Under the provisions of the Constitution of India, who has the authority to prorogue the Lok Sabha, that is, to end a session of the House without dissolving it?

Introduction / Context:

This question is about parliamentary procedure and the constitutional power to prorogue the Lok Sabha. Prorogation ends a session of the House but does not dissolve the House itself. It is different from adjournment, which is decided by the presiding officer, and from dissolution, which terminates the life of the House. The question asks which authority formally exercises the power to prorogue the Lok Sabha in the Indian system.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The House in focus is the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.
• The action is prorogation, not adjournment or dissolution.
• The options list several key functionaries, including the President, Prime Minister and Speaker.
• Although political advice is involved, the question focuses on who formally prorogues the House.

Concept / Approach:

According to the Constitution, the President of India has the power to summon and prorogue both Houses of Parliament and to dissolve the Lok Sabha. In practice, the President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. However, the formal order of prorogation is issued in the name of the President. The Speaker can adjourn sittings but does not have the constitutional power to prorogue the House. Therefore, the correct answer is the President of India.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Official parliamentary records and constitutional commentaries clearly state that the President issues notifications summoning and proroguing Parliament. Media reports on the end of a session often mention that the President has prorogued the Houses following recommendations from the Cabinet. This consistent usage across formal and informal sources supports the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha can adjourn the House or suspend its sitting but does not have the constitutional authority to prorogue the House.

The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers and advises the President on parliamentary sessions, but the legal act of prorogation is not done in the Prime Minister s name.

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs coordinates legislative business and may be involved in recommending the schedule, yet does not have the formal power to prorogue the Lok Sabha.

The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha presides over the upper house and has no role in proroguing the Lok Sabha.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes confuse prorogation with adjournment, leading them to choose the Speaker as the answer. Another common error is to think that because the Prime Minister is the real head of government, he or she must formally perform all such actions. It is important to remember that in a parliamentary system, the President is the formal head of the Union who summons and prorogues Parliament, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Final Answer:

The authority that prorogues the Lok Sabha is the President of India.