With reference to the special address of the President of India, which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. The President addresses the joint meeting of both houses of Parliament at the commencements 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. 2. The President in his address informs the Parliament of the causes of its summons. Select the correct answer using the codes given below. Codes :
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Correct — C, Both 1 and 2. Both statements paraphrase Article 87(1) of the Constitution. Statement 1 states the exact occasions of the President's 'special address': 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 — the President addresses both Houses assembled together. Statement 2 reproduces the rest of the same clause: on these occasions the President shall 'inform Parliament of the causes of its summons'. Since the text of Article 87(1) contains both the timing (Statement 1) and the 'causes of its summons' content (Statement 2), both are correct.
- (a)1 only — Incomplete — Statement 2 is also correct, being the very words of Article 87(1) ('inform Parliament of the causes of its summons').
- (b)2 only — Incomplete — Statement 1 is also correct; Article 87(1) fixes exactly these occasions (first session after a general election and the first session of each year).
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2 — Wrong — both statements are drawn directly from Article 87(1), so both are correct.
Article 87 of the Constitution provides for the 'special address' by the President. Under Article 87(1), the President addresses both Houses of Parliament assembled together (a) at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the Lok Sabha, and (b) at the commencement of the first session of each year, and on that occasion informs Parliament of the causes of its summons. This is the 'motion of thanks' address, which is essentially the government's statement of policy; the content is prepared by the Council of Ministers and read by the President. Article 87(2) allows Parliament to provide, by its rules, for discussion of the matters referred to in the address.
The question tests whether a student knows the precise scope of Article 87 — both the WHEN (occasions) and the WHAT (informing Parliament of the causes of its summons). Because both statements simply restate the constitutional text, the trap is doubting one of them; a candidate who recalls that the address is delivered 'to inform Parliament of the causes of its summons' at the year's first session and post-election first session will confidently mark both correct.
- Article 87(1): President addresses both Houses together at the first session after each general election and the first session of every year.
- On that occasion the President informs Parliament of the 'causes of its summons'.
- The address (Motion of Thanks) sets out the government's policy; it is drafted by the Council of Ministers.
- Article 87(2): Parliament's rules provide for allotting time to discuss the matters in the address.
- Confusing the special address (Article 87) with the President's power to summon/prorogue (Article 85) or send messages (Article 86).
- Thinking the address happens before every session — it is only the first session of each year and the first session after a general election.
UPPSC and UPSC test the Articles governing the President's relationship with Parliament (85–87) through statement-based questions on timing, content and who drafts the address.
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
- (d) 2 and 3 only
Answer(c) 1 and 3 only
Same concept cluster — the President's constitutional powers over the sessions of Parliament (Articles 85–87). This item's Statement 1 (President summons a session) is the very 'summons' that the President's special address under Article 87 informs Parliament about.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The President's 'special address' to both Houses of Parliament is provided for under which Article?
- (a)Article 85
- (b)Article 86
- (c)Article 87
- (d)Article 108
Answer(c) Article 87 — it provides for the special address at the first session after a general election and the first session of each year.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The 'Motion of Thanks' in Parliament relates to which of the following?
- (a)The Union Budget
- (b)The President's Address to Parliament
- (c)A no-confidence motion
- (d)The Finance Bill
Answer(b) The President's Address to Parliament — the Motion of Thanks is moved and debated on the President's special address under Article 87.