| Provisions | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Representation | People of India | States and Union Territories |
| Election Procedure | Directly elected by First Past The Post (FPTP) system. | Indirectly elected by proportional representation. |
| Minimum age | 25 yrs | 30 yrs |
| Term | 5 yrs | Permanent body |
| Head | Speaker | Vice-President |
| Electoral College | Citizen above 18 yrs | Members of state legislative assembly and union territories with legislative assembly |
| Composition | Maximum strength is 550 530- States 20- UTs | Maximum strength is 250 238- States 12- nominated |
Powers of lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha:
-
- Introduction and passage of ordinary bills, Constitutional amendment bills and financial bills.
- Election and impeachment of the president.
- Election and removal of the Vice-President.
- Recommending the President for removal of Chief Justice and judges of Supreme Court and high courts, chief election commissioner and comptroller and auditor general.
- Approval of ordinances and proclamation of emergency by the President.
- Selection of ministers including the Prime Minister.
- Consideration of reports of constitutional bodies like Finance Commission, UPSC, CAG etc.
- Enlargement of jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Union Public Service Commission.
Special powers
| Special powers of lok Sabha | Special powers of Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|
| Special powers in case of money bill. Speaker presides over joint sitting. To vote on demand for grants Passing a resolution to discontinue emergency Holding collective responsibility by no-confidence motion | Authorize the Parliament to make law on a state subject (Article 249). Authorize the Parliament to create new All-India Services (Article 312). Initiate a removal of the vice president (Article 67). Approval of proclamation for emergency (all 3 types) in the absence of Lok Sabha (Articles 352, 356 and 360). |
Rationale behind bicameral legislature:
-
- Effective check against whims and fancies of Lok Sabha
- Maintains federal equilibrium
- Promotes deliberations in law-making
- Work as shock absorber
- Facilitates representation of eminent professionals and experts
Criticism of Rajya Sabha:
-
- It has become a house of accommodation
- A house to give refugee to defeated candidates
- Corporatization of the house
- A mere revising chamber
Has bicameral legislature been able to protect federal interests?
| Positive | Negative | Way forward |
|---|---|---|
| It has stood to protect the interest federal interest like- Rejection of 65th and 66th Constitutional Amendment Bills for creation of local bodies. Rejection of three bills passed through joint sitting. | Failed to protect interest of states in following cases- Reduced status of J&K from State to UT. Reduction of powers of NCT Delhi government through amendment. Farm bills | Act as voice of states to protect constitutional morality rather than ruling government. M. M. Punchhi Commission: Equal number of seates in RS as that of LS, on the pattern of US. |
Significance of Rajya Sabha
-
- Recently a publication titled ‘RS- The journey since 1952’ highlighted:
- Total number of sittings- 5466
- Total number of bills passed- 3817
- Total number of women members- 208 (double from 15 in 1952 to 31 in 2014)
- Some of the most impactful Bills passed by Rajya Sabha:
- The Hindu Marriage and Divorce Bill, 1952,
- The Hindu Succession Bill, 1954,
- The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill, 2012,
- The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019
- The Constitution (One Hundred and Third) Amendment Act, 2019
- Thus significant role in terms of democratic discourse, law-making and bringing socio-economic changes.
- Recently a publication titled ‘RS- The journey since 1952’ highlighted:
