Consider the following statements: 

1. The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such place as he/she thinks fit. 

2. The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions. 

3. There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

a . 1 only

b . 2 only 

c . 1 and 3 only 

d . 2 and 3 only

Answer- c

Explanation: 

Article 85(1) of the Constitution empowers the President to summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he 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. 

Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Normally, three Sessions, namely the Budget, Monsoon and Winter Sessions, are held in a calendar year. The Constitution of India does not provide for three session of Parliament in a year.

Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

The question of having more or less fixed dates for the commencement of the three Sessions was considered by the General Purpose Committee of the Lok Sabha at their sitting held on 22 April, 1955, and they recommended the following time-table for the three Sessions: 

Session                                                      Date of  Commencement                Date of Termination 

Budget Session                                         1 February                                         7 May

Autumn Session                                        15 July                                               15 September

Winter Session                                          5 November or 22 December              

                                                                  the fourth day after Diwali which ever is later

The Cabinet agreed with these recommendations. The above time- table has not, however, been observed in practice. Sessions have commenced on different dates though more or less in the specified months, and the duration has varied according to the volume of business conducted by the Houses.

Summoning- The summoning of the House simply means its convocation when its meeting is considered necessary. A session of the House commences from the day the President summons it to meet. The right of the President to summon a House is subject to the condition that six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its sitting in the next session. There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year. 

Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Read: Previous Year UPSC Polity Questions (PYQs) With Explanation 2020