Lok Sabha Introduces Seat-Based Attendance System for MPs From Budget Session

Digital Desk, New Delhi: The Lok Sabha has introduced a new attendance system for Members of Parliament, under which MPs will be able to mark their presence only from their designated seats inside the House.

The earlier provision that allowed attendance to be recorded from the lobby or outside the chamber has been completely withdrawn.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference held in Lucknow. Emphasising the need to uphold discipline and dignity in parliamentary proceedings, Birla said the new measure is aimed at reinforcing seriousness and accountability within the House.

Under the revised system, MPs will be permitted to record attendance only when the House is in session and they are physically seated in the chamber. In situations where proceedings are disrupted or the House is adjourned, attendance cannot be marked. The changes will come into effect from the Budget Session, which begins on January 28.

The Speaker noted that instances where opposition MPs disrupt proceedings for extended periods have often allowed members to mark attendance despite not actively participating in debates. The new arrangement seeks to ensure that attendance reflects genuine engagement rather than mere physical presence within the Parliament complex.

Birla stressed that attendance should not serve merely as proof of an MP’s presence on the premises, but as an indicator of meaningful participation in legislative business. To facilitate this, digital consoles already installed at every seat in the Lok Sabha chamber will now be the sole medium for recording attendance. With this move, the practice of marking attendance from lobbies, corridors, or other areas has effectively come to an end.

Move Towards Uniform Parliamentary Practices

Addressing the conference, the Speaker also informed delegates that a committee has been constituted to work towards the harmonisation of rules and procedures across Parliament and state legislatures. The objective, he said, is to bring greater uniformity while fostering healthy competition among legislative bodies.

Such competition, based on established benchmarks, would help improve the quality and efficiency of law-making institutions across the country. Birla underscored that only responsible, inclusive, and forward-looking legislatures can strengthen democratic institutions.

He added that public trust and the credibility of democratic systems can be enhanced only when Parliament and state legislatures function with accountability, transparency, and a clear commitment to the future.