Composition of New Parliament

Source-This post on Composition of New Parliament has been created based on the article “More graduates, fewer women elected in 2024” published in “Business Standard” on 7 June 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2– Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.

Context– The article provides important data and facts related to the age profile, educational qualifications, gender representation, and wealth profile of MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha.

What is the age, education and wealth distribution of members of Parliament (MPs) in the 18th Lok Sabha?

1) Age Profile of MPs -According to PRS Legislative Research, more than half, or 52 percent, of MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are over 55 years old. Only 11 percent of MPs are aged 40 or below. Additionally, there are 58 winners who are 40 years old or younger.

2) Educational Qualifications of MPs -The share of graduate MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha is 78%, an increase from 72% in 2019 but lower than the 79% seen in 2009. The educational profile of MPs has moved towards greater college education.

3) Wealth Profile– In previous Lok Sabha elections, the richest candidates included V M Singh in 2009, Nandan Nilekani in 2014, and Ramesh Kumar Sharma in 2019.

Read more- Women’s Representation in Legislature

What is the gender distribution in the 18th Lok Sabha?

There are more men than women in the 18th Lok Sabha compared to the previous one. Out of 797 women who contested, only 74, or less than a tenth, won the elections.

This represents lower female representation compared to the previous election and falls below the target of 33 percent reserved seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures under the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Question for practice

What is the age, education and wealth distribution of members of Parliament (MPs) in the 18th Lok Sabha?