Data | Parliament functioning registers a new low Premium

The 17th Lok Sabha could be the shortest full-term Lok Sabha since 1952

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s new Parliament building. “It is not only a building. It is a reflection of the aspirations and dreams of 140 crore Indians. This is the temple of our democracy giving the message of India’s determination to the world,” he said. The Congress-led Opposition boycotted the inauguration.

With the new building coming into use from the next Parliament session, this is a review of the performance of the MPs in the old building. The 17th Lok Sabha, entering its final year, has functioned for 230 sitting days so far. Of all the Lok Sabhas that completed the full five-year term, the 16th Lok Sabha had the lowest number of sitting days (331). With one more year remaining, and 58 average sitting days a year, the 17th Lok Sabha is unlikely to sit for more than 331 days. This could make it the shortest full-term Lok Sabha since 1952.

Chart 1 | The chart shows the number of sittings in the last 17 Lok Sabhas, including the ongoing term

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The terms of the fourth, sixth, ninth, eleventh and twelfth Lok Sabha were shorter than five years and so the number of sittings was fewer. Among those terms which lasted for at least five years, the 17th Lok Sabha may end up being the shortest. The term of the fifth Lok Sabha was extended for six years.

The Parliamentary Standing Committees were created in 1993 to assist Parliament in its legislative and financial business. Since 2004, of the total Bills introduced in Parliament, only 45% have been referred to Committees. The decline has been more in recent years with the 16th Lok Sabha and 17th (ongoing) Lok Sabha seeing fewer Bills being sent to Committees. 

Chart 2 | The chart shows the % of Bills referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committees