Introduction
India is the world’s largest democracy, and the Parliament is the cornerstone of its democratic system. The Parliament is responsible for enacting laws, approving budgets, and maintaining the accountability of the government. The Parliament consists of two houses: Lok Sabha, also known as the Lower House, and Rajya Sabha, also known as the Upper House. These two houses are collectively known as the Sansadiya Shasan Pranali.
Composition of the Parliament
The Lower House, Lok Sabha, has 543 members who are directly elected by the people of India. Members of Parliament (MPs) in Lok Sabha are elected for a period of five years. The Upper House, Rajya Sabha, has 245 members. Out of these, 233 members are elected by the State Legislative Assemblies, while 12 members are nominated by the President of India. MPs in Rajya Sabha are elected for a period of six years.
The Parliament is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, who is assisted by the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha is chaired by the Vice President of India. Both houses have a robust system of committees, which discuss bills, scrutinize the budget, and hold the government accountable.
Functions of the Parliament
The Parliament has three main functions: legislative, executive, and financial. The Parliament is responsible for enacting laws, approving budgets, and maintaining the accountability of the government.
Legislative: The Parliament enacts laws on a wide range of subjects, such as defense, foreign affairs, education, and healthcare. Bills are introduced in either house of Parliament, and they must be passed by both houses before they can become law.
Executive: The Parliament exercises a significant amount of control over the executive branch of the government. The Prime Minister and other ministers are appointed by the President, but they are accountable to the Parliament. The Parliament has the power to remove ministers from office through a vote of no confidence.
Financial: The Parliament approves the budget, which is presented by the government every year. The budget outlines the government’s expenditure and revenue for the upcoming year. The Parliament scrutinizes the budget and debates its provisions before approving it.
In conclusion, the Sansadiya Shasan Pranali or the Parliament of India is the backbone of India’s democracy. Its members are elected by the people of India and are responsible for enacting laws, approving budgets, and maintaining the accountability of the government. The Parliament is a powerful institution that exercises control over the executive branch of the government and has a robust system of committees to hold the government accountable. Its functions are vital to ensuring the smooth functioning of India’s democratic system.
