Motion of Thanks

In News

• The Prime Minister is likely to reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha in the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament.

About

• Article 86(1) of the Constitution provides that the President may address either the House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together, and for that purpose require the attendance of members.
  • 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 that 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 also an annual feature.
  • No other business is transacted till the President has addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together.
• This Address has to be to both Houses of Parliament assembled together.
  • If at the time of commencement of the first session of the year, Lok Sabha is not in existence and has been dissolved, and Rajya Sabha has to meet, Rajya Sabha can have its session without the President’s Address.
  • This happened in 1977, when during the dissolution of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha had its session in 1977 without the President’s Address.
• In the case of the first session after each general election to Lok Sabha, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament assembled together after the members have made and subscribed the oath or affirmation and the Speaker has been elected.

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.
• 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.

Scope of discussion

• Liberty to speak: 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.
• Days allotted: Generally, three days are allotted for the discussion on the Motion of Thanks.
• Postponement: 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 favor 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. Thereafter, the amendments are disposed of, and then the Motion of Thanks is put to vote in the House. 
  • If any of the amendments is accepted then the Motion of Thanks is adopted in the amended form.
• There have been only three instances so far, when the Motion of Thanks was adopted by Rajya Sabha with amendments.

Achievements stated by the government

• India is poised to have 100 unicorns and some of them have the potential to be multinational companies.
  • Policies of the government have spawned the growth of unicorns.
• The inflow of 48 billion dollars in investment in the first seven months of the current financial year was a testimony to the belief that the global investor community has in India’s growth story.
• The country is marching towards administering 100 percent doses of Covid vaccines to the beneficiaries.
• The efforts of the healthcare, frontline workers and scientists to effectively deal with the Covid-19 pandemic is to be appreciated.
• Over 80 crore poor people have been provided free food grains during the Covid-19 pandemic which has set an example before the world.
• Lakhs of people have been provided Pucca Houses and over five crore rural households have been provided tap water connections.
• Farmers have produced bumper crops and record procurements were made on Minimum Support Prices.
• The government has focused on agriculture and the MSME sector that provides employment opportunities.
  • 1.2 crore new members enrolled with EPFO during 2021 including 65 lakh in the 18-25 age group.
• India is the only big economy that is experiencing high growth and medium inflation.
• The country is celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and this is the appropriate time to make decisions which take the country forward in the upcoming 25 years.

Source: LM