The heart of India’s Parliament is, ironically, the “Lower House”, or the Lok Sabha, where 543 members, directly elected by voters represent the will of the people. It is elected during quinquennial, rumbustious national elections. Since China, another populous country, does not follow classic democratic principles, like universal franchise and representation rights, India’s elections have always been the largest democratic spectacle globally, with 970 million eligible voters in 2024 and a voter turnout of 65.
8 per cent, marginally lower than the 67.4 per cent turnout in the previous general election in 2019. The “Upper House” of our bicameral Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, is smaller but permanent.
Each member has a six-year term with one-third retiring every two years. The President of India nominates 12 members to represent non-political perspectives -- one such is Sudha Murthy, Rishi Sunak’s mother-in-law, for her philanthropic work. Members of state Assemblies indirectly elect 238 members.
They represent the political preferences of the state legislatures which elected them – a useful device for widespread early buy-in for Central legislation, particularly if the Constitution is to be amended, for which the Rajya Sabha’s approval is compulsory. Its semi-permanent status brings partial stability to voting patterns in Parliament, unlike the Lok Sabha, which can be swept by the winds of change, radically altering the structure of political power, every five .