Monsoon Session of Parliament 2025

• 22 Jul 2025

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

The 2025 Monsoon Session of Parliament has begun. During the session, the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, which was passed earlier in the Lok Sabha, was approved by the Rajya Sabha. 

What are the Sessions of Parliament? 

• Sessions of Parliament: A session refers to the period between the first sitting and prorogation of a House. A recess is the interval between prorogation and reassembly of Parliament.  Typically, there are 3 sessions in a year: 
  • Budget Session (Feb–May) 
  • Monsoon Session (July–August) 
  • Winter Session (Nov–Dec) 
  • Special Sessions:  A Special Session of Parliament is convened outside the 3 regular sessions (Budget, Monsoon, Winter) to deliberate on urgent, exceptional, or historic matters of national significance like India-China war in 1962. 
• Key Parliamentary Procedures: 
  • Summoning: Under Article 85 of the Constitution, the President summons each House of Parliament, ensuring that the interval between two sessions does not exceed six months.  
    • While the Constitution does not specify the number of sessions or sitting days, Parliament typically meets three times a year. 
  • Adjournment: It refers to the temporary suspension of a parliamentary sitting by the Presiding Officer. It may be for a short duration or for the day.  
    • Adjournment sine die means suspension without a fixed date for the next sitting. 
    • It does not end the session, and pending business resumes when the House meets again. 
  • Prorogation: It is the formal termination of a parliamentary session by the President. After prorogation, the House can meet again only when it is summoned afresh by the President.  
  • Dissolution: Dissolution marks the end of the Lok Sabha's term, unlike the Rajya Sabha, which is a permanent body. It occurs under the following circumstances: -  
    • after 5 years, and after an extended term during Emergency, or through the President’s power under Article 85(2). 
    • The President holds the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha.  
      • On dissolution, all pending business lapses, except bills originating in the Rajya Sabha not passed by the Lok Sabha, 
      • Assurances by Ministers on the floor of the House still awaiting implementation. 
  • Quorum: It is the minimum number of members required to be present to conduct a sitting of either House of Parliament. As per the Constitution, it is one-tenth of the total strength of the House.  
    • Hence, 55 members in Lok Sabha and 25 members in Rajya Sabha constitute the quorum for their respective sittings. 

Bills of Lading Bill, 2025 

• A Bill of Lading (BoL) is a key document in maritime trade, serving as proof of goods loaded, a record of their details, and a title of ownership. 
•  The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025 seeks to replace the colonial-era Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856, modernizing the legal framework governing shipping documents.  
• The Bill affirms the BoL as conclusive evidence of shipment, clarifies rights and liabilities of receivers/transferees, and empowers the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways for implementation.  
• It aims to enhance legal clarity, reduce disputes, and align India’s shipping laws with global trade standards to improve ease of doing business. 

 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year’s Question (PYQs)   

Prelims

Q. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)

1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.  
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.  

Which of the above statements is/are correct? 

(a) 1 only   

(b) 2 only   

(c) Both 1 and 2   

(d) Neither 1 nor 2   

Ans: (b)  

Q. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, consider the following statements: (2015)

1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.  
2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.  

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?   

(a) 1 only   

(b) 2 only   

(c) Both 1 and 2   

(d) Neither 1 nor 2  

Ans: (d) 

Q. Southeast Asia has captivated the attention of the global community over space and time as a geostrategically significant region. Which among the following is the most convincing explanation for this global perspective? (2011) 

(a) It was the hot theatre during the Second World War   

(b) Its location between the Asian powers of China and India   

(c) It was the arena of superpower confrontation during the Cold War period   

(d) Its location between the Pacific and Indian oceans and its preeminent maritime character  

Ans: (d)