Monsoon Session of Parliament to be held from 14 September to 1 October

New Delhi: Parliament’s Monsoon Session will begin from 14 September and continue till 1 October, notifications issued on Monday said. The notification issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said President Ram Nath Kovind has called the Lower House to meet on Monday, 14 September at 9 am. In a separate communique, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat also said the President has summoned the Upper House to meet on 14 September. “Subject to exigencies of business, the session is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, 1 October, 2020,” it added. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had earlier recommended that the Monsoon Session be held from 14 September to 1 October. There will be a total of 18 consecutive sittings with no holiday or weekend break, according to officials. Hectic preparations are underway for the Session with several first-time measures because of the COVID-19 pandemic such as testing of all MPs, staggered sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and use of both chambers and galleries to accommodate members while following physical distancing norms, officials said. The Budget session of Parliament was adjourned sine die on 23  March —12 days ahead of the schedule due to outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.