With reference to the joint sitting of Parliament, which statement/s is/are correct? (1) Article 109 provides for the joint sitting of both Houses in certain cases. (2) The Speaker presides the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament. Select the correct answer using the code given below -
- (a)Only 1
- (b)Both 1 and 2
- (c)Neither 1 nor 2
- (d)Only 2
Correct — D, Only 2. The joint sitting of the two Houses is provided for by Article 108, not Article 109 — so Statement 1 wrongly cites the Article (Article 109 deals with the special procedure for Money Bills). Statement 2 is correct: under Article 118(4) the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over a joint sitting. Hence only Statement 2 is correct.
- (a)Only 1 — Statement 1 is wrong — the joint sitting is provided under Article 108, whereas Article 109 covers Money Bills; and Statement 2 (Speaker presides) is correct, so 'Only 1' is doubly wrong.
- (b)Both 1 and 2 — Statement 1 mis-cites the Article (should be 108, not 109), so both cannot be correct.
- (c)Neither 1 nor 2 — Statement 2 is correct — the Speaker of the Lok Sabha does preside over the joint sitting — so 'neither' is wrong.
A joint sitting is the constitutional mechanism to resolve a deadlock between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over an ordinary bill. Article 108 empowers the President to summon a joint sitting when a bill is rejected, or amendments are disagreed on, or six months pass without action by the other House. Money Bills and Constitution Amendment Bills are excluded. Under Article 118(4), the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides.
The trap is a swapped Article number. Article 108 (joint sitting) sits right next to Article 109 (Money Bills), so a student who knows a joint sitting exists but misremembers the section will accept Statement 1. Statement 2 is the well-known point that the Lok Sabha Speaker — not the Rajya Sabha Chairman — presides.
- Article 108 provides for a joint sitting of both Houses to resolve a deadlock over an ordinary bill.
- Article 109 is the special procedure for Money Bills (not joint sittings).
- Article 118(4): the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the joint sitting (Deputy Speaker in absence).
- The Rajya Sabha Chairman (Vice-President) does not preside; Money Bills and Constitution Amendment Bills are outside the joint-sitting mechanism.
- Swapping Article 108 (joint sitting) with Article 109 (Money Bills)
- Assuming the Rajya Sabha Chairman/Vice-President presides over the joint sitting
- Thinking a joint sitting can be summoned for a Money Bill or a Constitution Amendment Bill
UPSC/UPPSC test joint sittings on (a) the correct Article, (b) who presides, and (c) which categories of bills are excluded.
Consider the following statements: 1. The joint sitting of the two Houses of the Parliament in India is sanctioned under Article 108 of the Constitution. 2. The first joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha was held in the year 1961. 3. The second joint sitting of the two Houses of Indian Parliament was held to pass the Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill. Which of these statements are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(d) 1, 2 and 3
Same concept — the joint sitting is sanctioned under Article 108. That UPSC question confirms the correct Article (108), which is exactly what makes this UPPSC Statement 1 (citing Article 109) wrong.
- practice — not a real PYQ
In case of a deadlock, a joint sitting of Parliament CANNOT be summoned for which of the following?
- (a)An ordinary bill
- (b)A Money Bill
- (c)A private member's ordinary bill
- (d)A government ordinary bill
Answer(b) A Money Bill — Money Bills (and Constitution Amendment Bills) are excluded from the joint-sitting mechanism.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The first-ever joint sitting of the Indian Parliament (1961) was held to pass which bill?
- (a)The Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill
- (b)The Dowry Prohibition Bill
- (c)The Prevention of Terrorism Bill (POTA)
- (d)The Hindu Code Bill
Answer(b) The Dowry Prohibition Bill — the first joint sitting was held in 1961 to pass it.