Parliament of India

Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi

Overview

The Parliament of India is the highest legislative body in the country. It follows a bicameral system, meaning it has two houses —

  • Rajya Sabha (Council of States / Upper House)
  • Lok Sabha (House of the People / Lower House)

The members of both houses are either elected by citizens or nominated by the President of India. The President of India serves as the head of the Parliament.

Structure and Composition

The Rajya Sabha represents the states and union territories, while the Lok Sabha represents the people directly.

  • Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
    • Maximum strength: 250 members
    • 238 are elected by State Legislative Assemblies
    • 12 members are nominated by the President for their contributions to art, literature, science, or social service
    • Term: 6 years (One-third of members retire every two years)
    • It is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved.
    • The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
  • Lok Sabha (Lower House)
    • Total members: 543 elected + 2 nominated Anglo-Indians
    • Members are directly elected by citizens of India through universal adult franchise (every citizen aged 18 and above can vote).
    • Term: 5 years (can be dissolved earlier)
    • The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by its members and presides over its sessions.

Lok Sabha — The House of the People

The Lok Sabha is the directly elected chamber of Parliament, representing the will of the people.

  • To contest elections, a person must be:
    • A citizen of India
    • Mentally sound
    • Not bankrupt or criminally convicted
    • At least 25 years old

Out of 543 constituencies, 131 seats are reserved —

  • 84 for Scheduled Castes (SC)
  • 47 for Scheduled Tribes (ST)

Every law or bill first introduced in the Lok Sabha must pass with a majority before moving to the Rajya Sabha.

Rajya Sabha — The Council of States

The Rajya Sabha represents the states and union territories of India.
Members are indirectly elected by the Members of State Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) through a proportional representation system.

  • Maximum strength: 250
  • Current composition: 238 elected + 12 nominated by the President
  • Minimum age: 30 years
  • One-third of members retire every two years, ensuring continuity in the house’s functioning.

Unlike the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved.

Glimpses of the new Parliament Building, in New Delhi

Interesting Facts about the Indian Parliament

  1. The Parliament building is circular in shape, symbolizing continuity.
  2. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers are horseshoe-shaped.
  3. The Lok Sabha carpet is green, representing India’s agricultural base and connection to the grassroots.
    The Rajya Sabha carpet is red, symbolizing royalty and the sacrifices of freedom fighters.
  4. The Parliament Library is the second largest in India.
  5. The circumference of the Parliament building is about 536.33 meters (one-third of a mile).
  6. The first hour of every session, from 11 AM to 12 noon, is called Question Hour, when MPs ask questions about government policies and bills.
  7. The period after Question Hour, around 12 noon, is called Zero Hour, when MPs can raise urgent issues without prior notice.
  8. The President’s office is located in Room No. 13 of the Parliament (and yes, 13 is considered lucky here!).
  9. The Parliament canteen is famous for being the cheapest in India, serving a three-course vegetarian meal for ₹61 and Chicken Biryani for ₹51.
  10. Voting inside Parliament is conducted electronically, using colored buttons —
  • Green: Yes
  • Red: No
  • Yellow: Abstain

Source: Election comission of India and Wikipedia

Scroll to Top