Previous Year Question
With reference to the special address of the President of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
The President addresses the joint meeting of both Houses of Parliament at the commencement of the first session after each general election of the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year.
The President in his address informs the Parliament of the causes of its summons.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Codes:
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct. Under Article 87(1) of the Indian Constitution, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament assembled together at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the Lok Sabha and at the commencement of the first session of each year. This is known as the President's Special Address.
Statement 2 is also correct. Article 87(1) further provides that the President informs Parliament of the causes of its summons in the Special Address. The address also presents information about the Government's policies, programmes and forthcoming legislative priorities.
Under Article 87(2), the rules regulating the procedure of each House of Parliament provide for the allotment of time for discussing the matters referred to in the President's Special Address.
The distinction between Articles 86 and 87 is important. Article 86 gives the President the right to address either House or both Houses of Parliament and to send messages, whereas Article 87 provides for the President's Special Address on specified occasions.
Therefore, both statements concerning the President's Special Address are correct.