Declining Standards of Parliamentary Functioning

Knowledge Themes

Structural Subtopics

• Frequent disruptions and loss of working hours
• Decline in quality of debates and deliberations
• Criminalization of politics and its impact on legislative conduct
• Erosion of the Department-related Standing Committee system
• Impact of the Anti-Defection Law on independent voting
• Chronic absenteeism and poor attendance of MPs
• Misuse of the Money Bill provision to bypass Rajya Sabha
• Passing of bills through voice vote without discussion
• Decline in effectiveness of Question Hour and Zero Hour
• Diminishing neutrality of the Speaker and Presiding Officers
• Low representation of women and marginalized groups
• Lack of research support and institutionalized research for MPs
• Executive dominance over the legislature and the role of ordinances
• Comparison with the Westminster model of accountability
• Proposals for a mandatory minimum number of sitting days
• Need for a Shadow Cabinet and Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO)