With reference to the joint sitting of Parliament, which statement(s) is/are correct?(1)Article 109 provides for the joint sitting of both Houses in certain cases.(2)The Speaker presides over the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament.Select the correct answer from the code given below:

1. A

   Only 1

   Option (a) claims that only statement 1 is correct regarding the joint sitting of Parliament. However, statement 1 is incorrect because Article 108, not Article 109, provides for the joint sitting of both Houses. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

2. B

   Only 2

   Option (b) states that only statement 2 is correct concerning the parliamentary joint sitting. Statement 2 correctly asserts that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament under Article 118. Since statement 1 is factually erroneous due to citing the wrong constitutional article, only the second statement holds true, making this option the correct key.

3. C

   Both 1 and 2

   Option (c) claims that both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct. This is invalid because the first statement cites Article 109 instead of Article 108, rendering the entire pair incorrect.

4. D

   Neither 1 nor 2

   Option (d) claims that neither statement 1 nor statement 2 is correct. This is wrong because statement 2 is factually accurate regarding the presiding officer of a joint sitting.

Summary. Official key is (b) because the joint sitting of Parliament is provisioned under Article 108 of the Constitution, making the first statement incorrect. The second statement is correct as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over such joint sessions pursuant to Article 118. Aspirants frequently confuse Article 108 with financial procedure articles like 109 and 110. Thus, only statement 2 stands validated by constitutional provisions.