indian polity book series 22

Indian Polity - Lok Sabha Continued

By which constitutional amendment act the number of seats in the Lok Sabha was increased from 525 to 545? (1) (2018)

1. 31st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1973
2. 32nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974
3. 36th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975
4. 39th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975

Lok Sabha Structure

Article 81 of the Constitution deals with the structure of the Lok Sabha.

Initially, the maximum number of members in the Lok Sabha was 525.

Note: The first Lok Sabha had only 489 seats.

31st Constitutional Amendment Act (1973) - Increased the representation of states in Lok Sabha from 500 to 525. At the same time, it reduced the representation of Union Territories from 25 to 20. With this, the number of Lok Sabha members became 525 + 20 = 545.

In 2001, the 84th Constitutional Amendment extended freezing of the number of Lok Sabha seats until 2026.

Note: Prior to this, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) had frozen the number of Lok Sabha seats until the year 2000.

Currently, the maximum number of Lok Sabha members is 552.

• From states through territorial constituencies (including Jammu and Kashmir) - 530
• From Union Territories - 20
• Anglo-Indians nominated by the President according to Article 331 - 2
• Total - 552

But the current number of Lok Sabha seats is 545

• From states through territorial constituencies - 530
• From Union Territories - 13
• Anglo-Indians nominated by the President-2
• Total - 545

The 104th Constitutional Amendment (2020) abolished the reservation for Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

Seats from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to Lok Sabha – 6

How many members are currently from states and union territories - 543.

Currently, the number of members elected to the Lok Sabha is 543.

Number of members nominated to Lok Sabha - 2.

Through the 84th Constitutional Amendment, the current number of Lok Sabha seats is 545. This will not change until 2026.

After every census, a Delimitation Commission (Constituency Redistribution Commission) is constituted by an Act of Parliament.

So far, Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times.

In 2002, the 4th Delimitation Commission was set up under the chairmanship of Justice Kuldeep Singh.

The 87th Constitutional Amendment (2003) redistributed constituencies based on the 2001 census. In this, the number of voters in the constituencies was rationalized. But there was no change in the number of constituencies (545).

Note: Although the number of constituencies did not change in the redistribution of constituencies undertaken through this Constitutional Amendment, the number of constituencies reserved for SCs and STs increased.

Currently, the number of SC Lok Sabha seats - 84 (increased from 79). (Total reserved seats 131)

Currently, the number of ST Lok Sabha seats - 47 (increased from 41).

Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of reserved seats for STs, with 6, while Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of reserved seats for SCs, with 17.

Note: Article 330 states that certain seats should be reserved for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha.

Number of SC Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh - 4, in Telangana 3

Number of ST Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh - 1, in Telangana 2

Note:

1. According to the 95th Constitutional Amendment (2009), the number of seats reserved for SCs and STs should not be changed until 2020.
2. There are no reservations for SCs and STs in the Rajya Sabha.

According to the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, reservations for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha State Legislative Assemblies will continue for another 10 years i.e. till 2030.

Read the following statements.

(3)(Telangana Constable Prelims-2016)

a) Bihar is the first state to provide 50% reservation for women in the Panchayati Raj system.
b) There are 84 seats reserved for Scheduled Caste members in the Lok Sabha.
c) There are 41 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribe members in the Lok Sabha.
Correct answer

1. c is correct, but a and b are wrong
2. c and a are correct but b is wrong
3. a and b are correct but c is wrong
4. a, b and c are all correct

The number of seats allocated to the Lok Sabha from each state depends on the population of that state.

Each Lok Sabha member represents an average of 5 to 10 lakh people.

If the number of Parliament seats is to be increased, the Delimitation Commission must be constituted. Courts cannot go to the Delimitation Commission's decision.

The Delimitation Commission is not required to increase the state assembly seats. If the state assembly passes a resolution and sends it to the center, the center will report it to the president. The President will send this matter to the Central Election Commission. The state assembly seats can be increased based on the recommendation of the Central Election Commission.

Note: There is a demand to increase the number of assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

States - Lok Sabha Seats

State	Total Seats	SC Reserved Seats	ST Reserved Seats
1. Uttar Pradesh	80	17	-
2. Maharashtra	48	5	4
3. West Bengal	42	10	2
4. Bihar	40	6	-
5. Tamil Nadu	39	7	-
6. Madhya Pradesh	29	4	6
7. Karnataka	28	5	2
8. Gujarat	26	2	4
9. Andhra Pradesh	25	4	1
10. Rajasthan	25	4	3
11. Odisha	21	3	5
12. Kerala	20	2	-
13. Telangana	17	3	2
14. Assam	14	1	5
15. Jharkhand	14	1	2
16. Punjab	13	4	-
17. Chhattisgarh	11	1	4
18. Haryana	10	2	-
19. Uttarakhand	5	1	-
20. Himachal Pradesh	4	1	-
21. Tripura	2	-	1
22. Meghalaya	2	-	2
23. Manipur	2	-	1
24. Goa	2	-	-
25. Arunachal Pradesh	2	-	-
26. Sikkim	1	-	-
27. Nagaland	1	-	-
28. Mizoram	1	-	1

The state with the highest number of Lok Sabha seats is Uttar Pradesh.

Top 5 states with the highest number of Lok Sabha seats

1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Maharashtra
3. West Bengal
4. Bihar
5. Tamil Nadu

Read the following statements.

(1)(Telangana Constable Prelims-2016)

a) Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have an equal number of Rajya Sabha seats.
b) Rajasthan and Odisha have an equal number of Lok Sabha seats.
c) The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is appointed by the Speaker.

1. a is correct but b and c are wrong
2. c and a are correct, but b is wrong
3. a, b and c are all correct
4. a, b, and c are all wrong

Union Territories - Lok Sabha Seats

Union Territory	Total Seats	SC Seats	ST Seats
1. Delhi	7	1	-
2. Puducherry	1	-	-
3. Andaman & Nicobar	1	-	-
4. Lakshadweep	1	-	1
5. Dadra & Nagar Haveli Daman Diu	2	-	1
6. Chandigarh	1	-	-
7. Jammu & Kashmir	5	-	-
8. Ladakh	1	-	-

Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha seats are 25.

State with the same number of Lok Sabha seats as Andhra Pradesh is Rajasthan.

Telangana Lok Sabha seats are 17.

States with the lowest number of Lok Sabha seats - Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland.

The number of states with double-digit Lok Sabha seats - 18

Currently the number of Lok Sabha members elected from Union Territories is 13 + 6 = 19 (with Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh).

The maximum number of Lok Sabha members elected from Union Territories - 20 + 6 = 26.

Union Territory with the most Lok Sabha seats - Delhi (7).

According to Article 331, the number of Anglo-Indians nominated to the Lok Sabha is 2.

The President nominates Anglo-Indians to the Lok Sabha.

Note: The number of members nominated by the President to Parliament - 14 (12 Rajya Sabha + 2 Lok Sabha).

Currently Nominated Members in 17th Lok Sabha:

1. Richard Hay (Kerala)
2. George Baker (West Bengal).

Note: If the President feels that there is no proper representation for Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha, he nominates two Anglo-Indian members. This number should not be changed till 2020 - 95th Constitutional Amendment, 2009. According to the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, reservation for SC, STs was increased to 2030. The reservation for Anglo-Indians has been removed.

Constituency with largest electorate in terms of the number of voters:

1. Malkajgiri (Telangana)
2. Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)
3. North Bangalore (Karnataka)

Constituency with smallest electorate in terms of the number of voters:

1. Lakshadweep
2. Daman Diu
3. Delhi

Smallest Polling Station - Baneja (Gujarat)

Largest Lok Sabha Constituency by Area :

1. Ladakh
2. Barmer (Rajasthan)

Smallest Lok Sabha Constituency by Area :

1. Chandni Chowk (New Delhi)

Qualifications to contest as a Lok Sabha member (Article 84):

• Must be a citizen of India.
• Should not be less than 25 years of age.
• Should not hold any government office giving income.
• Should not be bankrupt.
• Should not be convicted of a crime.
• Should not be mentally ill.
• Must be registered as a voter in any parliamentary constituency in the country.

Conditions : Rs. 25,000 deposit must be paid

Note: SC, ST should pay Rs. 12,500.

Assets, liabilities, and criminal history should be disclosed in the form of an affidavit. Currently, expenditure should not exceed 77 lakhs in elections. In small states, expenditure should not exceed 59 lakhs.

Oath of Office:

Lok Sabha members take the oath of office before the President (or) an officer appointed by the President. Usually, the oath is taken before the Pro-tem Speaker.

Salaries (Article 106): (As per the new law that came into force from April 1, 2018, both get equal salaries)

Salaries of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members are decided by the Parliament.

• Current salary of Lok Sabha member - Rs.1,00,000
• Constituency allowance - Rs.60,000
• For office and other expenses - Rs. 1,00,000
• Pension received by Lok Sabha members after retirement per month - Rs. 25,000

Tenure :

The term of office of a Lok Sabha member is normally 5 years. (Article 83(2))

Lok Sabha members are directly elected by the voters on the basis of constituencies through universal adult suffrage (Article 326).

This method is called 'First Past the Post' in English. 'Winner gets all'.

Indian citizens who have completed 18 years of age elect Lok Sabha members by secret ballot.

Note: In the original Constitution, the universal adult suffrage was 21 years. In 1988, the 61st Constitutional Amendment reduced this age to 18 years.

Resignation: Members of Parliament should submit their resignation to the Speaker.

Ex: A Lok Sabha member should give his resignation to the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Members of Parliament will lose their membership if they are absent for 60 consecutive days without the permission of the Speaker.

Ex: Subrahmanya Swamy (Janata Party)

If a member holds membership in both houses at the same time, he will lose membership in one of the houses.

According to Article 103, the final authority in deciding the disqualification of a Member of Parliament rests with the President.

Note: The Election Commission's opinion should be taken before disqualifying. The President must follow the recommendation of the Election Commission.

The final authority to decide the disqualification of a Member of Parliament under the Anti-Defection Law rests with the Speaker of that House.

Lok Sabha Speaker

Read the following statements.

(3)(Telangana Constable Prelims-2016)

a) The Leader of the Opposition is appointed by the Speaker.
b) Two members are nominated by the Speaker in the Lok Sabha.
c) The Speaker submits his resignation to the President.
Which of the above statements is/are wrong?

1. a and b
2. a and c
3. b and c
4. a only

Presiding over the Lok Sabha meetings and conducting the Lok Sabha - Lok Sabha Speaker

Lok Sabha members elect one of themselves as Lok Sabha Speaker.

The post of Lok Sabha Speaker was adopted from Britain.

Note: Article 93 describes 'Speaker'.

In Britain, the person elected as Speaker resigns from the primary membership of his party.

The only person in our country who resigned from the primary membership of his party as soon as he was elected as Lok Sabha Speaker - Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.

Parliament decides the salary of the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Current salary of Lok Sabha Speaker - Rs. 4,00,000

The Speaker's salary is paid from the Consolidated Fund of India. This does not come under the purview of income tax.

The Speaker submits his resignation to the Deputy Speaker.

Note : The Deputy Speaker submits his resignation to the Speaker.

A no-confidence motion can be introduced against the Lok Sabha Speaker. A no-confidence motion notice should be given to the Lok Sabha Speaker 14 days in advance.

Note: Signatures of 50 members are required on the no-confidence motion notice.

The Speaker should not preside while the no-confidence motion is being discussed.

Note: He can participate in the discussion and vote on the resolution.

If there is a tie in the voting on the removal resolution of the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Deputy Speaker in the chair can cast a casting vote.

The permission of the Speaker is mandatory to introduce any bill in the Lok Sabha.

No member of the ruling party or opposition can speak without the permission of the Speaker.

Members must follow the Speaker's ruling.

The Speaker has the power to suspend the members.

The Speaker can temporarily adjourn the Lok Sabha meetings.

The power to decide whether a bill is a money bill or not rests with the Lok Sabha Speaker.

The Lok Sabha Speaker presides over the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

When there is a tie in the Lok Sabha on bills, the Speaker can use his casting vote.

Even if the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the post of Speaker is not cancelled.

The final authority to decide the disqualification of Lok Sabha members under the Anti-Defection Law rests with the Speaker.

In our country, the person belonging to the ruling party becomes the Speaker.

Note: In America, the Speaker is elected from the opposition party.

The constitutional article that provides for the casting vote to the Lok Sabha Speaker

(1) (Telangana Constables - 2019)

1. Article 100
2. Article 101
3. Article 102
4. Article 103

Who has the power to decide a bill as a money bill? (1) (AP Constable Prelims-2016)

1. Lok Sabha Speaker
2. President of India
3. Finance Minister
4. Prime Minister

The President decides the date for the election of the Speaker.

The Speaker acts as the protector of the rights of the Lok Sabha members.

If there is no quorum in the Lok Sabha meetings, the meeting is adjourned.

Note: One-tenth (1/10) of the total Lok Sabha seats is called 'quorum'.

The Speaker decides the chairmen of all parliamentary committees.

The Speaker presides over the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), Rules Committee, and General Purpose Committee.

No court can interfere in the matter of conducting the House.

The Speaker is referred to as the 'Custodian' of the Lok Sabha.

In India, according to the status, the Speaker is in the 7th position. He has equal status with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The post of Speaker was created for the first time in 1919.

This post was changed to Speaker in 1935.

According to the 1919 Act, the Governor-General nominated the Speaker.

Frederick White was first appointed as the President of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1921.

Vithalbhai Patel - the first Indian to serve as Speaker.