Introduction
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in the country, composed of the President and two Houses—Lok Sabha (House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States). It is the bedrock of India's democratic polity, entrusted with representing citizens, legislating laws, holding the government accountable, and reflecting the aspirations and will of the people.
Role and Functions of Parliament
1. Legislative Functions
Law Making: Parliament enacts laws for the governance of India on matters in the Union and Concurrent Lists. It also legislates on the State List under special circumstances (Article 249, 356).
Constitutional Amendments: Under Article 368, Parliament holds the power to amend any part of the Constitution, subject to certain checks that preserve the 'basic structure' doctrine.
2. Accountability to the Executive (Article 75)
Collective Responsibility: According to Article 75(3), the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha; the government must retain its confidence to stay in power.
Appointment & Removal: The President appoints the Prime Minister and ministers, who must enjoy Lok Sabha's confidence. Ministers can be removed if they lose support or resign.
3. Motions in Parliament
Motions: Formal proposals moved by members to initiate discussions or express decisions—these include no-confidence motions, adjournment motions, and others essential to parliamentary democracy.
4. Question Hour
Question Hour: The first hour of a parliamentary sitting where Members of Parliament (MPs) can question ministers on portfolios—a key mechanism for transparency and holding the government to account.
5. Parliamentary Committees
Standing and Ad Hoc Committees: Crucial for scrutinizing legislation, budget, and executive actions. Important ones include Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs), Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Subordinate Legislation, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table, Committee on Welfare of SC/STs, Committee on Empowerment of Women, and others.
Functions: Examine government policies, scrutinize expenditures, analyze bills, and oversee delegated legislation—ensuring detailed checks beyond the House’s time constraints.
6. Enactment of Budget
Union Budget: Parliament debates and approves the annual budget, scrutinizes proposals, and controls public expenditure.
7. Judicial Functions
Removal of President and Vice President: Parliament can initiate impeachment against the President (Article 61) and pass resolutions to remove the Vice President (Article 67(b)), requiring a special process and majority.
8. Examination of Government Information
Parliament examines government rules, reports, and documents. MPs can demand discussion or seek modifications on rules framed by the executive. However, in practice, only a small portion of such documents is thoroughly scrutinized due to volume and staffing issues.
Problems Concerning Parliament
Structural and Functional Challenges
Decline in Sittings: The number of days Parliament sits annually has declined, affecting scrutiny and legislative debate.
Inadequate Mechanisms for Accountability: Many acts, rules, and regulations go unexamined; parliamentary committees lack sufficient staff and resources for detailed work.
Parliamentary Sessions Under Government Control: The executive decides when to convene Parliament, sometimes limiting opportunities for discussion on urgent issues.
Immature and Underprepared Parliamentarians: Lack of research support and experience among new MPs hampers productive debate.
Side Effects of Anti-Defection Law: MPs are forced to vote as per party whip, reducing deliberation and independent thinking.
Criminalisation of Politics: Increasing numbers of MPs with serious criminal charges erode Parliament’s credibility.
Disturbances and Adjournments: Frequent disruptions inhibit meaningful discussion. The monsoon session in July 2025, for instance, saw repeated walk-outs and adjournments affecting legislative business.
Low Women’s Representation: The 2024 election saw only 74 MPs. (women MPs in the Lok Sabha are still under 15%).
Other Issues: Passage of bills without debate, ordinances bypassing Parliament, and lack of transparency threaten parliamentary supremacy.
Reforms Proposed by Committees and Commissions
Minimum Working Days: The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution recommended at least 120 sitting days for Lok Sabha and 100 for Rajya Sabha annually.
PM to Answer Questions: Encourage Prime Minister to regularly participate in answering parliamentary questions. (UK convention)
Restrict Use of Anti-Defection Law: Limiting the scope to no-confidence and money bills only, to promote independence. ( Dinesh Goswami Committee )
Krishna Kumar Case (Ordinances): Supreme Court ruled for stricter checks on the use of ordinances, reinforcing the need for regular parliamentary oversight.
Enhance Research Support: Committees and MPs should have better access to staff and non-partisan research assistance for more effective scrutiny.
Women’s Reservation: Governments and activist groups have pushed for increased women’s representation, with the “Women’s Reservation Bill” repeatedly recommended but not yet enacted.
Representation of Women in Parliament (2024)
The 2024 Lok Sabha election saw 74 women MPs elected out of 543 seats, marking the highest number but still constituting only about 13.6% of the House (global average 26.9%). Rajya Sabha numbers remain similarly low.
Conclusion
India’s Parliament is the heart of its democracy, endowed with extensive powers— legislative, financial, executive oversight, and constitutional amendment. However, Parliament faces significant functional and ethical challenges: declining sittings, poor scrutiny, disruptions, criminalisation of politics, and gender imbalance. A mix of robust reforms—greater working days, empowered committees, restrictions on the anti-defection law, enhanced research support, and better gender representation—along with a renewed commitment to dignity and deliberation within the House, are essential for restoring Parliament’s central role in India’s polity. The monsoon session of July 2025 reflects the urgency of these reforms, as repeated disruptions have hampered vital legislative business, underscoring the need for immediate and concrete action to safeguard and strengthen parliamentary democracy
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