Central Idea

• The Union government of India has announced a special session of Parliament to be held in the newly constructed building.
• This session holds particular significance as it marks the first official use of the new parliamentary facility.

Special Session of Parliament: An Overview:

• A special session of Parliament refers to a unique meeting convened outside of the regular parliamentary sessions.
• The term “special session” is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution of India.
• Its convening is carried out as per the provisions of Article 85(1) of the Constitution.

Procedure of calling such Session

• Article 85(1) of the Indian Constitution stipulates the procedure for summoning Parliament.
• This constitutional provision grants the President the authority to call Parliament into session, including special sessions, as deemed necessary.
• It says:

“The President shall from time to time summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he/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.”

Historical Context of Special Sessions:

Special sessions of Parliament have varied in their focus and format over the years:

[A] Special Sessions with Debates:

• 2015: A special session commemorated Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary.
• 1997: Parliament convened to mark India’s 50th anniversary of independence.
• 1962: The agenda included a discussion on the India-China war situation.

[B] Midnight Special Sessions (Without Debates):

• 1972: A session was held to celebrate 25 years of India’s independence.
• 1992: A special session marked the 50th anniversary of the Quit India Movement.
• 2017: A session was convened to mark the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

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