The Parliament of India has three organs: the President, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha are two integral parts of the Indian Parliament. Today in this article we will discuss in detail about both houses of Parliament such as what is Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the difference between Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, the total number of members in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, qualifications, tenure, elections, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Functions and powers etc.
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Lok Sabha is also called the House of the People because its members are elected by the people of India, it would not be wrong to say that it directly represents the citizens of India, the Speaker is the Chairman of the Lok Sabha.
On the other hand, the Rajya Sabha is also known as the Upper House or the Council of States. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly through the voting system. The Vice President of India is the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The process of election of members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is completely different from each other, which is explained in simple points below:
According to Article 326 of the Indian Constitution, members of the Lok Sabha (representatives of the states) are directly elected by the people of the state on the basis of voting.
Every citizen of India, whether male or female, who is 18 years of age or above and who is not disqualified from voting on the grounds of mental unsoundness of mind, crime or corruption, is entitled to vote in the Lok Sabha elections .
The candidate who receives the highest number of votes in the election represents his constituency in the Lok Sabha.
Members of the Rajya Sabha (representatives of the states) are elected by the members of the Legislative Assemblies through the one person one vote system.
According to Article 80(3) of the Constitution, 12 nominated persons are selected by the President from among persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social service.
The following qualifications should be required for membership of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha:
The President usually convenes the sessions of the Rajya Sabha simultaneously with the sessions of the Lok Sabha or whenever he feels necessary. However, there cannot be a gap of more than six months between two sessions of the Rajya Sabha.
The President can call a special session of the Rajya Sabha to approve the emergency declaration at a time when the Lok Sabha is dissolved.
The President can summon a session of Parliament at any time, But there cannot be a gap of more than six months between two meetings of Parliament. This means that at least two sessions of the Lok Sabha are required in a year.
| Feature | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Members | 552 (Maximum) | 250 (Maximum) |
| Election | Directly elected by the people | Elected by State Legislative Assemblies and Electoral college for Union Territories |
| Term | 5 years | Permanent, with one-third members retiring every 2 years |
| Leadership | Speaker | Vice President (Chairman) |
| Powers | Greater control over financial matters, initiates Money bills | Reviewing and amending bills, less control over financial matters |
Understanding the differences between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha is essential for comprehending the legislative process in India. Both houses complement each other and work together to ensure the smooth functioning of the Indian parliamentary system.