Parliament of India
भारत की संसद — जहां कानून बनते हैं
The supreme law-making body of India. Every tax you pay, every right you have, every scheme that reaches your village — it all starts here.
Lok Sabha seats
Rajya Sabha seats
Sessions per year
Parliamentary Committees
First Lok Sabha
New Parliament opened
Article 79
What is Parliament?
संसद क्या है?
Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. It has three parts: the President, the Lok Sabha (House of the People), and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). All three must agree before a bill becomes law.
संसद भारत का सर्वोच्च विधायी निकाय है। इसके तीन भाग हैं: राष्ट्रपति, लोकसभा (जनता का सदन), और राज्यसभा (राज्यों की परिषद)।
Why two Houses? (Bicameralism)
The Lok Sabha represents the people directly (elected by citizens). The Rajya Sabha represents the states (elected by state assemblies). This ensures both the will of the people and the interests of states are heard before any law is passed — a check on hasty legislation.
President
Art. 52–62राष्ट्रपति
Gives assent to bills, summons/prorogues/dissolves Parliament, addresses joint sittings
Lok Sabha
Art. 81लोकसभा
543 directly elected MPs. Lower House. Government must command majority here. Money Bills introduced only here.
Rajya Sabha
Art. 80राज्यसभा
245 members (233 elected by State Assemblies + 12 nominated). Upper House. Permanent — never dissolved.
18th Lok Sabha (2024) · Current Rajya Sabha
Party Composition
दलवार सीट संरचना
Lok Sabha
लोकसभा
18th Lok Sabha · Elected April–June 2024 · Total: 543 seats · Majority: 272
← Majority mark: 272 seats (50.1%)
Rajya Sabha
राज्यसभा
Permanent body · Total: 245 seats · 1/3 retire every 2 years
Key differences from Lok Sabha
18th Lok Sabha
Parliamentary Leadership
संसदीय नेतृत्व
Speaker, Lok Sabha
Om Birla
ओम बिरला
Elected for a second consecutive term. First Speaker to be re-elected in 50+ years. 3rd-term MP from Kota-Bundi.
Key Powers of Speaker
- Presides over all Lok Sabha sessions
- Decides which bills are "Money Bills" — a decisive and final power
- Maintains order in the House; can expel members
- Certifies all bills before they go to Rajya Sabha
Chairman, Rajya Sabha (ex-officio)
Jagdeep Dhankhar
जगदीप धनखड़
The Vice President is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha under Article 64.
Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha
Harivansh Narayan Singh
हरिवंश नारायण सिंह
JD(U)Rajya Sabha (Bihar) · Since 2018 (re-elected 2020)
Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha
Rahul Gandhi
राहुल गांधी
First LoP in Lok Sabha since 2014. Requires the party to have at least 10% of total seats (55 seats). INC won 99 seats in 2024, qualifying for the first time since 2014.
Why LoP matters
LoP is consulted for appointments to CBI, CVC, NHRC, Lokpal. Has cabinet minister-level perks. Represents the democratic principle that the government must be held accountable.
⚠️ Deputy Speaker Vacancy
The post of Deputy Speaker has been vacant since May 2019. By convention, the Deputy Speaker is from the largest opposition party, but this has not been filled in the 17th or 18th Lok Sabha.
Article 85
Parliamentary Sessions
संसद के सत्र
Parliament sits in three main sessions per year. The President summons Parliament on the advice of the PM (Art. 85). There must be no more than 6 months between two sessions.
Budget Session
बजट सत्र
The most important session of the year. Begins with the President's address to the joint sitting of Parliament. The Union Budget is presented on February 1. Finance Bill and Appropriation Bills are passed. Has a recess (break) in March for scrutiny of demands for grants.
Key Events / Business
Monsoon Session
मानसून सत्र
Usually the most contentious session — Parliament reconvenes after elections and Budget is implemented. Key policy debates, Opposition questions, major non-financial bills. Often sees adjournments due to disruptions.
Key Events / Business
Winter Session
शीतकालीन सत्र
Shorter session focused on completing pending legislative business before year-end. Private Member Bills are taken up on Fridays. Also used for urgent supplementary demands for grants.
Key Events / Business
Special / Extraordinary Sessions
विशेष / असाधारण सत्र
The President can summon Parliament for a special session at any time. Used for emergencies, urgent legislation, or historically significant occasions. Examples: India's Independence midnight session (1947), GST midnight session (2017), New Parliament inauguration (2023).
Key Events / Business
Parliamentary Productivity — Key Facts
Days Parliament sits per year (avg)
Declining since 1950s (150+ days)
Union Budget presented
Changed from last day of Feb in 2017
Questions answered per session (oral + written)
Starred (oral): ~20/day
Max gap allowed between sessions (Art. 85)
President must summon within this period
Inside Parliament
A Day in Parliament
संसद में एक दिन — 11 AM से 6 PM
House convenes
Speaker takes the Chair. Obituary references if any.
Question Hour (प्रश्नकाल)
MPs ask oral questions (starred) and written questions (unstarred) to ministers. Starred questions get supplementary questions. ~20 oral questions per day. Most watched part of Parliament.
Zero Hour (शून्यकाल)
MPs raise matters of "urgent public importance" without giving advance notice. Government has no obligation to respond immediately but must take note.
Legislative Business
Bills are introduced, debated, and voted on. Motions moved. Private Member Business (Fridays). Special discussions.
House adjourns
Speaker adjourns the House to the next sitting. On last day of a session: prorogued by Presidential order.
Types of Questions in Question Hour
Starred Question ⭐
Oralतारांकित प्रश्न
MP wants an oral answer in the House. The minister responds verbally. Supplementary questions can be asked. Only ~20 per day. Most valuable — forces minister to be present and answer live.
Unstarred Question
Writtenअतारांकित प्रश्न
MP wants a written answer. Minister submits a written reply — not read out in the House. Hundreds answered per day. Good for getting detailed factual information on record.
Short Notice Question
Urgentअल्प सूचना प्रश्न
Raised with less than 10 days' notice on urgent matters of public importance. Minister can decline if insufficient notice is given. Rare — requires Speaker's permission.
Real Work of Parliament
Parliamentary Committees
संसदीय समितियां
Most of Parliament's real work happens in committees — not on the floor. Committees can summon any minister, officer, or document. They are smaller (15–30 members) and work across party lines.
Financial Committees
वित्तीय समितियां
Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
Examines CAG audit reports. Checks if public money was spent as Parliament approved. One of the oldest committees.
Estimates Committee
Examines Budget estimates and suggests economies. Lok Sabha committee only.
Committee on Public Undertakings
Oversees PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) — Air India, ONGC, BSNL, etc. Checks their autonomy and efficiency.
Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
विभाग संबंधित स्थायी समितियां
24 DRSCs covering all Ministries
Each DRSC covers 2–3 ministries. Bills are sent for their scrutiny before floor debate. They can call any minister or officer to testify.
Finance Committee
Scrutinises all Finance Ministry proposals, banking regulation, insurance and RBI.
Home Affairs Committee
Oversees MHA budget, police reforms, border management, CRPF, BSF, IB policies.
Ad Hoc Committees
तदर्थ समितियां
Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)
Special committee with members from both Houses to investigate specific matters or examine complex bills. Very powerful — can summon any document or person.
Select Committee
Either House can send a Bill to a Select Committee for detailed clause-by-clause examination before debate.
Other Committees
अन्य समितियां
Business Advisory Committee
Recommends time allocation for government business and discussions. Chaired by the Speaker.
Rules Committee
Considers matters related to Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.
Committee on Privileges
Examines cases involving breach of privilege of the House or its members.
Committee on Ethics
Examines complaints regarding unethical conduct by MPs.
💡 Why Committees Matter for Citizens
Before a major bill passes, the committee invites public submissions. Any citizen, organisation, or expert can send written comments. The Committee on Public Accounts scrutinises every rupee of government spending based on CAG reports — you can read these reports at cag.gov.in.
Architecture of Democracy
Parliament Buildings
संसद भवन
Old Parliament House
पुराना संसद भवन (संसद सौध)
Built
1927
Capacity
~790 seats (combined)
Circular building with 144 columns. Originally called "Council House." Hosted India's historic midnight independence session on August 14/15, 1947. Now used for exhibitions and museum purposes.
Current Parliament (2023–Present)
New Parliament House
नया संसद भवन
Built
2023
Capacity
LS: 888 seats (1,272 joint), RS: 384 seats
Triangular building inaugurated on May 28, 2023 by PM Modi. Houses the Sengol (sacred sceptre) presented at Independence. Lok Sabha chamber can seat 888 members, expandable to 1,272 for joint sittings. Rajya Sabha can seat 384 members.
The Sengol
The Sengol (sacred sceptre from Tamil tradition, symbolising just rule) presented at India's Independence midnight session in 1947 is now installed near the Speaker's Chair in the new Parliament.
Legislative History
Milestones in Parliament's History
संसद के ऐतिहासिक मील के पत्थर
Constitution of India comes into force
India became a sovereign, democratic, republic. 395 Articles, 8 Schedules.
1st General Election
World's largest democratic exercise. 173 million voters. First Lok Sabha formed.
Bank Nationalisation
PM Indira Gandhi nationalised 14 major private banks, giving the state control over 85% of bank deposits.
Kesavananda Bharati Judgment
Supreme Court ruled Parliament cannot alter the "basic structure" of the Constitution. 13-judge bench, 7-6 verdict.
42nd Constitutional Amendment
Added "Socialist" and "Secular" to the Preamble. Added Fundamental Duties. Reduced judicial review.
Right to Information Act
Citizens gained the legal right to ask any government body for information. Transformed transparency.
Right to Education Act
Free and compulsory education for all children aged 6–14 under Article 21A.
GST Constitution Amendment + GST Laws
One Nation, One Tax. Replaced 17 central and state taxes. Special midnight session of Parliament.
Abrogation of Article 370
Special status of J&K revoked. J&K and Ladakh became Union Territories.
New Parliament Building Inaugurated
New Parliament building inaugurated on May 28, 2023. 1,272 seats vs old building's 790.
Democracy in Action
How Citizens Can Engage with Parliament
नागरिक संसद के साथ कैसे जुड़ सकते हैं
Watch Parliament Live
संसद लाइव देखें
All Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions are telecast live on Sansad TV and on the official websites.
Track Your MP
अपने सांसद को ट्रैक करें
PRS Legislative Research tracks every MP's attendance, questions asked, debates participated, and bills voted on.
Read Bills Before They Pass
पारित होने से पहले विधेयक पढ़ें
All bills and committee reports are publicly available. You can send written comments to parliamentary committees during the public consultation window.
Contact Your MP
अपने सांसद से संपर्क करें
Every MP has an official office in their constituency and in Parliament Annexe. You can write letters, submit petitions, or attend constituency camps.
File Parliament RTI
संसद RTI दाखिल करें
Parliament Secretariat is a public authority under RTI Act. You can ask for information about committee proceedings, MP pay and perks, House bills, and expenditure.
⚖️ Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule)
Added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment (1985). An MP or MLA who votes against their party whip or voluntarily gives up party membership can be disqualified from Parliament/Assembly.
52वें संशोधन (1985) द्वारा जोड़ा गया। जो सांसद/विधायक पार्टी व्हिप के खिलाफ वोट करते हैं या पार्टी छोड़ते हैं, उन्हें अयोग्य घोषित किया जा सकता है।
Key Provisions
The Parliament belongs to every citizen.
संसद प्रत्येक नागरिक की है।
Watch sessions. Track your MP. Read bills before they pass. Write to committees. File RTIs. That is participatory democracy.