Member of parliament, Lok Sabha

The first instance of member of parliament equivalent in India dates back to 9 December 1946, the day Constituent Assembly of India was formed with the purpose of drafting a constitution for India. As opposed to be elected on the basis of adult suffrage, the Constituent Assembly of India consisted of indirectly elected representatives and were not categorised between Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Muslims and Sikhs were given special representation as minorities. The Constituent Assembly of India took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to draft the constitution for independent India and was dissolved in 1949.[5]

On 26 January 1950, the Indian constitution came into force and the first general elections (under the new constitution) were held in 1951-1952.[6] The 1st Lok Sabha was constituted on 17 April 1952 and had 489 constituencies, thereby first set of elected members of parliament of Lok Sabha in India.[7][8]

A person must satisfy all following conditions to be qualified to become a member of parliament of the Lok Sabha;

• Must be a citizen of India.
• Must not be less than 25 years of age.
• Must be a voter for any parliamentary constituency in India.
• Candidate of a recognised political party needs one proposer from his constituency for his nomination.
• An independent candidate needs ten proposers.
• Candidates are required to make a security deposit of ₹25,000 (US$350).[9]

A person would be ineligible for being a Member of the Lok Sabha if the person;

• Holds any office of profit under the Government of India (other than an office permitted by Parliament of India by law).
• Is of unsound mind.
• Is an undischarged insolvent.
• Has ceased to be a citizen of India.
• Is so disqualified by any law made by the Indian parliament.
• Is so disqualified on the ground of defection.
• Has been convicted, among other things, for promoting enmity between different groups.
• Has been convicted for offence of bribery.
• Has been punished for preaching and practising social crimes such as untouchability, dowry, or sati.
• Has been convicted for an offence and sentenced to imprisonment of more than two years.
• Has been dismissed for corruption or for disloyalty to the state (in case of a government servant).[4][10]

The term of a member of parliament of Lok Sabha (dissolved) is five years from the date appointment for its first meeting. During a state of emergency, the term however can be extended by the Parliament of India by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time. After the state of emergency ends, the extension cannot exceed beyond a period of six months.[11]

Broad responsibilities of the members of parliament of Lok Sabha are;

• Legislative responsibility: To pass Laws of India in the Lok Sabha.
• Oversight responsibility: To ensure that the executive (i.e. government) performs its duties satisfactorily.
• Representative responsibility: To represent the views and aspirations of the people of their constituency in the Parliament of India (Lok Sabha).
• Power of the purse responsibility: To approve and oversee the revenues and expenditures proposed by the government.
• The Union Council of Ministers, who are also members of parliament have an additional responsibility of the executive as compared to those who are not in the Council of Ministers.[10]

India paid ₹176 crore (equivalent to ₹214 crore or US$30 million in 2019) to its 543 Lok Sabha members in salaries and expenses over 2015, or just over ₹2.7 lakh (equivalent to ₹3.3 lakh or US$4,600 in 2019) per month per member of parliament in lncluding pensions to dependents of ex MPs .[12] The Salary, allowances and pension of Member of the Lok Sabha is governed by the Members of Parliament Act, 1954. The act is in pursuance to the constitutional provisions where article 106 of the Constitution of India provides that the members of either House of Parliament shall be entitled to receive such salaries and allowances as may from time to time be determined by Parliament by law.

The rules governing salaries, allowances and facilities such as medical, housing, telephone facilities, daily allowance etc... is looked after by a joint committee of both the houses (Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha). The committee is constituted from time to time after consultation with the Government of India.[1]

Seat distribution of 545 members of parliament in the 16th Lok Sabha

The map of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies in which elections are conducted for the current 17th Lok Sabha

Article 81 of the Constitution of India 1949 has specified maximum strength of members of parliament in the Lok Sabha to be 552. The number of members of parliament is distributed among the States in such a way that the ratio between the number of seats allotted to each State and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States.[13] Out of the maximum permitted strength,

• Not more than 530 members to be chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Indian states.
• Not more than 20 members to represent the union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament of India may by law provide.
• Total permitted maximum strength of 550 members.[2][3]

"Strength of Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha as defined in Article 81 of the Constitution of India",

(1) Subject to the provisions of article 331, the House of the People shall consist of

(a) not more than 530 (five hundred and thirty members) chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States, and

(b) not more than 20 (twenty members) to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.

(2) For the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (1),

(a) there shall be allotted to each State a number of seats in the House of the People in such manner that the ratio between that number and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States; and

(b) each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it is, so far as practicable, the same throughout the State:

(Provided that the provisions of sub-clause (a) of this clause shall not be applicable for the purpose of allotment of seats in the House of the People to any State so long as the population of that State does not exceed six millions.)

(3) In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:

(Provided that the reference in this clause to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2016 have been published).

(i) for the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (2) and the proviso to that clause, as a reference to the 1971 census; and

(ii) for the purposes of sub-clause (b) of clause (2) as a reference to the 2001 census.

— Ministry of Law and Justice, Constitution of India (Part V—The Union.—Article 81.)[14]

• List of members of the 17th Lok Sabha
• Constitution of India
• Parliament of India