Topic 01 of 6 · Chapter 08 · Indian Polity
Lok Sabha — Composition, Powers & Functions
The lower house of Parliament — its strength, election, Speaker, key powers, and important constitutional articles.
📋 In This Article
1. Composition & Strength
The Lok Sabha is the lower house (popular house) of the Indian Parliament. It directly represents the people of India.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum Strength | 552 (530 from States + 20 from UTs + 2 nominated Anglo-Indians) |
| Present Strength | 543 elected + 2 nominated = 545 (Anglo-Indian nomination abolished by 104th Amendment 2020) |
| Current Elected Seats | 543 |
| Seats from States | 530 (maximum) |
| Seats from UTs | 20 (maximum) |
| Nominated Members | 2 Anglo-Indians (abolished by 104th Amendment, 2020) |
| Article | Article 81 |
⭐ Exam Tip: The 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2020 abolished the provision for nomination of Anglo-Indian members to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. Current Lok Sabha has 543 elected members only.
💡 Key Concept: Seats in Lok Sabha are allocated to States on the basis of population (as per 1971 Census — frozen till 2026 by 42nd Amendment). After 2026, delimitation will be based on the first Census after 2026.
2. Election & Qualifications
Method of Election
Members of Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people through the First Past the Post (FPTP) system — also called the plurality system. Each constituency elects one member.
Qualifications for Membership (Art 84)
- Must be a citizen of India
- Must be not less than 25 years of age
- Must be registered as a voter in any parliamentary constituency
- Must possess such other qualifications as Parliament may prescribe
Disqualifications (Art 102)
- Holds any office of profit under the Government of India or State Government
- Is of unsound mind and declared so by a court
- Is an undischarged insolvent
- Is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired citizenship of a foreign state
- Is disqualified under any law made by Parliament (e.g., Representation of People Act, 1951)
- Is disqualified under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law)
✅ Remember: Minimum age for Lok Sabha = 25 years. Minimum age for Rajya Sabha = 30 years. Minimum age for President/VP = 35 years.
3. Tenure & Dissolution
The normal tenure of Lok Sabha is 5 years from the date of its first sitting after a general election (Article 83). However:
- It can be dissolved earlier by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister
- During a National Emergency (Art 352), its term can be extended by Parliament by one year at a time (no maximum limit)
- Extension cannot continue beyond 6 months after the Emergency ceases
📌 Note: Rajya Sabha is a permanent house — it is never dissolved. Only Lok Sabha can be dissolved. This is a very frequently asked distinction in exams.
4. Speaker & Deputy Speaker
Speaker (Article 93)
- Elected by the members of Lok Sabha from among themselves
- Presides over the sessions of Lok Sabha
- Casting vote in case of a tie
- Decides whether a bill is a Money Bill (Art 110) — decision is final
- Presides over joint sitting of both Houses (Art 108)
- Removal: by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of Lok Sabha (Art 94) — 14 days’ notice required
- During removal resolution, Speaker cannot preside but can vote
Deputy Speaker (Article 93)
- Also elected by members of Lok Sabha from among themselves
- Presides in the absence of the Speaker
- Removal: same procedure as Speaker
- When Deputy Speaker presides, he has the same powers as the Speaker
⭐ Exam Tip: The Speaker of Lok Sabha is the presiding officer of joint sittings (Art 108). If Speaker is absent, Deputy Speaker presides. The Speaker’s decision on Money Bill is final and cannot be questioned in any court.
| Post | Elected By | Removal | Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker, Lok Sabha | Members of Lok Sabha | Majority of all then members of LS (14 days notice) | Art 93, 94 |
| Deputy Speaker, LS | Members of Lok Sabha | Same as Speaker | Art 93, 94 |
| Chairman, Rajya Sabha | Ex-officio (Vice-President) | Removal of VP from office | Art 89 |
| Deputy Chairman, RS | Members of Rajya Sabha | Majority of all then members of RS | Art 90 |
5. Powers & Functions
Legislative Powers
- Can pass ordinary bills, money bills, and constitutional amendment bills
- Money bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha (Art 109)
- Rajya Sabha can only delay a money bill by 14 days
- In case of deadlock on ordinary bills, joint sitting is convened (Art 108)
Financial Powers
- Money bills originate only in Lok Sabha
- Budget (Annual Financial Statement) is presented in Lok Sabha
- No tax can be levied or collected without the approval of Lok Sabha
- Lok Sabha has the final say on financial matters
Control over Executive
- Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha (Art 75)
- No-confidence motion can only be moved in Lok Sabha — if passed, government must resign
- Question Hour, Zero Hour, Adjournment Motion, Censure Motion
- Cut motions on demands for grants
Electoral Powers
- Elected members of Lok Sabha participate in the election of the President
- Elected members of Lok Sabha participate in the election of the Vice-President
💡 Key Concept: The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Art 75), NOT to the Rajya Sabha. This makes Lok Sabha the more powerful house in practice. A no-confidence motion can only be moved in Lok Sabha.
6. Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha
| Feature | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Lower House / Popular House | Upper House / Council of States |
| Strength | Max 552 (currently 543) | Max 250 (currently 245) |
| Election | Direct election by people | Indirect election by elected MLAs |
| Tenure | 5 years (can be dissolved) | Permanent (never dissolved) |
| Minimum Age | 25 years | 30 years |
| Presiding Officer | Speaker | Chairman (VP of India) |
| Money Bills | Introduced only here; final say | Can only delay by 14 days |
| No-Confidence Motion | Can be moved here | Cannot be moved here |
| Special Powers | Money bills, no-confidence | Art 249, Art 312 |
| Article | Art 81 | Art 80 |
7. Key Constitutional Articles
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| Art 81 | Composition of Lok Sabha |
| Art 83 | Duration of Houses of Parliament (5 years for LS) |
| Art 84 | Qualifications for membership of Parliament |
| Art 85 | Sessions of Parliament, prorogation and dissolution |
| Art 93 | Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha |
| Art 94 | Vacation and resignation of offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker |
| Art 100 | Voting in Houses, quorum |
| Art 108 | Joint sitting of both Houses |
| Art 109 | Special procedure for Money Bills |
| Art 110 | Definition of Money Bills |
✅ Remember: Art 110 defines what a Money Bill is. A bill is a Money Bill only if it deals exclusively with matters like taxation, borrowing of money by the Government, custody of the Consolidated Fund, etc. The Speaker’s certificate is conclusive.
8. Key Points for Exam
🔑 Must-Remember Facts
- Lok Sabha maximum strength = 552; current elected strength = 543
- Anglo-Indian nomination abolished by 104th Amendment, 2020
- Minimum age for Lok Sabha membership = 25 years (Art 84)
- Normal tenure = 5 years (Art 83); can be dissolved earlier by President
- Speaker elected by members of Lok Sabha (Art 93)
- Speaker removed by majority of all then members of LS (Art 94) — 14 days notice
- Speaker presides over joint sitting (Art 108)
- Speaker’s decision on Money Bill is final (Art 110)
- Money bills introduced only in Lok Sabha (Art 109)
- Council of Ministers collectively responsible to Lok Sabha (Art 75)
- No-confidence motion can only be moved in Lok Sabha
- Seats allocated based on 1971 Census (frozen till 2026)
- FPTP system used for Lok Sabha elections
- Quorum = 1/10th of total membership (Art 100)