The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are the two houses of the Indian Parliament. Here's a breakdown of the key differences between them:
Composition
- Lok Sabha: Also known as the House of People, it has a maximum strength of 552 members, with 530 representing states and 20 representing union territories. The current strength is 543 .
- Rajya Sabha: Also known as the Council of States, it has a maximum strength of 250 members, with 238 elected indirectly and 12 nominated by the President. The current strength is fixed at 245.
Election Procedure
- Lok Sabha: Members are directly elected through the First Past The Post (FPTP) system .
- Rajya Sabha: Members are indirectly elected through proportional representation by the elected members of state legislative assemblies .
Term and Tenure
- Lok Sabha: The house continues for 5 years, but can be dissolved earlier by passing a no-confidence motion .
- Rajya Sabha: It is a permanent body, with one-third of its members retiring every two years .
Powers and Functions
- Lok Sabha: It has the power to introduce and pass money bills, and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the joint sitting of both houses .
- Rajya Sabha: It has special powers to protect the states' rights against the Union, and can authorize the Parliament to make laws on subjects enumerated in the state list .
Other Key Differences
- Minimum Age: The minimum age to become a member of the Lok Sabha is 25 years, while it is 30 years for the Rajya Sabha .
- Chairman: The Speaker is the head of the Lok Sabha, while the Vice-President is the chairman of the Rajya Sabha .
