Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the lower house of the Parliament of India and represents the citizens of India. Established under the Constitution of India, it plays a crucial role in lawmaking, budget approval, and holding the executive accountable.[1]
Composition
The maximum strength of Lok Sabha is 552 members:
- 543 members are directly elected by the people of India through general elections
- 2 members can be nominated by the President of India from the Anglo-Indian community (if deemed necessary, a provision now removed by the 104th Amendment)
The current Lok Sabha (17th) was elected in 2019. Members are elected using the first-past-the-post system and serve a term of five years unless dissolved earlier.
Key Roles and Functions
The Lok Sabha has the following powers and responsibilities:
- Legislation – Proposes, debates, and passes laws on Union and Concurrent subjects
- Financial control – All money bills originate only in the Lok Sabha; it controls budgetary allocations and taxation
- Executive oversight – Through debates, question hour, no-confidence motions, and committee reviews
- Amendments – Can propose and vote on amendments to the Constitution of India
- Elects the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and participates in the election of the President of India and Vice President of India
Speaker of Lok Sabha
The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha and is elected by its members. The Speaker maintains order during debates, decides on points of order, and ensures that proceedings run smoothly and according to the rules.[2]
Sessions
Lok Sabha meets three times a year in the following sessions:
- Budget Session (Feb–May)
- Monsoon Session (July–Sep)
- Winter Session (Nov–Dec)
The President of India summons the sessions, and the Speaker conducts the business of the House.
Importance
Lok Sabha is the cornerstone of India’s parliamentary democracy. It embodies the will of the people and ensures that the executive remains accountable and transparent in governance.
See Also
- Rajya Sabha
- Parliament of India
- President of India
- Prime Minister of India
- Constitution of India
- Election Commission of India