Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Members & Powers
Gajendra Singh Godara
Nov 5, 2025
15
mins read
India's bicameral Parliament, constitutes the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha lies in their representation models, powers, and constitutional roles. The origin can be stemmed from the Government of India Act of 1919. The act established a bicameral Central Legislature during British colonial rule. This system consisted of the Legislative Assembly and the Council of State. It provided India's first experience with a two house legislative framework.
After several debates in the Constituent Assembly (1946-1949), India's founding fathers adopted bicameralism for independent India. The Rajya Sabha was formally constituted on April 3, 1952. The Lok Sabha was established after the first general elections in 1951-52. In 1954, the names 'Rajya Sabha' (Council of States) and 'Lok Sabha' (House of the People) were officially adopted.
What is Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?
Lok Sabha: The lower house of Parliament, also known as the House of the People. Members are directly elected by Indian voters and hold office for up to five years. It embodies the popular will.
Rajya Sabha: The upper house, known as the Council of States. Members are indirectly elected by state and UT legislatures and 12 are nominated by the President. It is a permanent body (not dissolvable) and continues across Lok Sabha terms.
Difference between Lok sabha and Rajya sabha
Provisions | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
Constitutional Strength | Max 550 seats (530 states + 20 UTs) | Max 250 seats (238 elected + 12 nominated) |
Composition of Lok sabha and Rajya sabha | 543 elected members | 245 members (233 elected + 12 nominated) |
Election Method | Direct popular vote by citizens | Indirect election by state/UT legislatures (Proportional Representation & Single Transferable Vote) |
Eligibility - Age | Minimum 25 years | Minimum 30 years |
Term Duration | 5 years (or dissolves earlier) | 6 years (fixed, with 1/3 retiring every 2 years) |
Dissolution | Can be dissolved by President on PM's advice | Permanent body; never dissolved |
Constitutional basis of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
The constitutional framework governing the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is primarily outlined in Part V of the Indian Constitution (Articles 79–123). These articles delineate the composition, powers, functions, and procedures of both houses.
Articles 79, 80, 81 : Parliament and composition of Rajya Sabha/Lok Sabha
Article 84: Member qualifications
Article 85–86: Sessions and Addresses
Article108: Joint sitting rules
Article 110: Money bills
Article: 249: Parliament can legislate on state matters with RS approval
Article 312: Creation of All-India Services by RS resolution
Total Seats in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Lok Sabha
Constitutional strength: Maximum 550 seats out of which, 530 for states, and 20 for UTs. After abolition of two Anglo-Indian seats in 2020.
Current strength: 543 elected members. All seats are filled by direct election; there are no nominated members.
Reserved seats: Total 131 seats are reserved. Out of these 84 are for SC and 47 for ST representatives.
Rajya Sabha
Constitutional strength: Max 250 seats out of which 238 elected by states/UTs and 12 nominated by President.
Current strength: 245 members (233 elected + 12 nominated). This reflects the post-reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir.
Rotation: It is a continuing chamber – one-third of members retire every two years.
How are members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elected?
Lok Sabha election mechanism
Lok Sabha members are chosen by direct popular vote. India uses universal adult suffrage. The citizens who are 18 years or older can vote in single-member constituencies under the first past the post system.
Rajya Sabha election method
Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly. Each state and eligible UT legislative assembly elects its allotted Rajya Sabha MPs. The election is by proportional representation through a single transferable vote.
In addition, the President of India nominates 12 members for their expertise in fields like arts, science and social service.
Eligibility & Terms
Minimum age & qualifications
Lok Sabha Member | Rajya Sabha Member |
Minimum Age: 25 years | Minimum Age: 30 years |
Citizenship: Indian citizen | Citizenship: Indian citizen |
Additional Qualifications:
| Additional Qualifications:
|
These qualifications are set by Article 84 of the Constitution and further detailed in the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Term & dissolution
Lok Sabha: The elected members serve up to 5 years from its first sitting. The President may dissolve it earlier on the Prime Minister’s advice. (If not dissolved, its term ends automatically after 5 years.)
Rajya Sabha: It has a fixed 6-year term for each member. The house as a whole is a permanent body; it is never dissolved. Instead, one-third of members retire every two years and are replaced by new elections.
Resignation & disqualification
A member of either house can resign by writing to the Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha). If a member gets disqualified the seat becomes vacant.
Disqualifications include :
holding an “office of profit,”
certain criminal convictions,
defection under the Tenth Schedule,
or other grounds in the Representation of People Act and Articles 102/191.
Leaders & Offices
Speakers of Lok sabha and Rajya sabha
Lok Sabha Speaker: Elected by the members of Lok Sabha (Article 93). The Speaker is a sitting Member of Parliament who presides over debates. The Speaker has several responsibilities. The primary responsibility are:
maintains order,
decides the agenda,
rules on points of order,
even determines whether a bill is a money bill.
The Speaker also presides over joint sessions of Parliament.
Rajya Sabha Chairman: The Vice-President of India serves ex officio as the Rajya Sabha Chairman. The Deputy Chairman (elected from among RS members) takes charge when the Vice-President is absent. The Chairman conducts RS proceedings and maintains decorum.
Other key offices
Leader of the House: The Prime Minister (if an MP) leads the majority party in the Lok Sabha; in Rajya Sabha the Leader of the House is usually a senior minister.
Leader of the Opposition: The recognized leader of the largest non government party in the house.
Chief Whips: Parties appoint whips in each House to ensure members attend and vote according to party lines.
Secretaries-General: Permanent top officials of each house’s Secretariat, assisting the Speaker/Chairman on procedural and administrative matters.
Powers and Functions of Lok sabha and Rajya sabha
Powers where both are equal
Introduction and Passage of Ordinary Bills: Both chambers may initiate and approve ordinary legislation without consulting the other chamber.
Constitutional Amendment Bills: Constitutional revisions entail the sanction of two-thirds of the members of each chamber separately.
Financial Bills (Non-Money Bills): Financial bills with financial expenditures (not classified as Money Bills) need the mutual sanction of both chambers.
Election and Impeachment of the President: The President is elected democratically, by the two houses of the legislature, and can be removed only by a two-thirds majority of each house, independently of the others.
Removal of Constitutional Functionaries: Both houses have equal power to remove judges, the Chief Election Commissioner, and the Comptroller and Auditor General of the Union.
Approval of Presidential Ordinances: After the President issues ordinances while parliament is on recess, subsequently, both houses must approve the said ordinances.
Approval of All Three Types of Emergencies: All three types of emergencies, namely, national, state or financial that the President declares, require the consent of both houses.
Enlargement of Supreme Court and UPSC Jurisdiction: The UPSC and Supreme Court Jurisdiction can only be expanded through an amendment to the Constitution and/or a legislation passed in both the houses of Parliament separately.
Special powers of Lok Sabha
Origin of Money Bills:The procedure for the enactment of Money Bills is exclusively initiated by the Lok Sabha, while the Rajya Sabha is permanently prohibited from doing so.
Speaker's Certification Power: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is granted the authority under Article 110 to certify exclusively whether a specific bill is a Money Bill.
Exclusive Budget Authority: Rajya Sabha may consider and discuss the budget but is not entitled to vote on grant demands.
No-Confidence Motions: A sole no confidence motion may be passed by the Lok Sabha which results in the falling of the government.
Presiding Over Joint Sittings: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is empowered to preside over the joint sittings of the two houses of the Parliament.
Discontinuation of National Emergencies: Only the Lok Sabha can pass a resolution for discontinuance of a national emergency.
Special powers of Rajya Sabha
Legislation on State Subjects (Article 249): The Rajya Sabha can adopt a resolution permitting Parliament to make laws concerning items on the State List which are usually the domain of state legislatures.
Creation of All-India Services (Article 312): It is only the Rajya Sabha that may adopt a resolution permitting Parliament to establish new All India Services, including the IAS, IPS, or IFS.
Removal of the Vice-President: A resolution for the removal of the Vice-President is passed only in the Rajya Sabha, and not in the Lok Sabha.
Bicameral Balance: How Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Safeguard India's Democracy
Rajya Sabha as state voice:
Owing to the fact that state legislatures elect Rajya Sabha members, the Rajya Sabha defends regional interests, as well as, provides states a role in national lawmaking.
Since it is not dissolved, it offers further continuity which stabilises governance during transitions.
For instance, in a situation where the Lok Sabha is dissolved during a hung parliament or state emergency, the Rajya Sabha stands as the continuing Parliament.
Lok Sabha as people’s house:
Constituted as a house of the people, the Lok Sabha is a manifestation of the people's will as it is the only house of Parliament directly elected by the people.
It also exercises control over the budget, tax, and public expenditure and, thereby, government accountability, through the no-confidence mechanism.
As a continuously accountable mechanism of the people's representative government, it is a fundamental building block of democracy to ensure that the executive is answerable to the elected representatives of the people.
Balance of power:
In normal times, the larger numerical strength of Lok Sabha means it often prevails in policy decisions.
However, Rajya Sabha can delay or seek more debate on legislation (e.g. through select committees).
Major changes like constitutional amendments or federal arrangements require consensus of both houses, reinforcing checks-and-balances.
Criticisms of Rajya Sabha
1. Limited to a Revisory Role: The Rajya Sabha primarily functions as a reviewing and scrutinizing body for legislation initiated by the Lok Sabha, often lacking the ability to initiate transformative policies independently.
2. Disproportionate State Representation: Unlike federal systems such as the USA and Australia, where all states receive equal upper house representation, India allocates Rajya Sabha seats proportionally based on state population.
3. Money Bill Misclassification and Bypass: Governments have increasingly classified ordinary bills as Money Bills to circumvent Rajya Sabha scrutiny, undermining the chamber's legislative authority.
4. Nominated Members and Accountability Concerns: The 12 members nominated by the President, though selected for expertise in arts, science, and social service, lack electoral accountability.
5. Political Horse Trading and Cross-Voting: The single transferable vote system used in Rajya Sabha elections, combined with indirect elections through state legislatures, creates opportunities for political manipulation and unpredictable outcomes.
6. Insufficient Federal Safeguard: Despite constitutional provisions like Articles 249 and 312 granting special powers, the Rajya Sabha's practical inability to shield state interests from centralization remains evident.
UPSC Previous Year Questions
Q. With reference to Finance Bill and Money Bill in the Indian Parliament, consider the following statements: (2023)
When the Lok Sabha transmits the Finance Bill to the Rajya Sabha, it can amend or reject the Bill.
When the Lok Sabha transmits Money Bill to the Rajya Sabha, it cannot amend or reject the Bill, it can only make recommendations.
In the case of disagreement between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, there is no joint sitting for Money Bill, but a joint sitting becomes necessary for the Finance Bill.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Only one
Only two
All three
None
Answer: (b)
Q. Which of the following is/are the exclusive power(s) of Lok Sabha? (2022)
To ratify the declaration of Emergency
To pass a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers
To impeach the President of India
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1 and 2
2 only
1 and 3
3 only
Answer: (b)
Q. Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in (2020)
the matter of creating new All India Services
amending the Constitution
the removal of the government
making cut motions
Answer: (b)
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha together form the backbone of India's parliamentary system, with one representing the people and the other protecting state interests. For UPSC preparation, understanding how these two houses balance power through money bills, constitutional amendments, and emergency procedures is essential. The key is remembering that neither house can act alone on major decisions—both must work together, creating the checks and balances that keep India's democracy strong.
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