By Suresh Unnithan
At the core of India’s democratic framework lies Parliament, an institution envisioned as the grand arena where the aspirations and anxieties of over 1.44 billion people are articulated, debated, and transformed into policy. Elected representatives are dispatched to these hallowed halls with the solemn duty to deliberate on matters of national significance, hold the government accountable, and craft solutions to the pressing challenges facing the nation. Yet, in recent years, this vision has increasingly given way to a troubling reality—one marked by sparsely populated benches, frequent disruptions, superficial exchanges laced with personal barbs, and a conspicuous avoidance of the substantive issues that truly impact citizens’ lives. This growing dysfunction not only diminishes the legislative process but also represents a profound waste of public resources, raising serious questions about the dedication of those entrusted with the people’s mandate.
The Monsoon Session of 2025, held from July 21 to August 21 across 21 scheduled sittings, starkly illustrated these shortcomings. Despite the full schedule being maintained, approximately two-thirds of the allotted time was lost to disruptions, resulting in the Lok Sabha operating at roughly 29 percent of its planned productivity and the Rajya Sabha faring slightly better at 34 percent. These figures mark some of the lowest levels of effective functioning in the history of the 18th Lok Sabha. While official attendance records, derived from members signing registers, often reflect figures in the 70-80 percent range across recent sessions, the actual presence during key debates and proceedings tells a different story. Reports and observations consistently reveal that fewer than 20-30 percent of members are typically on the floor when critical discussions are meant to take place, with many signing in only to depart shortly thereafter for party obligations, constituency duties, or other pursuits.
This pattern of scant physical engagement fosters an environment where discussions, when they manage to occur, quickly descend into chaos characterized by slogan-shouting, personal accusations, and partisan theatrics rather than thoughtful, evidence-based deliberation. Serious national concerns are frequently sidelined in favor of divisive or diversionary topics, sometimes strategically introduced to shift focus away from governmental shortcomings. Among the critical matters that receive inadequate attention are the ongoing depreciation and volatility of the Indian rupee, which undermines economic stability by affecting trade balances, foreign investment, and overall confidence in the currency; the relentless surge in prices and inflation that steadily diminishes the purchasing power of ordinary families, making essential goods increasingly unaffordable; the persistent deficiencies in public health infrastructure, manifested in shortages of hospital beds, medical personnel, essential drugs, and accessible care, particularly in rural and underserved areas; the deteriorating quality of education, evident in inadequate school facilities, outdated curricula, teacher shortages, and poor outcomes that hinder skill development and employability; the escalating challenges of unemployment and underemployment, especially among the youth, which fuel social unrest and lost potential; and the enduring distress faced by farmers, including mounting debts, crop failures due to erratic weather, inadequate support prices, and lack of effective risk mitigation mechanisms.
Both sides of the political divide contribute to this impasse—the opposition through protests that halt proceedings in an effort to spotlight grievances, and the ruling benches by advancing contentious subjects that deflect scrutiny from lapses in economic management or policy execution. The consequence is a Parliament that often prioritizes confrontation over consensus, spectacle over substance.
Such inefficiencies carry a steep financial toll on the public exchequer. Operating both Houses of Parliament during active sessions incurs an estimated cost of ₹2.5 lakh per minute, equating to approximately ₹1.5 crore per hour and around ₹9 crore for a typical six-hour sitting day. Over the 21 days of the Monsoon Session, the total expenditure likely surpassed ₹180-200 crore, with a substantial share rendered unproductive due to repeated adjournments and lost hours, effectively meaning crores of taxpayer rupees yielded little tangible legislative progress.
Individually, Members of Parliament enjoy substantial compensation that remains unchanged regardless of their attendance or contributions. Following the 2025 revision, the monthly salary stands at ₹1.24 lakh, complemented by a constituency allowance of up to ₹70,000 (tax-free), office expenses of ₹60,000-70,000, and a daily allowance of ₹2,500 during sessions. Additional benefits include rent-free accommodation in Delhi, unlimited railway travel, 34 free domestic flights annually, comprehensive medical coverage, pension provisions, and more. When aggregated, the direct annual emoluments—encompassing salary and primary allowances—approach ₹40-50 lakh per MP, with the overall cost to the government, factoring in staff support, travel reimbursements, and infrastructural provisions, often exceeding this figure significantly. Over a five-year term, the investment per representative runs into several crores, all funded from public coffers.
These stark realities compel a deeper introspection: what accounts for the apparent lack of commitment among elected officials who are afforded such extensive resources and privileges to fulfill their roles? Citizens elect and sustain their representatives through taxes that finance lavish salaries, opulent facilities, and operational expenses running into billions annually, yet they are frequently met with visuals of deserted chambers and acrimonious exchanges that sidestep the very issues eroding their quality of life. This erosion of parliamentary decorum and diligence not only betrays the trust reposed in the institution but also impedes timely governance on urgent socioeconomic fronts.
The need for systemic reforms has never been more pressing. Measures such as enforcing minimum attendance thresholds with corresponding deductions from pay, imposing penalties for unwarranted disruptions, designating protected time slots for debates on economic and social priorities, and enhancing public transparency regarding individual member performance could begin to restore accountability. Without decisive action, Parliament risks devolving further into a forum of fleeting presence and fleeting focus, far removed from the robust democratic engine it was intended to be. The citizens of India, who bear the financial and aspirational burden of this system, merit representatives whose dedication matches the magnitude of their responsibility.
* Inputs from Nanditha Subhadra
