What is the Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?

What is the difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: The parliamentary system is a cornerstone of the democratic foundation of India. The Parliament of India is divided into two houses, i.e., the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. While both play essential roles in the legislative process, they are different in their composition, powers, and roles and responsibilities. Scroll down the article to understand the differences between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and their unique roles in Indian democracy.

What is Lok Sabha?

The Lok Sabha, also termed as the House of People, is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament in India. Members of this house are directly elected by the people of India through general elections. The total membership of the house assigned by the Constitution of India is 552. Presently, the house has a total of 543 seats, with the potential for all 543 seats to be filled by elected members. The members are elected for five years or until the body gets dissolved by the president based on the council of Ministers advice.

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Article for Lok Sabha

• According to Article 79 (Part V-The Union.) of the Constitution of India, the Parliament of India comprises the President and two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
• Article 84 (under Part V-The Union) of the Indian Constitution establishes the eligibility criteria for individuals seeking membership in the Lok Sabha.
• According to Article 93 of the Indian Constitution, the Lok Sabha comprises a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker.

Qualification for Lok Sabha

To be eligible for election to the Lok Sabha, a candidate must:

• Be a citizen of India.
• Subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the Election Commission of India, as prescribed in the Third Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• Be 25 years old or above.
• Fulfil any other qualifications specified by Parliament.
• Not be a convicted criminal, declared insolvent, or disqualified by law.
• Be registered as a voter in any part of India.

Power of Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha holds a dominant position in most legislative matters. Here is the list of powers of the Lok Sabha shared below for the reference of the candidates:

• The Lok Sabha has the power to introduce and pass no-confidence motions against the government.
• They have the right to introduce money bills, which are then sent to the Rajya Sabha for consideration.
• Equal authority with the Rajya Sabha in introducing and passing constitutional amendment bills, requiring a majority of the total membership and two-thirds of those present and voting.
• Equal authority with the Rajya Sabha in introducing and passing a motion for the impeachment of the President, requiring a two-thirds majority of the House

What is Rajya Sabha?

The Rajya Sabha, also termed the Council of States, is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament in India. It serves as the representative body of India's states and Union Territories. It has a total membership of 245, of which 233 members are elected by the state and union territory legislatures using the system of single transferable vote via an open ballot system and 12 members are appointed by the President for their exceptional contribution to art, science, literature, and social service fields. The Rajya Sabha has the power to fill up to 250 seats based on its requirements and circumstances.

Article for Rajya Sabha

• Article 84 of the Indian Constitution outlines the eligibility criteria for individuals to become members of the Rajya Sabha
• The Secretariat of the Rajya Sabha was established under the provisions of Article 98 of the Constitution.
• The Rajya Sabha, as per Article 80 of the Indian Constitution, has a total strength of 250 members, comprising 238 elected members and 12 members appointed.
• Article 110 of the Indian Constitution defines a money bill. Only ministers can introduce money bills in the Lok Sabha, and only with the President of India's approval. Once the Lok Sabha passes a money bill, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha for a 14-day review period. During this time, the Rajya Sabha can make recommendations on the bill.

Qualification of Rajya Sabha

To be eligible for election to the Rajya Sabha, a candidate must:

• Be a citizen of India.
• Subscribe to an oath or affirmation before an authorised person appointed by the Election Commission, as per the format outlined in the Third Schedule of the Constitution.
• Be 30 years old or above.
• Elected by the states and union territories legislative assemblies via a system of single transferable vote using proportional representation.
• Not be a convicted criminal.
• Not be declared insolvent and can fulfil all their financial obligations.
• Be of sound mind.
• Possess any other qualifications specified by Parliament through legislation.

Power of Rajya Sabha

The main power of the Rajya Sabha is to safeguard the rights and interests of states against the Union government. Here is the list of powers of the Rajya Sabha shared below for the reference of the candidates:

• The Indian Constitution allows the national Parliament to introduce laws on issues related to the states. However, this is possible only if the Rajya Sabha specifically passes the resolution with a two-thirds majority vote.
• The Union government has no authority to make laws for the states unless the Rajya Sabha specifically allows it. The Union government can make laws that apply to the whole country, while each state has the authority to make its rules and laws for its area.
• The Rajya Sabha is important because it helps protect the unique culture and interests of each state within the country.

Difference Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Here is the key difference between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in terms of meaning, provision, duration, election, and other factors as discussed below: