Indian Parliament

Indian Parliament. The supreme legislative body of the Republic of India, it is a bicameral institution comprising the President of India and two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). Its seat is the iconic Sansad Bhavan in the national capital of New Delhi. As the cornerstone of Indian democracy, it embodies the principles of parliamentary sovereignty and is responsible for law-making, overseeing the executive, and controlling national finances.

Structure and Composition

The Rajya Sabha is the upper house, representing the states and union territories, with a maximum strength of 250 members, most of whom are elected by the legislative assemblies of the states using a system of proportional representation. Twelve members are nominated by the President of India for their expertise in fields like Literature, Science, Art, and Social service. The Lok Sabha, the directly elected lower house, has a maximum of 543 elected members from parliamentary constituencies across the country, with two additional members nominated from the Anglo-Indian community, a provision now lapsed. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected through a first-past-the-post system for a term of five years, unless dissolved earlier, while Rajya Sabha members serve staggered six-year terms. The Vice President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, while the Lok Sabha elects its own Speaker.

Functions and Powers

Its primary function is to make laws on subjects enumerated in the Union List and Concurrent List of the Constitution of India. It holds the exclusive power to amend the Constitution. The Lok Sabha holds superior financial power, as all money bills can only originate there. It exercises control over the Council of Ministers through mechanisms like Question Hour, adjournment motions, and no-confidence motions. It also plays a critical role in the impeachment of high officials like the President of India and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. Other key powers include approving proclamations of emergency and the creation of new states.

Sessions and Procedures

Three sessions are typically held annually: the Budget session (February-May), the Monsoon session (July-August), and the Winter session (November-December). The President of India summons and prorogues each house, and addresses both houses assembled together at the start of the first session after each general election. Legislative business follows a detailed procedure involving the introduction of a bill, discussion across multiple readings, and voting. Crucial parliamentary devices include the Zero Hour, which allows members to raise urgent matters, and various types of parliamentary committees like the Public Accounts Committee and the Estimates Committee for detailed scrutiny.

Historical Development

Its origins trace back to the Government of India Act 1919, which established the bicameral legislature, and later the Government of India Act 1935. The Constituent Assembly of India, which drafted the Constitution between 1946 and 1949, also served as the provisional parliament. The first general elections under the new constitution were held in 1951–52, and the first elected Lok Sabha convened in May 1952. The current Sansad Bhavan, designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, was inaugurated on 18 January 1927 as the Council House and became the permanent home. Landmark legislative acts passed include the Hindu Code Bills in the 1950s, the bank nationalization acts, and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) amendment.

Significance and Role in Democracy

It stands as the supreme representative institution, reflecting the will of the people of India. It is the primary forum for national debate on issues of public importance, from economic planning and foreign policy to social reform. By holding the Prime Minister and the cabinet accountable, it ensures the principle of collective responsibility. Its role was critically tested during periods like the Internal Emergency (1975-77). As the institutional heart of the world's largest democracy, its effective functioning is essential for federal cohesion, upholding the fundamental rights of citizens, and realizing the objectives outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution of India.

Category:National legislatures Category:Politics of India