What is the Motion of thanks?

In news– Recently debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s address at the beginning of Parliament’s Budget Session was held.

What is the Motion of thanks?

The Address of the President, which corresponds to the ‘speech from the Throne in Britain’, is discussed in both the Houses of Parliament on a motion called the ‘Motion of Thanks’.
Clause(2) of Article 87 of the Constitution requires that provision shall be made by the rules regulating the procedure of either House for the allotment of time for discussion of the matters referred to in the President’s Address.
It is available to the members of Parliament, for raising discussions & debates in a bid to examine and criticise government.
Usually, three days are allotted to discussion on Motion of Thanks.
Amendments on the Motion of Thanks are to be moved in such form ‘as may be considered appropriate by the Chairman/Speaker’ and it is the discretion of the Chair whether to admit or disallow amendments.
If any of the amendments are put forward and accepted then the Motion of Thanks is adopted in the amended form.
Amendments may refer to matters contained in the Address as well as to matters which, in the opinion of the member, the Address has failed to mention.
At the end of the discussion, the motion is put to vote.
The Motion of Thanks must be passed in the House, Otherwise, it amounts to the defeat of the government.

About President’s address-

The President’s Address is the statement of policy of the Government and, as such, is drafted by the Government which is responsible for its contents.
It contains a review of various activities and achievements of the Government during the previous year and sets out the policies, projects and programmes which the Government of the day wishes to pursue with regard to the important national and international issues.
It also indicates, in broad terms, items of legislative business which are proposed to be brought during the sessions to be held in that year.
Article 86(1) of the Constitution provides that the President may address either the House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together, and for that purpose require the attendance of members.
Article 87 provides for the special address by the President.
Clause (1) of that article provides that at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year, the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons.
Such an Address is called ‘special address‘; and it is also an annual feature.
No other business is transacted till the President has addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together.
The President’s Address is a solemn and formal act under the Constitution. Utmost dignity and decorum befitting the occasion are maintained.