Article 83 of CoI : Article 83: Duration Of Houses Of Parliament

Explanation using Example

Imagine the national elections in India were held in April 2019, and the first meeting of the newly elected Lok Sabha (House of the People) was convened on June 1, 2019. According to Article 83(2) of the Constitution of India, this Lok Sabha would ordinarily continue for five years, which means it would be automatically dissolved on May 31, 2024, unless dissolved sooner.

Now, let's suppose there was a national emergency declared on January 1, 2023. The parliament may extend the term of that Lok Sabha by one year at a time, due to the emergency situation. However, even if the emergency ends, the extension cannot last more than six months after the emergency has ceased to operate.

On the other hand, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), being a permanent body, does not get dissolved. Instead, every two years, approximately one-third of its members retire and elections are held to fill those seats, ensuring its continuity.