President’s Special Address at First Session of Year and Post-General Election
Official heading: “Special address by the President”
- Source edition
- The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
- Source locator
- Part V, Article 87, printed page 40
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- Not yet checked
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1. In One Sentence
Article 87 mandates that the President address both Houses of Parliament assembled together at the commencement of the first session after each general election and the first session of each calendar year.
2. What It Means in Everyday Language
Article 87 establishes the constitutional practice of the Presidential Special Address. It is mandatory on two specific occasions: at the commencement of the first session following every general election to the House of the People, and at the commencement of the first session of each calendar year (typically the Budget Session).
The address is delivered to both Houses of Parliament assembled together in the Central Hall / Parliament House. In it, the President outlines the Government’s policy agenda, achievements, and legislative priorities for the coming year.
Under clause (2), both Houses must allot parliamentary time to discuss the President’s address. This debate concludes with a vote on the "Motion of Thanks". Because the address reflects government policy, a defeat of the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha is equivalent to a vote of no-confidence, requiring the Government to resign.
3. Practical Illustrative Example
Parliament convenes in late January for the annual Budget Session, with MPs of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seated in the main chamber.
4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions
Article 87 formalizes the annual policy statement and government accountability mechanism.
- Two mandatory occasions: Post-general election first session and first session of each year.
- Joint assembly of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members.
- Discussion required: Rules must allot time to debate the causes of summons.
- Confidence mechanism: The vote on the Motion of Thanks tests the majority in the Lok Sabha.
5. Operative Constitutional Text
6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations
Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.
- •Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part V, Article 87, printed page 40 • Human source-link check pending
Primary PDF accessed and transcribed with AI assistance on 14 October 2026. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted; operative wording is retained. This is not human legal review. Later amendments and commencement notifications have not been comprehensively checked.