Individual Parliamentarian’s role as the national
the lawmaker is on a decline, which in turn, has
adversely impacted the quality of debates
and their outcome.

GS 2

Indian Polity

2019

15 Marks

The diminishing role of individual parliamentarians in lawmaking represents a critical challenge to India's parliamentary democracy, significantly undermining legislative quality and democratic deliberation.

Anti Defection Law Top-Down Flowchart

Reasons for Declining Individual Role

Party Dominance and Whip System
- Strict party discipline limiting independent voting
- Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule) constraining MPs' conscience-based decisions
- Leadership-driven legislative agenda overshadowing individual initiatives
- Coalition politics reducing space for dissenting voices
- Electoral dependencies making MPs toe party lines
Institutional Constraints
- Private Member Bills rarely succeed - only 14 passed since 1947, none since 1970
- Limited parliamentary time allocated for individual member initiatives
- Government's legislative dominance through Article 117 (money bills restriction)
- Inadequate research support and institutional backing for MPs
- Complex legislative procedures deterring individual participation

Impact on Debate Quality and Outcomes

Deteriorating Legislative Scrutiny
- Reduced committee referrals - only 27% bills referred to committees in recent years
- Perfunctory discussions without substantial amendments
- Question Hour and Zero Hour frequently disrupted, limiting accountability mechanisms
- Declining average debate time per bill from 7.5 hours (1950s) to 2.5 hours (2019-24)
- Rushed passage of legislation without adequate deliberation
Democratic Deficit
- Weakened representation of diverse regional and sectoral interests
- Reduced policy innovation from grassroots parliamentary experience
- Limited cross-party collaboration on non-partisan issues
- Decreased public engagement with legislative processes
- Erosion of Parliament's constitutional role as supreme legislative body

Remedial Measures

Mandatory 48-hour notice before bill introduction
Strengthening Department-Related Standing Committees with enhanced powers
Dedicated time slots for private member legislation
Parliamentary research services modeled on UK House of Commons Library
Digital platforms for broader public consultation

Revitalizing individual parliamentarians' legislative role requires comprehensive reforms balancing party discipline with democratic representation, ensuring Parliament's effectiveness as India's premier law-making institution.

Answer Length

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