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UPSC 2017 GS-II · 15 marks · 250 words

The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding joint session of the two Houses of the Parliament. Enumerate the occasions when this would normally happen and also the occasions when it cannot, with reason thereof.

What “Enumerate” demands

list the items completely and precisely, with just enough detail to identify each.

The characteristic failure: discursive prose where a precise list was asked for.

What a top answer must contain

These are the checkable specifics from the marking standard for this question — the actual case, committee, datum or thinker, not an instruction to “give examples”.

  • Article 108: joint sitting on a deadlock over an ordinary bill — rejection, disagreement on amendments, or more than six months' inaction
  • Summoned by the President, presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (then the Deputy Speaker, then the Deputy Chairman); decided by simple majority of those present and voting
  • Cannot be held for Money Bills (Article 110, the Lok Sabha prevails under Article 109) or Constitution Amendment Bills (Article 368 requires each House separately)
  • The three occasions it has actually happened: Dowry Prohibition Bill 1961, Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill 1978, Prevention of Terrorism Bill 2002
  • Distinguish it from the President's address to both Houses under Article 87, which is not a joint sitting
  • Structural note: the numerically larger Lok Sabha effectively prevails, so the device favours the popular House

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