The Lok Sabha Speaker’s remarks about the need to enhance legislative productivity reflect growing concerns about the diminishing effectiveness of India’s legislative bodies. The challenges faced by Parliament in terms of sitting days, quality debates, and legislative scrutiny have broader implications for the country's governance, democracy, and public trust.
Parliament's sitting days have drastically reduced, from around 135 days per year in the 1st Lok Sabha to approximately 55 days per year in the 17th Lok Sabha. This sharp decline limits the time available for in-depth legislative work, including debates, lawmaking, and oversight of executive actions.
Short sittings have become more common. For instance, during the 2023 Budget Session, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha functioned for only 33% and 24% of the scheduled time, respectively, making it the 6th shortest Budget Session since 1952. Longer sittings are crucial for meaningful deliberation.
Although 79% of MPs attended the 17th Lok Sabha, their debate participation was limited, with MPs averaging only 45 debates each. This points to the lack of engagement in critical legislative discussions.
Frequent disruptions, including slogan shouting and walkouts, have significantly reduced legislative productivity. In the 15th Lok Sabha, over 30% of scheduled time was lost to disruptions, severely hampering the functioning of Parliament.
Only 10% of Bills in the 17th Lok Sabha were referred to parliamentary committees, a significant drop compared to earlier Lok Sabhas. This reduction weakens the quality of legislative review, undermining the thoroughness of legislative scrutiny.
These mechanisms, which are essential for executive accountability, were underutilized in the 17th Lok Sabha, with 19% of scheduled time in Lok Sabha and 9% in Rajya Sabha dedicated to Question Hour. These are vital tools for ensuring government transparency and addressing public concerns.
Private Member Bills have seen little success, with only 14 out of 300+ introduced since Independence being passed, the last one in 1970. This raises concerns about the marginalization of Opposition voices in lawmaking.
Constitutional vacancies, like the absence of a Deputy Speaker under Article 93, have also hindered the proper functioning of Parliament. Such delays diminish the authority of the legislature and challenge its constitutional responsibilities.
The decline in legislative productivity has several far-reaching consequences:
Reduced sitting days, disruptions, and underutilized Question Hours diminish Parliament’s ability to hold the executive accountable, leading to weakened scrutiny of government decisions and policies.
Bills passed in haste without proper scrutiny or debate result in poor-quality laws. This increases the likelihood of judicial review and implementation challenges, undermining the legitimacy of the legislative process.
Limited time for debate, lack of Private Member Bills, and reduced Opposition participation dilute inclusive lawmaking, weakening the role of dissent in democracy and limiting bipartisan cooperation.
Citizens' faith in democratic institutions is undermined when legislative dysfunction is evident. This leads to political apathy, reduced electoral participation, and a lack of trust in the lawmaking process.
The reduced engagement of the legislature allows the executive to bypass parliamentary processes through ordinances, delegated legislation, and executive orders, upsetting the constitutional balance of power.
India has taken several steps to improve legislative productivity, though challenges remain:
A formal code of conduct aims to improve MP behavior, reduce disruptions, and promote constructive participation in parliamentary proceedings.
Live streaming of proceedings has increased public scrutiny, making MPs more accountable. The e-Vidhan (NeVA) initiative seeks to make state legislatures paperless, improving efficiency and transparency.
Parliamentary committees, such as Departmentally Related Standing Committees, now examine bills and policies in more detail, helping improve legislative quality and deliberation.
Disciplinary actions like suspension or expulsion for MPs violating rules have been implemented to maintain order and discipline within Parliament.
Various organizations provide training and workshops to MPs to improve their understanding of parliamentary procedures and enhance their contribution to debates.
To make Parliament and State Legislatures more efficient, several measures can be adopted:
Mandate minimum sitting days for Parliament and establish annual legislative calendars to ensure more predictable and structured proceedings. This can help prioritize meaningful deliberations over disruption.
Empower Standing and Subject Committees to thoroughly examine Bills, policies, and budgets. Make committee referrals mandatory for significant pieces of legislation to ensure robust scrutiny and incorporate expert and public input early in the legislative process.
Track and publish the attendance and debate participation of MPs. Utilize the RTI Act to make parliamentary processes more transparent and ensure MPs are held accountable for their actions. Live streaming and archiving of proceedings can further bolster public trust.
Encourage dialogue and consensus-building between the government and Opposition. This will foster cooperation and enhance the quality of legislation. Training and orientation programs for first-time MPs can help improve legislative skills and knowledge.
Engage with citizens and foster youth leadership rooted in integrity and public service. Recognize high-performing legislators through awards and create platforms for sharing best practices in legislative work.
Learn from international standards, like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) guidelines, and adopt fixed sitting days and mandatory committee scrutiny models from countries like the UK and Germany.
The effectiveness of India’s legislature is crucial for democratic accountability, quality lawmaking, and responsive governance. While technology adoption and reforms in parliamentary committees have been helpful, issues like disruptions, low scrutiny, and reduced sittings continue to undermine the system.
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Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
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