Monsoon session to begin in July

• The monsoon session of Parliament is expected to begin on schedule in July.
• The last session of Parliament was curtailed and ended sine die on March 25 and under the Constitutional norms, the next session has to be held within six months.
• Article 85 requires that there should not be a gap of more than six months between two sessions of Parliament.

• Three sessions have been curtailed since the pandemic began in March last year.
• The power to convene a session of Parliament rests with the government.
• The decision is taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.

Importance of Parliamentary Session:

1. Law-making is dependent on when Parliament meets.
2. Also, thorough scrutiny of the government’s functioning and deliberation on national issues can only take place when the two Houses are in session.
3. Predictability in the functioning of Parliament is key to a well-functioning democracy.

• The process of calling all members of the Parliament to meet is called Summoning of Parliament.
• It is the President who summons Parliament.

There are typically three sessions in a year which are as follows:

1. Budget session (February to May)

• The Budget is usually presented on the last working day of the month of February.
• Here, the members discuss the various provisions of the budget and matters concerning taxation, after the Finance Minister presents the budget.
• The budget session is generally split into two periods with a gap of one month between them.
• This session every year starts with the President’s Address to both Houses.

2. Monsoon session (July to September)

• This is after a break of two months after the budget session.
• In this session, matters of public interest are discussed.

3. Winter session (November to December)

• It is the shortest session of all.
• It takes up the matters that could not be considered upon earlier and makes up for the absence of legislative business during the second session of the Parliament.