Motion of Thanks – UPSC Prelims

Following the President’s address to Joint Sitting of Parliament, a motion of thanks is moved in the two Houses by the ruling MP’s.

The deliberations on this motion last for three to four days.

During this period, MPs of both the Houses will have a broad debate on governance in the country.

Following the debate, The Prime Minister will reply to the motion of thanks in both Houses, and responds to the issues raised by MPs.

Then the motion is put to vote and MPs can express their disagreement by moving amendments to the motion.

Such amendments may be used for including some issues or highlighting some issues which did not find mention in the speech.

Opposition MPs have been successful in getting amendments passed to the motion of thanks in Rajya Sabha on five occasions (1980, 1989, 2001, 2015, 2016). But it has been less successful in Lok Sabha.

Also, it has to be noted that the motion of Thanks must be passed in both of the houses.

A failure to get a motion of thanks passed (which may rarely happen) amounts to the defeat of government.

Hence, Motion of thanks is sometimes deemed as no-confidence motion.