Monsoon Session of Parliament

Monsoon Session of Parliament

Why in News? 

Recently, the Monsoon Session of Parliament started on July 21, 2025. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha began their work at 11 a.m. on the opening day. This year, the session is expected to bring focus on important discussions.

What is the Monsoon Session of Parliament?

• India’s Parliament holds three sessions every year, and the Monsoon Session is one of them.
• This session takes place during the rainy season, often starting in July and continuing until September.
• It is the second session in the yearly parliamentary cycle, following the Budget Session and preceding the Winter Session.
• Under Article 85 of the Constitution, the President is responsible for calling the session, ensuring that Parliament meets at least once every six months.
• The Monsoon Session upholds the principle of accountability, as it allows members to question ministers and hold the executive accountable.
• During the Monsoon Session, the government introduces bills that require parliamentary approval.
• The first Monsoon Session in independent India was held in 1952 after the country’s first general elections.

Also Read: Sessions of Parliament

Timeline and Duration of the Monsoon Session

• The term “Monsoon Session” arises from its timing during the rainy season in India, which typically spans from June to September. 
• The Monsoon Session is commonly held between mid-July and the end of August. 
• This period is selected to ensure that Parliament convenes after the summer recess and before the busy festive season in India. 
• There is no set duration for how long the Monsoon Session will last each year.
• The typical length of this session ranges between 3 to 5 weeks, depending on the legislative agenda.
• On average, it runs for 18 to 25 working days.
• In most years, the session starts around the third week of July. 
• During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Monsoon Session was delayed and shortened due to health protocols.
• In 2023, the session began on July 20 and concluded by August 11, spanning 23 days.

Process of the Monsoon Session: From Summoning to Adjournment

• Recommendation: The process of initiating the Monsoon Session begins with the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA). This body, which includes senior ministers, reviews the legislative workload, pending bills, and policy issues requiring discussion. Based on its evaluation, the committee prepares a recommendation for the dates and duration of the session.

• Formal Summoning: Once the CCPA finalizes the session dates, it forwards its proposal to the President of India. According to Article 85(1), the President can call both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to meet. The President’s summons is an official directive requiring all Members of Parliament to assemble at the scheduled time.

• Preparations: After the summons is issued, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats begin logistical and procedural preparations. These involve assigning seat arrangements, issuing circulars to MPs, finalizing schedules, and preparing printed agendas.

• Inauguration & Execution: On the first day of the session, the Presiding Officers (Speaker in Lok Sabha and Chairman in Rajya Sabha) formally initiate proceedings. After observing a moment of silence for recently deceased leaders, the agenda is introduced. 

• During this time, new bills are tabled, and notices for questions and private members’ bills are recorded.

• • • The daily business of Parliament follows a structured timetable, divided into question hour, zero hour, legislative business, and other discussions.
    • Sometimes, sessions are disrupted due to protests, adjournments, or walkouts. When such disruptions occur, the Speaker or Chairman may adjourn the House temporarily, often for a few minutes or even a full day.

• Concluding Session: The session officially ends with the adjournment sine die, meaning “without assigning a day for further meeting.” This adjournment is announced by the Presiding Officers after the agenda is complete. The decision is then communicated to the President of India, who formally terminates the session through a notification.

Also Read: What is Privilege Motion in Parliament?

Legislative Functions During the Monsoon Session

• Introduction of Government Bills: During the Monsoon Session, a major portion of the time is allocated to introducing government bills. These bills are proposed by various ministries and focus on reforms, amendments, or new policies. In the 2023 Monsoon Session, the government introduced the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill.

• Passage of Pending Bills: This session also gives Parliament a chance to take up and review bills that were introduced earlier but not passed. These are often carried forward from previous sessions such as the Budget or Winter Session. Debates are held to address objections, amendments are considered, and voting takes place after detailed scrutiny.

• Legislative Debates: One of the central features of this session is the structured debates on legislative proposals. Each bill undergoes a detailed examination in both Houses, where MPs present arguments for or against specific provisions. These debates are recorded and serve as a public repository of views and counterviews. 

• Statutory Resolutions: During the Monsoon Session, Parliament also considers statutory resolutions, which are formal expressions of opinion or intention. These may relate to continuing ordinances, repealing laws, or discussing reports of statutory bodies.

• Motions: The Monsoon Session often witnesses parliamentary motions that hold the government accountable. A Calling Attention Motion lets an MP raise urgent public issues and forces the concerned minister to answer them on the spot.

Also Check: Session Of Parliament Quiz on Apni Pathshala