Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha
Notes
Basis | Lok Sabha (House of the People) | Rajya Sabha (Council of States) |
|---|---|---|
Nature | Lower house, directly elected | Upper house, indirectly elected |
Maximum strength | 550 (530 from States + 20 from UTs) | 250 (238 elected + 12 nominated) |
Present strength | 543 elected | 245 (233 elected + 12 nominated) |
Election | Direct, universal adult suffrage (voting age 18 under the 61st Amendment, 1988) | Elected by elected MLAs by STV (proportional representation) |
Term | 5 years, can be dissolved | Permanent house; members serve 6 years; one-third retire every 2 years |
Minimum age | 25 years | 30 years |
Presiding officer | Speaker (elected from members) | Vice-President as ex-officio Chairman; Deputy Chairman elected from members |
Money Bills | Initiated and finally decided; Budget presented | Only recommendations within 14 days |
Confidence | Council of Ministers is responsible only to Lok Sabha | No such power |
Quorum | One-tenth of total members | One-tenth |
Powers shared equally: ordinary legislation, Constitutional amendments, election and impeachment of the President, election of the Vice-President (RS has initiating role in removal), approval of Ordinances, approval of Emergency proclamations, removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges, and powers over committees.
Special powers of the Lok Sabha
- Money Bills and Financial Bills (Art. 109); introduction of the Budget.
- Council of Ministers is responsible to it; no-confidence motion only in Lok Sabha.
- Final say in the case of disagreement on Money Bills.
- Presides over the joint sitting (Speaker).
- Approves Emergency continuation (Lok Sabha can disapprove the Emergency by simple majority; Art. 352(7)).
Special powers of the Rajya Sabha
- Art. 249: can authorise Parliament, by a resolution supported by two-thirds of members present and voting, to legislate on a State List subject in the national interest (for one year at a time).
- Art. 312: can authorise creation of All-India Services by a similar two-thirds resolution.
- It cannot be dissolved; it provides continuity.
- The Vice-President's removal resolution can only be initiated in the Rajya Sabha.
Other points
- 84th Amendment (2001): seat allocation frozen on the 1971 Census until the first Census after 2026.
- 104th Amendment (2019): ended reserved seats for Anglo-Indian nominees in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
- 106th Amendment (2023, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam): one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies reserved for women, to take effect after the next Census and delimitation.
- The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2003 removed the domicile requirement for Rajya Sabha candidates and introduced open ballot.
Key Points
- LS max 550 and RS max 250 (12 nominated).
- RS is permanent; one-third retire every two years.
- Money Bill: LS prevails; RS has 14 days.
- Special powers of RS: Art. 249 and 312.
- Government is responsible only to the Lok Sabha.
MCQs
Q1. Under which Article can the Rajya Sabha empower Parliament to legislate on a State List subject? (a) Art. 249 (b) Art. 250 (c) Art. 252 (d) Art. 312 Ans: (a). By a two-thirds resolution of members present and voting.
Q2. The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is: (a) 238 (b) 245 (c) 250 (d) 262 Ans: (c). 238 elected + 12 nominated.
Q3. The Rajya Sabha must return a Money Bill with recommendations within: (a) 7 days (b) 14 days (c) 21 days (d) 30 days Ans: (b).