Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Trends in Indian Parliament
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central Idea
- India’s parliamentary journey spanning 75 years reflects a dynamic and evolving landscape of political representation, legislative processes, and societal changes.
- From shifting demographics to parliamentary practices and electoral dynamics, this retrospective analysis sheds light on the fascinating facets of India’s parliamentary evolution.
Key Trends in Indian Parliament
| Youth Representation |
- Despite a growing youth population, the number of MPs aged 35 and below in the Lok Sabha is at a record low.
- In the First Lok Sabha, there were 82 such MPs, but in the 17th Lok Sabha, there are only 21.
- This decline contrasts with India’s youthful demographic, where around 66% of the population is under 35.
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| Women’s Turnout and Representation |
- Women’s voter turnout has consistently risen since 1962, even surpassing male turnout in 2019.
- Number of women candidates has increased, from 45 in 1957 to 726 in 2019.
- However, women’s representation in the Lok Sabha remains low, with just 14.36% of the total seats occupied by women in 2019.
- Women’s reservation Bill, aimed at increasing women’s representation to 33%, has faced hurdles in passing.
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| Missing Deputy Speaker |
- 17th Lok Sabha is set to become the first in independent India without a Deputy Speaker, breaking from tradition.
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| Declining Parliamentary Sittings |
- Between 1952 and 1974, the Lok Sabha consistently held over 100 sittings annually, but this trend has declined.
- Pandemic in 2020 led to a significant decrease in sittings.
- Average sitting time per day has also decreased over the years.
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| Bills Passed and Ordinances Issued |
- Both Houses of Parliament are passing fewer bills compared to earlier decades.
- Highest number of bills passed occurred during the Emergency in 1976, while the lowest was in 2004.
- An increase in ordinances issued by the Union government has coincided with fewer parliamentary sittings.
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| Voter Enrollment and Parties in the Fray |
- Number of voters has increased six-fold from 1951 to 2019, resulting in a higher number of polling stations.
- Nos. of parties participating in Lok Sabha polls has multiplied over the years, with 673 parties in 2019 compared to 53 in 1951.
- Number of contestants has also grown significantly.
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| Vote Share and Majority Trends |
- Out of 17 Lok Sabha elections held so far, 10 have resulted in clear majorities, while 7 have been fractured mandates.
- Recent trends show that the winning party typically receives a higher vote share than the runner-up since 2004.
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| Changing Focus on Questions |
- Time allocated for questions in the Lok Sabha has decreased over the years.
- First Lok Sabha dedicated 15% of its time to questions, whereas the 14th Lok Sabha allocated only 11.42%.
- Data for the 15th, 16th, and 17th Lok Sabhas is not available for comparison.
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Conclusion
- As India’s Parliament embarks on its journey of 75 years, these trends provide a fascinating glimpse into the evolving dynamics of the nation’s highest legislative body.
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