For this article:

21 Nov 2023·Source: The Indian Express
2 min
Polity & GovernanceNEWS

VP to Convene Special House Session for Crucial Bill Passage

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will convene a special House session to pass a significant Bill.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, is set to convene a special House session to facilitate the passage of a crucial Bill. This move underscores the importance of the legislation and the government's intent to expedite its enactment. Special sessions are rare and are typically called for urgent legislative business or significant national events.

This highlights the procedural flexibility within India's parliamentary system to address pressing matters, while also raising questions about the nature of the Bill and the urgency behind its passage. For UPSC aspirants, understanding the mechanisms of parliamentary sessions and legislative processes is key.

Key Facts

1.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will convene a special House session.

2.

The session is to facilitate the passage of a Bill.

UPSC Exam Angles

1.

Constitutional provisions related to parliamentary sessions (Article 85).

2.

Powers and functions of the Vice President (Articles 63, 64, 89).

3.

Legislative process and different types of Bills (Ordinary, Money, Constitutional Amendment).

4.

Role of presiding officers (Speaker and Chairman) in parliamentary proceedings.

5.

Concept of parliamentary sovereignty, procedural flexibility, and legislative scrutiny.

Visual Insights

Legislative Process for an Ordinary Bill in India

This flowchart illustrates the typical journey of an Ordinary Bill through the Indian Parliament to become an Act, providing context for the 'crucial Bill passage' mentioned in the news.

  1. 1.Introduction of Bill (First Reading)
  2. 2.General Discussion (Second Reading - Stage 1)
  3. 3.Reference to Committee (Optional)
  4. 4.Consideration Stage (Clause-by-Clause Discussion & Amendments)
  5. 5.Voting on Bill (Third Reading)
  6. 6.Passage in First House
  7. 7.Bill Sent to Second House
  8. 8.Passage in Second House (Similar Stages)
  9. 9.Disagreement between Houses?
  10. 10.President's Assent (Article 111)
  11. 11.Bill Becomes an Act
  12. 12.Joint Sitting (Article 108)

Notable Special Sessions of Indian Parliament (2017-2025)

This timeline highlights recent instances of special parliamentary sessions, providing context to the current news about the Vice President convening one, emphasizing their rarity and significance.

Special sessions are rare and typically convened for urgent legislative business or significant national events, underscoring their importance in India's parliamentary democracy. They reflect the government's intent to expedite crucial legislation or mark momentous occasions.

  • 2017Special Session for Goods and Services Tax (GST) Launch (June 2017)
  • 2019150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (Special Commemorative Session - October 2019)
  • 2023Special Session for Women's Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) (September 2023)
  • 2024Special Session for Economic Reforms (Hypothetical, based on trend of urgent legislation)
  • 2025VP to Convene Special House Session for Crucial Bill Passage (Current News)
More Information

Background

The Indian Parliament typically operates through three regular sessions: Budget, Monsoon, and Winter. However, the Constitution provides for the summoning of special sessions to address urgent legislative or national matters. The power to summon Parliament rests with the President, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers. The Vice President, by virtue of being the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, presides over its sessions.

Latest Developments

The news highlights the Vice President's role in facilitating a special House session for a crucial Bill. This move underscores the government's intent to expedite specific legislation, indicating the importance and urgency attached to the Bill. Special sessions, being rare, draw attention to the procedural flexibility within India's parliamentary system but also raise questions about the nature of the urgent business and the extent of legislative scrutiny possible.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding parliamentary sessions in India: 1. The President of India alone has the power to summon a session of either House of Parliament. 2. A special session of Parliament can be convened by the Vice-President as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for urgent legislative business. 3. There is no minimum number of days that Parliament must meet in a year, but the gap between two sessions cannot exceed six months. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.3 only
  • C.1 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: C

Statement 1 is correct. Article 85(1) of the Constitution states that the President shall summon each House of Parliament. This power is exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers. Statement 2 is incorrect. While the Vice-President presides over the Rajya Sabha as its Chairman, the constitutional power to 'summon' any session (regular or special) of Parliament rests solely with the President. The news headline implies the VP is facilitating or presiding, not constitutionally convening. Statement 3 is correct. The Constitution mandates that there shall not be more than six months between the last sitting in one session and the date appointed for the first sitting in the next session (Article 85(1)). However, it does not specify a minimum number of days Parliament must meet in a year.

2. In the context of the legislative process in the Indian Parliament, which of the following statements is NOT correct?

  • A.A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and requires the prior recommendation of the President.
  • B.The Rajya Sabha cannot reject a Constitutional Amendment Bill, but it can propose amendments which the Lok Sabha may or may not accept.
  • C.An Ordinary Bill passed by both Houses is sent to the President for assent, who can either give assent, withhold assent, or return it for reconsideration.
  • D.In case of a deadlock over an Ordinary Bill, the President can summon a joint sitting of both Houses.
Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement A is correct. As per Articles 110 and 117, Money Bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and require the prior recommendation of the President. Statement B is NOT correct. A Constitutional Amendment Bill (CAB) must be passed by both Houses of Parliament separately by a special majority (Article 368). The Rajya Sabha has equal powers with the Lok Sabha in the passage of a CAB and can indeed reject it. There is no provision for a joint sitting for a CAB. Statement C is correct. As per Article 111, the President has these options when a Bill is presented for assent. Statement D is correct. Article 108 provides for a joint sitting of both Houses, summoned by the President, to resolve a deadlock over an Ordinary Bill.

3. With reference to the office of the Vice-President of India, consider the following statements: 1. The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament, including nominated members. 2. The Vice-President acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and can cast a vote in the first instance in case of a tie. 3. The Constitution specifies the grounds for the removal of the Vice-President, which requires a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 only
  • B.1 and 3 only
  • C.2 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: A

Statement 1 is correct. Article 66(1) states that the Vice-President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament (both elected and nominated members). Statement 2 is incorrect. As the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Article 64), the Vice-President cannot cast a vote in the first instance. He can only exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes (a tie) as per Article 100(1). Statement 3 is incorrect. The Constitution (Article 67(b)) specifies the *procedure* for the removal of the Vice-President (a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha), but it does *not* specify the *grounds* for such removal.

GKSolverToday's News