Motion of Thanks in Indian Parliament

Motion of Thanks is a motion in Indian Parliament which follows the address of the President of India to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at the commencement of first session of a new Lok Sabha and first session of every year.

Procedure

President’s address is the speech delivered by the President of India to both Houses of Parliament assembled together at the commencement of the first session after each general election to Lok Sabha and at the commencement of the first session of each year (this is usually the budget session).

This speech is a statement of the government policy and is approved by the cabinet. The president highlights legislative and policy activities of the government, achievements of the previous year and broad agenda of the upcoming year.

This address is followed by a Motion of Thanks, which is moved in each house by an MP of the ruling party. Who will move and second the Motion? This is decided by the Prime Minister and the notice of such a motion is received through the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The deliberations on this motion last for three to four days. The deliberations allow the opposition to critically discuss the government’s vision, scope and policies. At the end of these discussions, the Prime Minister gives replies to the points or questions raised.

Amendment to Motion of Thanks

After the reply of the PM is over, the Members of Parliament vote on this motion of thanks. This motion must be passed in both of the houses. A failure to get motion of thanks passed (which may happen rarely) amounts to defeat of government and leads to collapse of government. This is why, the Motion of Thanks is deemed to be a no-confidence motion.

However, before such voting, some members may also move amendment to the address. Such amendments may be:

• for emphasising or adding issues addressed by the president
• for including some issues or highlight some issues which did not find mention in the speech

There have already been three instances so far, when the Motion of Thanks was adopted by Rajya Sabha with some amendments. The Motion of Thanks with an amendment was adopted for the first time on 30 January 1980. On 29 December 1989, the Motion of Thanks was adopted with six amendments. Again on 12 March 2001, the Motion of Thanks was adopted with an amendment.

The ruling dispensation at centre is in minority in Rajya Sabha and for the last two years facing amendments in the President’s address in Rajya Sabha. This year also, the government suffered when opposition managed to get passed an amendment expressing regret that the President’s speech did not commit support to rights of all citizens to contest panchayat elections.