Question

Discuss the organisation of Indian Lok Sabha.

What is the composition of the Lok Sabha of India?

Answer 1

1. Composition:
   • The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Indian Parliament.
   • It can have a maximum of 552 members: 530 from states, 20 from union territories, and 2 nominated by the President (from the Anglo-Indian community, if needed, now discontinued).
   • Members are directly elected by the people from single-member constituencies.
   • The Lok Sabha has a five-year term, unless dissolved earlier.
   • To be a member, a person must be at least 25 years old and meet other qualifications under Indian law.
2. Method of election of members of Lok Sabha:
   1. Universal Adult Franchise: All citizens aged 18 and up are allowed to vote, regardless of caste, gender, or religion.
   2. Joint Electoral System: All voters in a constituency vote together without discrimination.
   3. Reservation of Seats: To ensure representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a certain number of seats are reserved for them.
   4. Single Member Constituencies: Each constituency elects one member to the Lok Sabha.
   5. Territorial Constituencies: The country is divided into geographical regions, with each choosing one MP.
   6. Secret Ballot: Voting is kept confidential to ensure free and fair elections.
   7. Direct Election: Members are elected by the public in general elections.
3. Qualifications for Membership: A candidate must be a citizen of India, at least 25 years old, and meet other legal requirements, such as being a registered voter.
4. Tenure: Members serve for five years, unless the President removes the House early.
5. Sessions: The President gathers three regular sessions of the Lok Sabha each year: budget, monsoon, and winter.
6. Quorum: To conduct business, one-tenth of the total membership must be present.