News Excerpt:

Recently, On June 27, 2024, the President of India addressed a joint session of both Houses of Parliament. During her address, she highlighted the government's main policy objectives and accomplishments.

Constitutional Provision 

• Articles 86 and 87 of the Constitution pertain to the President's Address.
• Article 86 grants the President the right to address either House of Parliament or both Houses together, requiring the attendance of members.
• However, this provision has never been used since the Constitution's commencement.
• According to Article 87 of the Constitution, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament on two occasions.
• The first is at the beginning of the first session after a general election when the newly elected Lok Sabha convenes for the first time.
• The second is at the beginning of the first session each year.

Amendment in Provision

• Originally, Article 87(1) required the President to address both Houses at the beginning of every session, but this was amended by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951.
• The Prime Minister, during the debate on clause 7 of the Constitution (First Amendment) Bill, 1951, noted that the Address is to be delivered to both Houses together.
• This means that if the Lok Sabha is dissolved at the time of the first session of the year, the Rajya Sabha can meet without the President's Address.
• This occurred in 1977 and 1991, when the Rajya Sabha held sessions without the President's Address on February 1, 1977, and June 3, 1991, respectively.

Motion of Thanks

• Clause (2) of Article 87 of the Constitution mandates that rules regulating the procedures of either House must include provisions for allocating time to discuss the matters mentioned in the President's Address.
• Once the Motion of Thanks is adopted, the Chairman communicates this to the President directly through a letter.