The 18th Lok Sabha election of the country has been completed and Narendra Modi is going to take oath as the Prime Minister for the third time. The excitement of the Lok Sabha elections was seen. In this election, the people of the country gave less than 300 seats to BJP which had given the slogan of 400 seats. In Maharashtra, Mahavikas Aghadi pushed the Mahayuti on the backfoot. The government will be formed in the country soon but do you know how much salary the elected MPs get? Let us see what other facilities and allowances are given to them along with the salary.
Parliamentary democracy exists in India. It consists of two houses, one is Rajya Sabha and the other is Lok Sabha. Of these, there are 243 MPs in Lok Sabha and 250 in Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha consists of representatives directly elected by the people through the process of general elections held every five years. The number of Lok Sabha seats is determined on the basis of the population of each state and union territory and one MP is elected from each constituency. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs get the same salary and all other benefits.
What is the salary of MPs?
MPs get a monthly salary. This includes a daily allowance and their salary increases every 5 years. This salary includes a basic salary of Rs 50,000 per month as per the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Act, 2010. Each person gets a daily allowance of Rs 2000 for attending Parliament sessions and other functions. Each MP also gets a constituency allowance of Rs 70,000 per month.
Each MP gets Rs 60,000 per month for office expenses, which includes Rs 40,000 for assistants and Rs 20,000 for other expenses. MPs are also given a travel allowance while performing their duties towards the public. They also have the right to rent out the free accommodation provided to MPs. MPs from Ladakh and Andaman Nicobar Islands are given special allowance. These MPs are given special allowance keeping in view their specific geographical location and travel requirements. MPs from Andaman and Nicobar Islands or Lakshadweep are provided with free steamer passes and airfare from their residence to the nearest airport on the main island.
Functions of MPs
-The primary function of MPs is to make or amend laws according to the Constitution -To keep an eye on the functioning of the government, raise voice in the Parliament if there is anything wrong in the functioning -To present the problems of the public of their constituency in the Parliament -To advise the government on important matters of the country -To represent their country in international conferences or meetings -The right to ask relevant questions related to the functioning of the government
An MP cannot be arrested
Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have special privileges. In which no legal summons can be issued without the permission of the Speaker and the President. Apart from this, if the Speaker or the Chairman has given permission, then no one can be arrested inside the Parliament House. Because in the Parliament premises, only the Speaker and the Chairman of the House are obeyed. The orders of any government official or local administration are not followed.
If a Member of Parliament wishes to be arrested, the police officer or any agency coming to make the arrest has to inform the Speaker or the Member of Parliament about the reason for the arrest as per Article 20A of the Rules of Parliament.
MPs are also given a pass, which allows them to travel by train for free. They can travel in first class AC or executive class of any train. There is a rule to give government allowance to MPs even when they go abroad on government work. Every MP also gets medical facilities. After the treatment of an MP in any government hospital or any private hospital, the government bears the expenses. Not only this, MPs get security guards at government expense.
Facilities and pension to former MPs
Former MPs can travel free in Second AC along with any person accompanying them. Former MPs can travel alone in First AC if they wish. Former MPs, whether Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha, both get Rs 25000 per month. If the period is more than five years, then Rs 1500 per month will be paid separately in respect of his seniority. So this is the reason for getting higher pension for a longer period.
Increase every five years
Parliament enacted an Act in 1985 which empowered the Central Government to fix and revise certain allowances of MPs such as constituency allowance, office allowance and housing allowance. In 2018, through the Finance Act, Parliament amended the law determining the salary of MPs. It revised the salary of MPs and the salary, daily allowance and pension of MPs will be increased every five years based on the inflation index provided under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Currently, each MP gets Rs 1 lakh as basic salary per month. At the same time, many types of allowances and facilities are available including housing, health, travel etc. In this regard, a new rule was implemented from April 1, 2023. According to the new rules, the salary and daily allowance of MPs will be increased by five percent every five years.
How much tax do MPs have to pay?
As a rule, MPs of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, President and Vice President pay tax only on their basic salary. They do not have to pay any tax on other allowances. The basic salary of MPs is 1 lakh and annual salary is 12 lakh. They have to pay tax only on this 12 lakh.
