17 Aug Parliament’s Monsoon Session
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “Parliament’s Monsoon Session”. The topic “Parliament’s Monsoon Session” has relevance in the Polity section of the UPSC CSE exam.
For Prelims:
About Adjournment Sine Die?
For Mains:
GS 2: Polity
Highlights from Recent News?
Parliamentary Session Structure?
Major Bills discussed during Session?
Concerns?
Why in the news:
The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die, marking the conclusion of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.
Adjournment Sine Die:
Adjournment Sine Die refers to the indefinite and temporary suspension of a parliamentary session without a specified date for its resumption. In simpler terms, it signifies a suspension that does not have a predetermined date for the legislative body to reconvene. The authority to declare an adjournment sine die lies with the presiding officer of the respective legislative house.
Key Aspects:
- This type of adjournment brings the ongoing session to a close without setting a particular date for the next session to commence.
- The presiding officer, often the Speaker or Chairman, holds the responsibility to decide on adjourning the session sine die.
- Even after such an adjournment, the presiding officer can call for a meeting of the legislative house, either after the adjournment or before the initially designated time for suspension.
Highlights from Recent News:
- The Monsoon session of Parliament extended over 23 days and witnessed 17 sittings.
- During this session, a total of 23 Bills were passed by both Houses, with 7 Bills undergoing scrutiny by the Standing Committee.
- The deliberations surrounding the ‘Delhi Amendment Bill’ were particularly lengthy and resulted in its passage through recorded voting.
- The session also marked the initiation of the first no-confidence motion, addressing concerns related to incidents of violence in Manipur and Haryana, along with government responses.
- Notably, the 17th Lok Sabha encountered a unique situation as it reached the final year of its tenure without electing a Deputy Speaker, marking the longest period without a Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha’s history.
Parliamentary Session Structure:
- India’s Parliament comprises three primary sessions within a year.
- The Budget Session, commencing near January’s end and concluding by April or early May, is the lengthiest. This session incorporates a recess for Parliamentary Committees to deliberate on budgetary proposals.
- The Monsoon Session, spanning around three weeks, usually starts in July and concludes in August.
- The year concludes with the Winter Session, lasting for about three weeks from November to December.
- However, session durations and dates have been adjusted over time to accommodate political and legislative requirements.
Major Bills discussed during Session :
| S.No | Name of the Bill | Brief Description |
| 1 | The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 | This bill introduces measures to combat film piracy and enhance the film screening process. It incorporates age-based certification categories and eliminates redundant provisions from the existing Act, aiming to make film approval procedures more effective. |
| 2 | The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill | This bill seeks to include the Hattee community from the Trans Giri area of Sirmour district in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Himachal Pradesh. |
| 3 | The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2023 | This bill aims to incorporate the Bhuinya, Bhuiyan, and Bhuyan communities as synonyms for the Bharia Bhumia community. Additionally, it includes three Devanagari versions of the name of the Pando community in Chhattisgarh. |
| 4 | The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2023 | This bill strengthens governance in Multi-State Cooperative Societies by implementing provisions aligned with the 97th Constitutional Amendment. It enhances transparency, accountability, and the voting process. The bill also aims to streamline monitoring procedures to facilitate the efficient conduct of business by Multi-State Cooperative Societies. |
| 5 | The Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 | This bill introduces an Exploration License and delists certain minerals from the category of atomic minerals. |
| 6 | The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2023 | This bill aims to alleviate the pressure on wild medicinal plants by encouraging their cultivation. It promotes the Indian system of medicine and facilitates rapid research, patent application processes, and the transfer of research results using biological resources available in India. The bill also includes provisions to decriminalize certain aspects and attract foreign investments in biological resources for research and commercial utilization. |
| 7 | The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 | This bill proposes that production leases for the private sector be granted solely through auction by competitive bidding. The objective is to ensure early allocation of operating rights through a transparent and non-discretionary process. |
| 8 | The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 | This bill seeks to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, with a focus on clarifying its applicability across various types of lands. The amendments also aim to streamline the approval process within the Act. |
| 9 | The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 | This bill envisions the decriminalization of minor offenses and proposes the rationalization of monetary penalties based on the severity of offenses. The objective is to strengthen trust-based governance. |
| 10 | The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023 | This bill aims to modernize the registration process for births and deaths, making it more user-friendly. It also strives to update national and state-level databases using registered births and deaths data. |
| 11 | The Mediation Bill, 2023 | This bill promotes and facilitates mediation, especially institutional mediation, for resolving disputes, including commercial matters. It seeks to enforce mediated settlement agreements and establish a body for the registration of mediators. The bill also encourages community mediation and aims to make online mediation a recognized and cost-effective process. |
| 12 | The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023 | This bill empowers the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of Inter-services Organisations to exercise disciplinary or administrative control over the service personnel under their command, regardless of their service. |
| 13 | The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023 | This bill amends the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017, which designates Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as institutes of national importance and governs their functioning. IIMs provide post-graduate education in management and related fields. |
| 14 | The National Dental Commission Bill, 2023 | This bill repeals the Dentists Act, 1948, and seeks to regulate the dental profession in India. It aims to provide quality and affordable dental education and high-quality oral healthcare services. |
| 15 | The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 | This bill repeals the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947, and introduces provisions for the regulation and maintenance of education and service standards for nursing and midwifery professionals. |
| 16 | The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 | This bill aims to include the Mahra and Mahara communities as synonyms for Mahar, Mehra, and Mehar in the list of Scheduled Castes of Chhattisgarh. |
| 17 | The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023 | This bill seeks to establish the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, dissolving the Science and Engineering Research Board set up under the Science and Engineering Research Board Act, 2008. It provides strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in natural sciences. |
| 18 | The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 | This bill aims to regulate the processing of digital personal data, ensuring the protection of individuals’ rights while allowing lawful data processing. |
| 19 | The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 | This bill amends the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005, to broaden the scope of coastal aquaculture. It includes activities such as hatcheries and nucleus breeding centers in addition to the farming of shrimp, prawn, fish, or other aquatic life in saline or brackish water. |
| 20 | The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023 | This bill amends the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and specifies that individuals registered as pharmacists under the Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy Act, 2011, or possessing qualifications prescribed under the 2011 Act, will also be deemed registered under the Pharmacy Act, 1948. |
Concerns:
Diminishing Duration of Parliamentary Sessions:
Over time, there has been a noticeable trend of parliamentary sessions becoming shorter. This trend is evident from recent instances:
- In the year 2022, the Lok Sabha session was curtailed ahead of its originally planned conclusion date.
- Similarly, in 2021, the session concluded more than two weeks earlier than initially anticipated.
- The impact was also felt in 2020, where the Monsoon session lasted only for 18 days, and the Winter Session was entirely canceled.
Deputy Speaker Vacancy in Lok Sabha: As outlined in Article 93 of the Constitution, the Lok Sabha holds the responsibility to elect both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. It’s pertinent to note that the current Lok Sabha is experiencing a situation of Vacancy at the position of Deputy Speaker. This post is typically filled within a few months of the formation of a new Lok Sabha
Challenges Posed by Disruptions and Adjournments:
House proceedings often face disruptions due to actions taken by opposing parties. This disruption results in a twofold negative impact:
- Time Loss: Valuable time that could be dedicated to legislative discussions and decision-making is wasted due to these interruptions.
- Financial Implications: The delays and adjournments lead to financial losses, as resources expended for parliamentary activities do not yield productive outcomes.
Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lok-sabha-adjourned-sine-die/articleshow/102641829.cms?from=mdr
Q.1 Which of the following statements accurately describe Adjournment Sine Die in the context of parliamentary proceedings?
- The decision to adjourn sine die is typically made by thePresident.
- The length of an Adjournment Sine Die is predetermined and cannot be changed based on the situation.
Choose the correct statements from the options provided below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: D
Q.2 Consider the following statements about the sessions of the Indian Parliament:
- Indian Parliament generally has three sessions in a year.
- During the Budget Session, there is a recess to facilitate discussions by Parliamentary Committees.
- The duration and dates of parliamentary sessions have remained consistent over the years.
How many of the above statement/s is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
ANSWER: B
Q.3 Discuss the significance and implications of the adjournment sine die of the Lok Sabha. Analyze the impact of this parliamentary practice on legislative proceedings, governance, and the democratic process in India.
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