, Constitutional Amendment Bills
2. Money Bill (Article 110)
Definition: A bill that ONLY deals with:
- Imposition, abolition, remission of taxes
- Regulation of borrowing by Government
- Consolidated Fund of India — custody, appropriation
- Appropriation of money from CFI
- Audit of Union/State accounts
Procedure:
- Introduced only in Lok Sabha — Speaker certifies it as Money Bill
- Rajya Sabha: Can only recommend — must return within 14 days (treated as passed if not returned)
- Lok Sabha MAY or MAY NOT accept RS recommendations
- President cannot return a Money Bill — must give assent
- No Joint Sitting for Money Bills
- Supreme Court can review whether Speaker's certification is correct (Nabam Rebia case, 2016 — this is debated)
3. Financial Bill
| Type | Features |
|---|---|
| Financial Bill (Category A) | Contains Art 110 provisions + other matters; introduced only in Lok Sabha; requires President's recommendation |
| Financial Bill (Category B) | Involves expenditure from CFI but NOT Art 110 provisions; can be introduced in either House; ordinary bill procedure |
4. Constitutional Amendment Bill (Article 368)
Three procedures depending on provision amended:
| Type | Procedure | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Simple majority | Ordinary legislation procedure | Art 5 (citizenship), removal of territory from Schedules |
| Special majority | 2/3 of members PRESENT AND VOTING + majority of TOTAL membership of EACH House | Most amendments |
| Special majority + State ratification | Above + at least 50% of state legislatures must ratify | Election of President, Federal provisions, 7th Schedule, Art 368 itself |
5. Private Member's Bill
- Introduced by any MP who is NOT a Minister
- Introduced on Fridays
- Rarely passed — only 14 in history of Indian Parliament
- Significant when passed: Companies (Amendment) Act 1956, Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act 1970
Budget Process in Parliament
Step-by-Step
1. February 1 — Finance Minister presents Budget (since 2017, moved from last day of February) 2. Annual Financial Statement (Art 112) laid before both Houses 3. Finance Bill — changes in taxes; introduced in Lok Sabha 4. Appropriation Bill — authorises withdrawal from Consolidated Fund 5. General Discussion (2–4 days) — both Houses discuss; no voting at this stage 6. Scrutiny — Departmental Standing Committees examine Demands for Grants 7. Demands for Grants — voted by Lok Sabha only (Rajya Sabha has NO role in voting) 8. Cut Motions moved during Demands for Grants debate 9. Guillotine — remaining Demands for Grants voted without discussion on last day 10. Appropriation Bill passed — government can draw from Consolidated Fund 11. Finance Bill passed — tax changes take effect
Cut Motions (during Demands for Grants)
| Type | What it says | Effect if passed |
|---|---|---|
| Disapproval of Policy Cut | "That the amount of the Demand be reduced to Re 1" | Censure of government policy |
| Economy Cut | "That the amount of the Demand be reduced by ₹X" | Reduce expenditure by specific amount |
| Token Cut | "That the amount of the Demand be reduced by ₹100" | Ventilate specific grievance |
Vote on Account: If Budget not passed before April 1 — government seeks Vote on Account for 2 months to continue expenditure. Interim Budget includes this.
Parliamentary Committees
Financial Committees (Most Important)
1. Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
- Examines: Appropriation Accounts + Audit Reports of CAG
- Checks: Was money spent as Parliament authorised?
- Composition: 22 members (15 from LS + 7 from RS); annual; 1-year term
- Chairman: Traditionally from OPPOSITION (convention since 1967)
- Works in conjunction with CAG
- Cannot question policy — only checks if policy was implemented within approved funds
2. Estimates Committee
- Examines estimates of expenditure in Budget
- Suggests economies and alternative policies
- Only from Lok Sabha — 30 members; 1-year term
- Cannot examine Railway estimates (separate Railway Budget — now merged)
- Reports are advisory — government not bound to accept
3. Committee on Public Undertakings (CPU)
- Examines working, accounts, and reports of Government PSUs
- 22 members (15 LS + 7 RS); 1-year term
Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
- 24 committees covering all Central Government ministries
- Each committee: 31 members (21 LS + 10 RS)
- Functions:
- Examine Bills referred by the House
- Examine Demands for Grants of respective ministries
- Consider policy documents
- Examine long-term policy plans
Examples: Committee on Finance, Committee on Home Affairs, Committee on Health and Family Welfare, Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Defence.
Other Important Committees
| Committee | Function |
|---|---|
| Business Advisory Committee | Recommends allocation of time for parliamentary business; chaired by Speaker |
| Rules Committee | Considers amendments to Rules of Procedure; chaired by Speaker |
| Privileges Committee | Examines breach of parliamentary privileges; protects privileges of members and House |
| Ethics Committee | Deals with unethical conduct of members; can recommend expulsion |
| Committee on Welfare of SC/ST | Examines legislation and implementation of safeguards for SC/ST |
| Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) | Ad hoc; constituted for specific investigations (e.g., 2G scam JPC, Bofors JPC) |
Parliamentary Privileges
Privileges: Special rights, immunities, and exemptions enjoyed by Parliament and its members.
| Privilege | Details |
|---|---|
| Freedom of speech | No court can question anything said in Parliament (Art 105) |
| Freedom from arrest | Members cannot be arrested during session + 40 days before and after (civil cases only — not criminal) |
| Right to exclude strangers | House can sit in secret session |
| Right to punish for contempt | House can punish any person (including non-members) for contempt |
Contempt of Parliament: Any act that obstructs Parliament in discharge of its functions — publishing false reports of proceedings, bribing members, disorderly conduct by members.
Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule)
Added by 52nd Amendment (1986).
Grounds for disqualification: 1. Voluntarily gives up party membership 2. Votes against party whip (or abstains) in House 3. Independently elected member joins a party 4. Nominated member joins a party after 6 months
Exceptions (no disqualification):
- Merger: If 2/3 of party's members in the House agree to merge with another party
- ~~1/3 split~~ — Split exception removed by 91st Amendment (2003)
Decision: Speaker (LS) or Chairman (RS) decides disqualification
- Speaker's decision is subject to judicial review (Kihoto Hollohan case, 1992)
- But courts cannot interfere during pendency of proceedings
Joint Sitting (Article 108)
When: If a Bill (ordinary bill) is passed by one House but rejected by other House, or Houses disagree on amendments, or other House does not pass within 6 months.
Presided by: Speaker of Lok Sabha
Majority: Simple majority of total members of both Houses present and voting
NOT applicable to:
- Money Bills
- Constitutional Amendment Bills
Joint Sittings held so far: Only 3 times in history: 1. Dowry Prohibition Bill (1961) 2. Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill (1978) 3. Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA (2002)
Parliament vs State Legislature
| Feature | Parliament (Union) | State Legislature |
|---|---|---|
| Dissolution | President dissolves Lok Sabha | Governor dissolves Assembly |
| Money Bill certification | Speaker of Lok Sabha | Speaker of Assembly |
| Council of States | Rajya Sabha (permanent) | Legislative Council (some states, not all) |
| Budget | Finance Minister presents | Finance Minister of state presents |
| President's address | Both Houses in Joint Sitting | Governor's address |
Board Exam Tips — Parliamentary Procedures
- Question Hour = 11 AM–12 PM; Starred = oral + supplementary; Unstarred = written only
- Zero Hour = 12 noon; not in Rules; urgent matters; Speaker's discretion
- Money Bill = only in LS; Speaker certifies; RS has 14 days; no joint sitting; President cannot return
- Joint Sitting = Art 108; Speaker of LS presides; NOT for Money Bill or Constitutional Amendment
- PAC = 22 members; Chairman from OPPOSITION; examines CAG audit reports
- Estimates Committee = 30 members; only from Lok Sabha
- 52nd Amendment = Anti-Defection (10th Schedule); 91st Amendment removed 1/3 split provision
- Budget = February 1 since 2017; Demands for Grants voted ONLY by Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha has no vote
- Vote on Account = 2 months interim approval if full Budget not passed by April 1
- JPC = ad hoc; constituted for specific investigations
- Only 3 Joint Sittings in Indian Parliament history (1961, 1978, 2002)