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Lok Sabha, also known as the “House of People”, is the primary chamber of the parliament that represents the people of India. The members of Lok Sabha are elected through a voting process by the people of their respective territorial constituencies spread across States and Union Territories of India.
Members of the Lok Sabha hold their respective seats for a 5-year term. Of the 552 seats, 530 members represent the States, 20 represent the Union Territories, and the remaining 2 members of the house are nominated by the President of India from the Anglo-Indian Community. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is nominated by the members of Lok Sabha, also for a 5-year term, and is responsible for governing the day-to-day proceedings of the house.
We briefly discussed the Lok Sabha and its members. Let us also look at the qualifications required by a candidate to become a member of the lower house.
Lok Sabha Members: Qualification
Article 84 of the Indian Constitution consists of all details that a candidate needs to qualify for being a member of the Lok Sabha. Following are some of the key points that a candidate needs to fulfil before applying for the lower house.
- Citizenship: A person has to be a valid Indian citizen to apply for being a member of the Lok Sabha. A valid proof of Indian Citizenship should be presented to the Election Commission of India to move forward.
- Age: A politician who aspires to become a Lok Sabha member post-election needs to be above the age of 25. As per the Constitution of India, This is the minimum criteria to apply.
- No Criminal Record: This is another essential point to keep in mind before applying for a Lok Sabha seat. The potential candidate should not have any active court cases against them or be involved in any unlawful activities.
- Educational: Any individual who is applying to be a member of the Lok Sabha post-elections should possess a degree from a Government acclaimed college or educational institution.
- Electoral Presence: Lastly, all individuals who wish to be a part of the Lok Sabha should have their name on the Electoral roll in any part of this country.
All these rules are compulsory to adhere to, and if found guilty, the electoral ticket of the person will be deemed invalid. Violating any of these rules or if found tampering with the official documents, the individual will be disqualified from being a member of the parliament.
How are the members of Lok Sabha elected?
Lok Sabha members are elected by the people of their respective constituencies in states and UTs. States are divided into constituencies, out of which each constituency elects its representative for being a part of the Lok Sabha.
Powers of Lok Sabha
It is not unknown, but the Lok Sabha is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha. Being elected by the people, the Lok Sabha directly represents the people to the central government. So, let us look at certain powers that the Lok Sabha members possess, making them more powerful than the Rajya Sabha.
- Lok Sabha members have the power to pass a ‘No-Confidence Vote’ against the ruling party and if the majority of the Lok Sabha members agree, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers will have to resign. The Rajya Sabha has no hold of any motion, thereby cannot interfere if the majority of the Lok Sabha members agree.
- Every year, a financial bill or the Budget is proposed in the Lok Sabha by the Finance Minister, working under the guidance of the Prime Minister. After being announced in the Lok Sabha, the bill is sent to the Rajya Sabha for review with a time range of 14 days to suggest changes, if any. If no modifications are suggested, the budget is considered to be passed.
- All the other non-financial bills are also tabled in the Lok Sabha. If a majority rejects any bill suggested in the Lok Sabha, the bill is considered to be void. But, if the bill proposed in the Lok Sabha is approved, it is then forwarded to the Rajya Sabha, who can take the time of up to 6 months to pass the bill or suggest modifications. If the Rajya Sabha does not decide in the 6 months, the bill is considered as a ‘Deadlock’, and the Lok Sabha then decides the further proceedings of the bill.
Conclusion
The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha are the pillars of India’s democracy, but the Lok Sabha being in direct contact with the people is given priority and, thus, more powers than the Rajya Sabha. To conclude, it is clear that the Lok Sabha has more authority than the Rajya Sabha, although the constitution puts them on equal footing.
