Recent sessions in the Indian Parliament—particularly the opening meetings and budget sessions of the 18th Lok Sabha in 2024, along with the initial sittings of 2025—reveal a now-familiar cycle. Parliament begins with a burst of energy and high productivity, but persistent challenges continue to shadow its functioning. Issues of attendance, meaningful participation in debates, and the enormous amounts of time and public money lost to parliamentary disruptions remain pressing concerns that demand urgent attention.
MPs' Attendance and Participation
Attendance and participation are foundational to an effective legislature. The 17th Lok Sabha averaged around 79% attendance, indicating that nearly one in five MPs were routinely absent. Encouragingly, the new Lok Sabha saw some members striving for perfect attendance records, a positive trend that the institution should work to nurture. The introduction of an electronic attendance system marks an important reform, designed to ensure that MPs register their presence from their seats, in full public view, making it harder for members to simply sign in and leave. This measure, while seemingly minor, signals a shift toward greater accountability and transparency, reinforcing the expectation that MPs not only show up but also stay and participate meaningfully in proceedings.
The Question Hour remains a vital tool for holding the government to account and for bringing public issues to the fore. In the 2024 Inaugural and Budget Sessions, the Lok Sabha made use of 97% of the scheduled time for questions, with the Rajya Sabha doing even better at 99%. This is a positive sign, reflecting both government and opposition willingness to engage on substantive issues. However, when it comes to broader debates on legislation and policy, the picture is less reassuring. During the last Lok Sabha, the average member contributed to only about 45 debates over the entire term—a modest figure given the scale of issues before Parliament. Early figures from the 18th Lok Sabha indicate robust participation from first-time MPs, with 82% speaking up in debates, yet a notable number of experienced, senior MPs have remained silent. Such disengagement from seasoned lawmakers is troubling, as their expertise is invaluable for informed discussion and effective lawmaking.
Parliamentary committees, often described as the true workhorses of the legislature, are crucial for the detailed scrutiny of bills and policies. Unfortunately, committee attendance remains a weak link. Roughly 40% of MPs fail to attend key committee meetings, undermining the process of rigorous review that is essential for the passage of sound laws. This absenteeism not only dilutes the quality of legislative oversight but also risks reducing committees to rubber stamps for government proposals, rather than forums for genuine deliberation.
Time Wasted in Protests
Disruptions and protests continue to be a chronic affliction, sapping Parliament’s time and effectiveness. Scenes of MPs storming the well of the House, shouting slogans, or staging walkouts have become routine. The 2024 Winter Session of the Lok Sabha lost over 65 hours to such interruptions; the Rajya Sabha lost 65 hours and 15 minutes. The 2025 Monsoon Session began on a similar note, with the Rajya Sabha wasting nearly 57 hours, much of it in protest over contentious issues such as the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. These disruptions not only stall legislative business but also broadcast an image of dysfunction to the public, eroding faith in the institution.
Average Expenditure and Costs
The financial cost of these disruptions is staggering. Running Parliament is an expensive affair—estimated at Rs 2.5 lakh per minute during active sessions, based on 2012 figures. With inflation and the investment in the new Parliament building, actual costs are likely much higher today. Every minute lost to disruption is public money squandered. The 2016 Winter Session alone saw losses of Rs 144 crore due to disruptions. More recently, just three days of the 2025 Monsoon Session consumed over Rs 23 crore without meaningful legislative business to show for it. These figures are not just numbers—they represent schools that could have been built, hospitals equipped, or roads constructed. The waste is not merely fiscal but also a loss of precious opportunities to address the country’s pressing challenges.
Fruitful Debates & Outcome…
Yet, despite these setbacks, Parliament does manage to achieve important outcomes when it functions as intended. The early sessions of the 18th Lok Sabha, for instance, saw substantive debates on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address and on the Union Budget. Eleven new bills were introduced, and in a noteworthy moment of scrutiny, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee after a two-hour discussion, demonstrating Parliament’s capacity for detailed legislative review when it chooses to exercise it. The debate on the working of the Constitution held in the Lok Sabha on December 14, 2024, stands out as an example of Parliament fulfilling its role as a forum for deliberation on foundational issues.
The key determinant of parliamentary productivity is the commitment of its members to serious, sustained discussion. When MPs across party lines focus on debate and consensus-building, the results are clear. The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019 ran for 135% of scheduled hours in the Lok Sabha and achieved a full 100% in the Rajya Sabha—testament to what is possible when there is collective will to engage. Such periods of high productivity not only advance the legislative agenda but also restore public confidence in democratic institutions. However, the recurring pattern of initial enthusiasm giving way to dysfunction should not be accepted as inevitable. The cost of a dysfunctional Parliament—seen in wasted hours, missed debates, and squandered public money—is simply too high for a country with India’s aspirations and challenges. Addressing these issues will require reforms to strengthen accountability for attendance and participation, foster a culture of reasoned debate over theatrical protest, and reinforce the importance of committee work in shaping sound legislation.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of Parliament is a reflection of the seriousness with which its members approach their constitutional responsibilities. When the Parliament works, the country benefits from robust laws and policies, vibrant debate, and genuine oversight! When it stumbles, the losses—both tangible and intangible—are borne by the public. It is imperative for India’s lawmakers to rise above old habits and reaffirm their commitment to the principles of democracy, transparency, and service to the nation.
