Which Article of the Constitution of India provides for the power to the President to convene a joint sitting of the both the Houses of Parliament?
- A.Article 331
- B.Article 105
- C.Article 108
- D.Article 85
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Article 108. When the two Houses disagree on an ordinary bill, because one House rejects it, the Houses disagree on amendments, or more than six months pass without the other House passing it, the President can summon a joint sitting to resolve the deadlock. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides, and the bill is passed by a majority of the members of both Houses present and voting, which gives the larger Lok Sabha the advantage. Joint sittings have been held only three times: in 1961, 1978 and 2002.
The other options are real Articles with different content. Article 85 deals with the summoning, prorogation and dissolution of the Houses. Article 105 covers the powers, privileges and immunities of the Houses and their members. Article 331 allowed the President to nominate Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha, a provision that has now lapsed. Remember that a joint sitting cannot be used for a money bill or a constitutional amendment bill.
Read the full article: Parliament of India: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Bills and PYQs
Practice Questions
View allWhich Article of the Constitution mentions that “the Parliament consists of the President and two Houses known as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha)”?
- A.79
- B.70
- C.82
- D.73
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Article 79 says: "There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People." The President is therefore part of Parliament even though he or she sits in neither…
Read the full explanation →The Council of States shall consist of ______ members to be nominated by the President.
- A.six
- B.ten
- C.twelve
- D.five
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Under Article 80, the Rajya Sabha consists of 12 members nominated by the President and not more than 238 representatives of the States and Union Territories, a maximum of 250.
Read the full explanation →Who was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
- A.Rajendra Prasad
- B.Purushottam Tandon
- C.Hukum Singh
- D.G V Mavalankar
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Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar was elected the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha in 1952 and served until his death in 1956.
Read the full explanation →Who among the following appoints the Speaker 'Pro tem' of the Lok Sabha?
- A.President
- B.Prime Minister
- C.Chief Justice of Supreme Court
- D.Chief Election Commissioner
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After a general election, the Speaker of the outgoing Lok Sabha vacates office just before the new House first meets.
Read the full explanation →The time gap between two sessions of the Parliament should NOT exceed:
- A.3 months
- B.1 year
- C.6 months
- D.9 months
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Article 85(1) says the President shall summon each House to meet at such time and place as he or she thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.
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