• President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the joint sitting of Parliament that marked the start of the Budget Session. 

• The President’s hour-long address was boycotted by over 20 Opposition parties including the Congress in support of the demand of the protesting farmers for the repeal of the three farm laws.

• The President in his address referred to poetry of greats from Assam, Kerala and Bengal. As he began his speech, he invoked 'Assam Kesari' Ambikagiri Raichaudhuri to highlight India’s grandeur and give a call for unity, and later referred to Malayalam poet Vallathol, known for his patriotic poems. He ended his speech by invoking Jyotirindranath Tagore, elder brother of RabindranathTagore.

• Raichaudhuri (1885-1967), known as the lion of Assam for his firebrand nationalist character, was a freedom fighter and won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1965. 

• Vallathol Narayana Menon was born in 1878 in Chennara, near Tirur, in Malappuram district of Kerala. He is the author of the famous Sahithya Manjari. He got the title, ‘Mahakavi’ for his mahakavyam (epic poem) ‘Chitrayogam’. He played a prominent role in setting up the Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy, near the banks of Bharathapuzha River. He died in March 1958. 

• Jyotirindranath Tagore was born in 1849. He was a playwright, lyricist, musician and  translator.

President’s Address in Parliament

• The Constitution provides for an Address by the President to either House  of Parliament or both Houses assembled together. The provision for address by the Head of State to Parliament goes back to the year 1921 when the Central Legislature was set up for the first time under the Government of India Act, 1919.

• Article 86(1) of the Constitution provides that the President may address either House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together, and for that purpose require the attendance of members. However, since the commencement of the Constitution, there has not been any occasion when the President has addressed either House or both Houses assembled together, under the provision of this article.

• Article 87 provides for the special address by the President. Clause (1) of the Article provides that at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year, the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons. 

• Such an address is called ‘special address’ and it is an annual feature. No other business is transacted till the President has addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together. 

Content of the special address

• The address is drafted by the government and it is a statement of policy of the government. 

• It contains a review of the activities and achievements of the government during the previous year and sets out the policies which it wishes to pursue with regard to important internal and international problems. 

• It also indicates the main items of legislative business which are proposed to be brought during the session to be held in that year.

Laying of a copy of the address on the Table

• The assembly of members of the two Houses to hear the President’s Address is not treated as a sitting of either House. In order that the Address delivered by President forms part of, and is incorporated in the proceedings of the two Houses, both the Houses meet separately in their respective Chambers half-an-hour after the address, when a copy each of Hindi and English versions of the address, duly authenticated by the President, is laid on the Table by the Secretaries-General of the respective Houses.

• This laying of the address on the Table brings the House into formal possession of the address. Thereafter, copies of the address are distributed to members in the Lobby.

Discussion on the address by Motion of Thanks

• Clause(2) of Article 87 of the Constitution requires that provision shall be made by the rules regulating the procedure of either House for the allotment of time for discussion of the matters referred to in the President’s Address.

• Accordingly, rules 14 to 21 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha make provisions for the discussion of the Address.  

• Under rule 15, discussion on the matters referred to in the President’s Address takes place on a Motion of Thanks moved by a member and seconded by another member. Members who are to move and second the Motion are selected by the Prime Minister and the notice of such a Motion is received through the ministry of parliamentary affairs. 

• The discussion on the address is set down in the list of business two to three days after the President’s Address. 

• The scope of the discussion on the address is very wide and members are at liberty to speak on every matter of national or international importance and other issues. 

• Generally, three days are allotted for the discussion on the Motion of Thanks. Notwithstanding that a day has been allotted for discussion on the President’s Address, a motion or motions for leave to introduce Bills or other business of a formal character may be transacted before the House commences or continues the discussion on the Address. 

• The discussion may also be postponed in favour of an urgent government Bill or other business. The time allotted by the House for discussion on the Motion of Thanks is distributed amongst various parties and groups in proportion to their strength in the House. 

• At the end of the discussion, the Prime Minister replies to the debate. 

Amendment to the Motion of Thanks

• There have been instances when the Motion of Thanks was adopted with amendments.

• Notices of amendments to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address can be tabled after the President has delivered his Address. Amendments may refer to matters contained in the address as well as to matters which, in the opinion of the member, the address has failed to mention. Amendments can be moved to the Motion of Thanks in such form as may be considered appropriate by Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Speaker. 

• Every year, a large number of amendments are moved by members of the opposition highlighting the issues or pinpointing the failure of the government or criticising the policy enunciated in the address.

• The lists of amendments are circulated to members in advance and amendments are moved in the House after the speeches of the mover and the seconder when the Chair formally puts the Motion to the House for discussion.

• After the Motion of Thanks is adopted, it is conveyed to the President by the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Speaker through letters.

• In reply to the letter, the President acknowledges the receipt of the same. 

• This message is read out to the House by the Chairman/Speaker. Thus concludes the entire process which begins with the address of the President delivered to members of both Houses of Parliament assembled together in the Central Hall of Parliament.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store