PRS Legislative Research released Vital Stats on Functioning of the 17th Lok Sabha

Posted 13 Feb 2024

Updated 22 Mar 2024

2 min read

The 17th Lok Sabha (LS) held its sessions between June 2019 and February 2024. During this period,
- It held 274 sittings and passed 179 Bills.
- Question Hour functioned for 60% of scheduled time in LS and 52% in Rajya Sabha.
  - Question hour was cancelled in monsoon session of 2020, due to pandemic.

Issues arising out of LS functioning:
- Fewest sittings amongst all full-term Lok Sabhas with 206 instances of suspension of Members of Parliament.
  - Average annual sitting days down to 55 from 135 in the first LS.
- For the first time, LS did not elect Deputy Speaker for entire duration.
  - Article 93 of Constitution requires that LS elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker ‘as soon as may be’.
- Only 16% bills referred to committees for detailed scrutiny with passage of majority of bills without recorded voting.
  - 35% of bills passed with less than an hour of discussion.
- Time spent on budget discussions has reduced with about 80% of the budget voted without discussion.

Way forward for improving LS functioning
- More frequent sittings of Parliament.
- Detailed scrutiny of bills with adequate discussion and referral to committees.
- Adequate discussion time for Opposition and constructive consultations between parties.

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