Parliament

Parliament is India’s national law-making institution, where elected representatives debate public issues, pass laws, and hold the government accountable.

• India has a bicameral Parliament, meaning it has two Houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The President of India is also part of Parliament.
• Members of the Lok Sabha are directly chosen by voters in elections. Rajya Sabha members are mainly elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies, so it gives India’s states a voice at the national level.
• A proposed law, called a Bill, is discussed and voted on in Parliament. Most Bills must be approved by both Houses and then receive the President’s assent before becoming an Act, or law.
• Parliament does more than make laws. Through debates, questions, committees, and voting, Members of Parliament can question ministers about decisions, spending, and the work of government departments.
• For example, during the annual Budget process, Parliament examines how the government plans to collect and spend public money. This helps ensure that government spending is answerable to people’s representatives.
• Parliament is a key part of representative democracy: citizens do not make every national decision themselves, but choose representatives who speak, debate, and decide on their behalf.