Difference Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Difference Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are the two houses of India’s Parliament, playing crucial roles in the country’s legislative process. While the Lok Sabha, or House of the People, represents citizens directly through elections, the Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, represents the states and union territories. 

Understanding the differences between these two houses helps in grasping how India’s democracy functions and how laws are made and reviewed.

Difference Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are the two houses of India’s Parliament, each playing a distinct role in law-making and governance. While both are essential for India’s democracy, they differ in structure, powers, and representation.

 Lok Sabha (The House of the People)

The Lok Sabha, known as the House of the People or the Lower House, is the primary representative chamber of the Indian population. Its members are chosen directly by the people through universal adult franchise.

• Composition and Strength: The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is 550 members. The current strength is 543 elected members.

• Election: Members are elected directly by the people from territorial constituencies in the states, based on the First Past The Post (FPTP) system.

• Tenure: The normal tenure of the Lok Sabha is five years, but it can be dissolved earlier by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, or through a successful vote of no-confidence.

• Presiding Officer: The proceedings of the Lok Sabha are presided over by the Speaker, who is elected from among its members.

Rajya Sabha (The Council of States)

The Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States or the Upper House, serves as the institutional representation of the federal units the states and union territories in the law-making process.

• Composition and Strength: The maximum constitutional strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250 members. The current strength is 245 members (233 elected and 12 nominated).

• Election: Its members are indirectly elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies using the system of Proportional Representation by means of the Single Transferable Vote. The President also nominates 12 members for their expertise in fields like art, literature, science, and social service.

• Tenure: The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and is not subject to dissolution. Members sit for a staggered term of six years, with about one-third of the members retiring every two years.

• Presiding Officer: The Vice-President of India is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Differences in Powers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

While both Houses of Parliament have equal power in the passage of Ordinary Bills, the Lok Sabha holds a clear supremacy in certain specific areas, primarily concerning financial matters and the executive.

Money Bills, and Financial Matters

The most significant difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha lies in their financial powers.

• Introduction: A Money Bill (defined under Article 110 of the Constitution) can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and not in the Rajya Sabha.

• Role of Lok Sabha Speaker: The final authority to decide whether a bill is a Money Bill or not is vested solely in the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

• Rajya Sabha's Power: The Rajya Sabha can neither amend nor reject a Money Bill. It must return the bill to the Lok Sabha within 14 days with or without recommendations. The Lok Sabha is free to accept or reject all or any of these recommendations.

• Budget: The Lok Sabha has the power to discuss and vote on the Demands for Grants (part of the Union Budget), whereas the Rajya Sabha can only discuss the budget and cannot vote on the demands.

Control Over the Executive

In a parliamentary democracy like India, the executive (Council of Ministers) is collectively responsible to the popular House, which is the Lok Sabha.

• No-Confidence Motion: The Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Therefore, a Motion of No-Confidence against the government can be introduced and passed only in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has no power to remove the government by passing a no-confidence motion.

Special Powers of the Rajya Sabha

Despite the Lok Sabha's dominance in financial and executive matters, the Rajya Sabha is not a powerless chamber. As the representative of the states, it has been granted two exclusive special powers to protect the rights of the states:

1. To Authorise Parliament to Make Law on a State Subject (Article 249): It can pass a resolution, supported by a two-thirds majority, to empower Parliament to make laws on an item included in the State List in the national interest.

2. To Create New All-India Services (Article 312): It can pass a resolution, again by a two-thirds majority, to authorise Parliament to create a new All-India Service.