Subject: Indian Polity

India's parliamentary democracy has witnessed a significant decline in the quality of legislative deliberations and individual parliamentarian's role, as evidenced by recent trends and statistics. The essence of parliamentary democracy lies in meaningful debates and legislative scrutiny, which seems to be diminishing in recent times.

Decline in Individual Parliamentarian's Role

• The stark decline is reflected in the minimal discussion of Private Member's Bills, with only one bill discussed in the Rajya Sabha during 2023-2025 and none in the Lok Sabha.
• Historical data shows that only 14 Private Member's Bills have received assent to date, highlighting the diminishing space for individual legislative initiatives.
• The reduced role has led to centralization of legislative power within the executive, undermining the principle of separation of powers.

Impact on Quality of Debates

• Limited Scrutiny: Bills are often passed without detailed discussion or referral to Parliamentary Standing Committees.
• Reduced Participation: Individual members' participation in debates has declined, affecting the diverse representation of constituencies.
• The quality of deliberations has been affected by:
  • Frequent disruptions and adjournments.
  • Inadequate preparation time for debates.
  • Limited expertise and research support for members.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Parliamentary Committees through:
  • Enhanced resources and research support.
  • Mandatory committee examination of bills.
  • Improved attendance and participation tracking.
• Institutionalize capacity building programs for parliamentarians.
• Reform rules to ensure minimum hours of debate for each bill.
• Enhance the role of Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) in legislative scrutiny.

The declining role of individual parliamentarians and deteriorating debate quality threatens the essence of our parliamentary democracy. Strengthening institutional mechanisms like Question Hour and Zero Hour, along with reforms in parliamentary procedures, can help restore the legislature's deliberative character and enhance the quality of law-making process, as envisioned in our Constitutional framework.