The legislative powers of the President include: (a) Summoning or proroguing Parliament and dissolving the Lok Sabha. Also, summoning a joint sitting of both Houses (presided over by the Speaker of Lok Sabha). (b) Addressing Parliament at the commencement of the first session after each general election and the first session of each year. (c) Sending messages to Parliament regarding bills or other matters. (d) Appointing any member of the Lok Sabha to preside when Speaker and Deputy Speaker offices are vacant, and similarly for the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Deputy Chairman. (e) Nominating 12 members to the Rajya Sabha from persons with special knowledge in literature, science, art, and social service. (f) (Before 2020) Nominating two members to the Lok Sabha from the Anglo-Indian community (discontinued by the 104th Amendment Act of 2019). (g) Deciding on disqualifications of MPs in consultation with the Election Commission. (h) Requiring prior recommendation or permission for certain bills, including those involving expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, alteration of state boundaries/creation of new states, money bills, bills imposing/varying taxes where states are interested, bills affecting ‘agricultural income’ definition, bills affecting revenue distribution to states, and bills imposing surcharges for the Centre. (i) Sanctioning state bills imposing restrictions on freedom of trade, commerce, and intercourse. (j) Having alternatives when a bill passed by Parliament is sent for assent: giving assent, withholding assent, or returning the bill (if not a money bill) for reconsideration. If passed again, assent is obligatory. (k) Having alternatives when a state bill reserved by the governor is sent for consideration: giving assent, withholding assent, or directing the governor to return the bill (if not a money bill) for reconsideration. Assent is not obligatory if passed again. (l) Promulgating ordinances when Parliament is not in session, which must be approved within six weeks of reassembly, and can be withdrawn at any time. (m) Laying reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, UPSC, Finance Commission, etc., before Parliament. (n) Making regulations for peace, progress, and good government of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Ladakh. In Puducherry, only when the assembly is suspended or dissolved. (o) Declaring any area as a scheduled area and exercising powers over its administration and tribal areas.