UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 30

This question tests parliamentary sessions and summoning. The key concept is: The President summons Parliament and may determine the place of sitting, subject to constitutional practice. The Constitution does not prescribe three mandatory sessions; the key constitutional requirement is that the gap between sessions not exceed six months. There is also no prescribed minimum number of sitting days per year. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option C. Option A — 1 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: The President summons Parliament and may determine the place of sitting, subject to constitutional practice. The Constitution does not prescribe three mandatory sessions; the key constitutional requirement is that the gap between sessions not exceed six months. There is also no prescribed minimum number of sitting days per year. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option B — 2 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: The President summons Parliament and may determine the place of sitting, subject to constitutional practice. The Constitution does not prescribe three mandatory sessions; the key constitutional requirement is that the gap between sessions not exceed six months. There is also no prescribed minimum number of sitting days per year. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option C — 1 and 3 only: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because The President summons Parliament and may determine the place of sitting, subject to constitutional practice. The Constitution does not prescribe three mandatory sessions; the key constitutional requirement is that the gap between sessions not exceed six months. There is also no prescribed minimum number of sitting days per year. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option D — 2 and 3 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: The President summons Parliament and may determine the place of sitting, subject to constitutional practice. The Constitution does not prescribe three mandatory sessions; the key constitutional requirement is that the gap between sessions not exceed six months. There is also no prescribed minimum number of sitting days per year. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. For UPSC-style elimination, first identify the exact proposition being tested, then evaluate each statement independently before comparing the answer codes. Avoid treating a broad or absolute statement as correct merely because its general theme is familiar. The precise qualifiers in the question—such as 'all', 'only', 'cannot', 'largest', 'always' or a specific institutional role—often determine the answer. On that basis, option C is the verified answer.