How Many Members are There in Lok Sabha at Present

Introduction

The Lok Sabha, sometimes known as the Chamber of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the Rajya Sabha serving as the upper house. Representatives of the Lok Sabha are elected to represent their respective constituencies by adult universal suffrage and a first-past-the-post voting system, and they remain for five years or until the body is abolished by the President on the recommendation of the council of ministers. The Lok Sabha Chambers at the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi are where the house meets. The Indian Constitution provides for a maximum of 552 representatives in the House (initially, in 1950, it was 500). The house currently has 543 seats, which are filled by the election of up to 543 members.

1. Qualifications

Article 84 (under Part V, - The Union") [19] of the Indian Constitution stipulates the following requirements for Lok Sabha membership:

• They must be Indian citizens and must take an oath or affirmation before the Election Commission of India in the form prescribed in the Third Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

• They should be at least 25 years old.

• They have further qualifications that may be stipulated in that regard by or under any law passed by Parliament.

• They must not be a proclaimed criminal, that is, they must not be a convicted felons, a confirmed debtor, or otherwise prohibited by law; and

• They should be included on electoral rolls in any area of the country.

However, a member can be disqualified from serving in Parliament for the following reasons:

• If they are in charge of profit;

• If they are pronounced unsound in mind by a competent court

• If they are an unsatisfied insolvent;

• If they are not an Indian citizen, if they have deliberately accepted the citizenship of another country, or if they have any admission of loyalty or adherence to another country;

• If they violate party discipline (as defined in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution), they are disqualified under the Representation of the People Act.

A Lok Sabha seat will fall vacant under the following conditions (during the normal operation of the House):

• When the holder of the seat resigns in writing to the speaker.

• When the holder of the seat is absent from 60 consecutive days of House sessions without the Speaker's consent.

• when the seat holder is subject to any of the disqualifications specified in the Constitution or any statute adopted by Parliament.

• A seat may also be removed if the holder is found to be ineligible under the 'Anti-Defection Law.'

Furthermore, according to Indian Constitution article 101 (Part V.—The Union) [20], a person cannot be:

• A member of both Houses of Parliament, and Parliament shall provide provision by legislation for a person chosen as a member of both Houses to vacate his position in one House or the other.

• A member of both Parliament and a state legislature's House of Representatives.

2. Question Hour

Question Hour is the opening hour of each sitting. Members have the unrestricted right to ask questions in Parliament, and during Interrogate Hour, they may question ministers on many elements of administration and government policy in the national and international realms. Every minister who is called upon to answer questions must stand and account for his department's acts of omission or misconduct. There are three categories of questions: starred, unstarred, and short notice.

A "starred question" is one that a member wishes to have answered orally in the House and is denoted by an asterisk. An unstarred question does not need an oral response in the house, and, as a result, no extra questions can be posed. A written response is provided to such an inquiry. A minimum of 10 clear days' notice is required for starred or unstarred inquiries. If the Speaker accepts the questions, they are published and printed for an answer on the days designated for the ministries to which the question pertains.

Short-notice inquiries concerning problems of urgent public interest are exempt from the standard notice period. A short-notice question, on the other hand, maybe answered only on short notice if the Speaker permits it and the Minister involved is willing to answer it on shorter notice. A query with short notice is brought up for answer shortly after the Question Hour, also known as the Zero Hour.

3. Zero Hour

The period immediately following Question Hour has been known as "Zero Hour." It begins about noon (hence the name), and members may raise important problems at this time with prior notice to the Speaker. Typically, talks on major bills, the budget, and other topics of national importance begin around 2 p.m.

4. Automatic Vote Recording System

The Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha clicks a keyboard button in response to the Speaker's announcement to record the votes. Then a gong sounds, signalling that it is time for members to vote. To vote, each member of the chamber must first turn a switch and then press one of three push buttons fastened to their seat. The push switch must be held down until the gong rings for the second time after 10 seconds. In the chamber, there are two indication boards erected in the wall on either side of the Speaker's chair. Each member's vote is displayed here.

The votes are mechanically totalled immediately after they are cast, and the specifics of the results are flashed on the result indication boards located in the railings of the Speakers' and diplomatic galleries. Divisions are often held using automated vote recording equipment. Where the Speaker directs in accordance with the applicable provision in the Rules of Procedure, etc. Divisions in the Lok Sabha can be held by either distributing 'Aye'/ "no" slips or "abstention" slips to members in the House or by members registering their votes by walking into the lobbies.

Each member's name is displayed on an indication board in the machine room. The outcome of the division and vote cast by each member using automated vote recording technology are also shown on this board, and a snapshot of the indicator board is taken instantly. Later, the image is enlarged, and the identities of the members who voted "ayes" and "noes" are determined and inserted into Lok Sabha discussions using the photograph.

5. Speaker and Deputy Speaker

According to Article 93 of the Indian Constitution, the Lok Sabha has a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha are elected from among its members by a simple majority of those present and voting in the House. There are no specified criteria for being chosen Speaker; the Constitution merely demands that the Speaker be a member of the House. However, knowledge of the country's Constitution and legislation, as well as the norms of procedure and customs of Parliament, is seen as a significant advantage for the Speaker.

Article 94 of the Indian Constitution mentions vacation, resignation, and removal from the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. According to Article 94 of the Indian Constitution, a Speaker or Deputy Speaker must resign or be removed from office if they a) cease to be a member of the House of the People, b) resign, or c) are removed from office by a majority decision of the House. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a member of the House as well as its Presiding Officer. The Speaker is in charge of the House. They determine whether or not a measure is a money bill.

They oversee house discipline and etiquette and have the authority to suspend a member for disruptive behaviour. According to the regulations, they allow the moving of several types of motions and resolutions, such as the motion of no confidence, the motion of adjournment, the motion of censure, and the calling attention notice. The speaker determines what topics will be discussed during the meeting. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over joint sittings summoned by the two Houses when they disagree on a legislative bill. Following the 52nd Constitutional Amendment, the Speaker now has the authority to disqualify a member of the Lok Sabha for desertion. The Speaker makes obituary references in the House, as well as official allusions to key national and international events and the valedictory address after each Lok Sabha session and when the House's tenure concludes.

The Speaker, while being a member of the House, does not vote in the House except on rare circumstances when there is a tie at the end of a decision. So far, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has not been asked to use this one-of-a-kind casting vote. While the office of Speaker is empty owing to absence/resignation/removal, the Deputy Speaker, or, if the office of Deputy Speaker is also vacant, such a member of the House of People as the President may select for the purpose, performs the functions of the office. The Lok Sabha also has its own non-elected secretariat. Shri G. V. Mavalankar served as the first Lok Sabha Speaker (15 May 1952–27 February 1956), while Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar served as the first Deputy Speaker (30 May 1952–7 March 1956). Om Birla is the current Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha.

6. Conclusion

The Lok Sabha is India's lower house of Parliament, with the Rajya Sabha functioning as the upper chamber. There are presently 543 seats in the House, which are filled by the election of up to 543 members. Members are elected using universal suffrage and a first-past-the-post voting method when a seat holder is absent from 60 consecutive days of House proceedings without the Speaker's permission. Members have the unfettered ability to raise questions in Parliament.

A seat may also be revoked if the holder is deemed to be ineligible under the 'Anti-Defection Law.' Questions are classified into three types: starred, unstarred, and "short notice." To keep track of each member's vote, automatic vote recording equipment is employed. At this point, members may highlight relevant topics. The Lok Sabha's Speaker and Deputy Speaker are chosen by a simple majority of those present and voting in the House. There are no set criteria for selecting the Speaker; however, the familiarity with the country's constitution and laws is considered a considerable asset.

The Speaker is in control of the House and decides whether a bill is a money bill or not. When the two Houses disagree on a legislative bill, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over joint sittings. They are in charge of house discipline and etiquette and have the right to suspend members who are unruly. In the House, the Speaker makes obituary references as well as official allusions to major national and international events.