Which statement best expresses a distinctive feature of the Indian Parliament as an institution?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to Indian polity and examines understanding of what makes the Indian Parliament institutionally unique. Many countries have legislatures that are unicameral or bicameral, but the composition and constitutional position of the Indian Parliament has its own special features. One such feature is that, according to the Constitution, Parliament of India consists of the President and the two Houses, and not just the elected Houses alone. Recognising this point is frequently tested in examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the most important or distinctive feature of the Indian Parliament.
• The options include that it is the Union legislature, that it includes the President, that it is bicameral and that its upper House is never dissolved.
• All statements describe real aspects of the system, but the question seeks the most important, distinctive one.
• The learner is expected to know the constitutional definition of Parliament.

Concept / Approach:
Article 79 of the Constitution states that there shall be a Parliament for the Union consisting of the President and two Houses, known as the Council of States and the House of the People. Thus the President is formally a part of Parliament, even though the President does not sit in the Houses like ordinary members. Bicameralism and permanence of the upper House are features shared with many other countries, but the explicit inclusion of the President in the constitutional definition is a particularly emphasised uniqueness in Indian polity textbooks. Therefore, the statement highlighting this inclusion is usually treated as the most important feature for exam purposes.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the constitutional article that defines Parliament of India as consisting of the President, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Step 2: Examine option A, which states that Parliament is the Union legislature in India. This is true but not very distinctive because most countries have a national legislature. Step 3: Examine option C, which says that it is bicameral. This is also true, but bicameral legislatures exist in many countries and Indian states like Uttar Pradesh as well. Step 4: Examine option D, which states that the upper House is never dissolved. This is indeed a feature of the Rajya Sabha, but upper Houses in other federations like the United States Senate also have continuity, so this is not unique. Step 5: Option B states that Parliament also includes the President. This is a direct reflection of Article 79 and is more distinctive as a formal constitutional feature. Step 6: Therefore, select the statement that it also includes the President as an integral part of Parliament as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification is to remember that important functions such as giving assent to bills and summoning or proroguing sessions are performed by the President, which shows that Parliament and the President are linked in the legislative process. Textbooks often highlight the phrase Parliament consists of the President and two Houses, underlining that the President is part of the institution. This emphasis confirms that option B captures the most important feature the question is asking about.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The statement that Parliament is the Union legislature is correct but generic and does not highlight what is most distinctive about it. Bicameral structure is again correct but is a common feature in many democracies. The permanence of the upper House is significant but also found in other federal systems. These statements describe real characteristics but do not emphasise the constitutional uniqueness that Parliament includes the President in its definition, which is why they are not the best answer here.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may treat every correct statement as equally important and choose the one that sounds impressive without carefully considering the phrase most important feature. Another pitfall is focusing on the continuity of the Rajya Sabha or the bicameral nature because these points are often repeated in class, even though they are not unique globally. To avoid confusion, aspirants should memorise the exact constitutional wording that defines Parliament and use it as a guide when answering such questions.

Final Answer:
The most distinctive constitutional feature of the Indian Parliament is that it also includes the President as an integral part of Parliament.