President Murmu to address joint session of Parliament on Thursday

New Delhi: President Draupadi Murmu will address the joint session of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Thursday. In this meeting, she can present the priorities of the newly elected government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will be the first address of the President in the joint session of Parliament after the formation of the eighteenth Lok Sabha.

The first session of the new Lok Sabha began last Monday and the 264th session of the Rajya Sabha will begin on June 27. Before the joint session, President Draupadi Murmu will arrive at the Parliament House from the Rashtrapati Bhavan with mounted guards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will welcome her at the Gaj Dwar of the Parliament House, from where she will be escorted to the chamber of the lower house led by the traditional scepter Sengol.

According to Article 87 of the Constitution, the President is required to address a joint session of Parliament at the beginning of the session after every Lok Sabha election. The President also addresses a joint sitting of both the Houses in the first session of Parliament every year. Through the President’s address, the government outlines its programmes and policies. The address also highlights the steps taken by the government in the previous year and lays down the priorities for the coming year.

After the address of President Draupadi Murmu, the ruling party will present a motion of thanks in both the houses of Parliament on which the members will discuss. Prime Minister Modi may respond to the discussion on the motion of thanks on July 2 or 3. It is believed that President Draupadi Murmu will mention the policies of the Modi government in the last 10 years in her address, which will include achievements in various fields like economy, defense, healthcare, education and social welfare. At the same time, the opposition is preparing to corner the government on many issues like alleged irregularities in NEET-UG, cancellation of UGC-NET, terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, train accidents in the country and rising prices of essential commodities.