Consider the following statements : 1. The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such place as he/she thinks fit. 2. The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the 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 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 2 and 3 only
Why the answer is (c)
• Statement 1 is correct: Article 85(1) empowers the President to summon each House 'at such time and place as he thinks fit'.
• Statement 3 is correct: the Constitution fixes no minimum sitting days; it only requires that six months not elapse between two sessions.
• Statement 2 is wrong: the three sessions (Budget, Monsoon, Winter) are a matter of convention, not a constitutional provision.
• The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution recommended a minimum of 120 sitting days for Lok Sabha.
• Hence 1 and 3 only, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 3 is also correct: no minimum sitting days are prescribed.
- (b) 2 only
- Statement 2 is wrong: three sessions are conventional, not constitutional.
- (d) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 2 is wrong; statement 1 is correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.