Comparison between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha


Gap Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
What is called? House of People Council of States
What is the meaning? House of the People, where those eligible to vote can elect their representative through direct election Council of States, where the representatives are indirectly elected by the elected representatives of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and Union Territories
What is tenure? It has been in existence for 5 years (Note: It can be dissolved by first passing a no-confidence motion) It is a permanent body.
Who is the chief? Speaker Vice President of India as Head of the House
What is the minimum age to become a member? 25 years 30 years
How many members? 552 members 250 members
What are the tasks? All bills originate in the Lok Sabha and after they are passed by the Rajya Sabha, they are returned for the approval of the Lok Sabha. It plays a major role in legislation. The Rajya Sabha has special powers to protect the rights of the states against the union.
When an aspirant reads about the Indian Parliament for the first time, he/she can get a little confused between the two houses considering its composition, tenure and functions. Below, we will answer all those questions related to the difference between reading Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to get the aspirants conceptually clear for the UPSC 2020 exam.

Who is more powerful between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?


The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha together with the President make up the Parliament. Both the houses have been conferred with powers. However, there is a slight difference in the powers of both. Lok Sabha is more powerful than Rajya Sabha on specific matters which are given below: Lok Sabha can express the lack of confidence of the state government by following the methods which Rajya Sabha cannot:-

  • By not passing the Motion of Thanks on the President's Inaugural Address.
  • By rejecting a money bill.
  • By passing censor motion or adjournment motion
  • Defeating the government on an important issue
  • By passing cut motion
  • Note: Rajya Sabha can, however, criticize the government's acts and policies.

Under Article 110 a money bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. A financial bill can also be introduced only in the Lok Sabha under Article 110(1). Note: The powers, with the passage of the bill, remain the same. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides which bill is a money bill and the same power is not delegated to the Speaker of the Rajya Sabha. In case of joint sitting of both the houses, the Lok Sabha with the highest number of seats always wins. With respect to the Union Budget, the Rajya Sabha can only discuss the budget and cannot vote on the demands for grants.

How many members are there in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?

Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha

Represent 530 states Maximum power - 250 238 indirectly elected and representatives of states and union territories
Maximum power - 552 20 union territories have representatives 12 are nominated by the President

 2 are nominated by the President from the Anglo-Indian community Current Strength - 245 228 represent the states

 Represent 530 states Represents 4 Union Territories
Current Strength - 545 Represents 13 Union Territories 12 are nominated by the President

 2 are nominated by the President from the Anglo-Indian community

How are the members elected in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?

The principle of election of both the houses is different. There are three types of representation in both the houses:

  • Representation of states
  • Representation of Union Territories
  • Nominated member
Difference Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
The members are directly elected by the people of the territorial constituencies of the states. The members are elected by the elected members of the state legislatures
Application of Election Theory - Universal Adult Franchise Application of the election principle - proportional representation through the single transferable vote
Eligibility to vote: Any Indian citizen over the age of 18 Allotment of seats - on the basis of population
Note: The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 Note: The number of delegates varies from state to state.
Lok Sabha
  • Parliament has the right to elect members from the Union Territories in any manner they wish.
  • Election principle used - direct election

Note: The Union Territories (Direct Election to the House of the People) Act, 1965 has been enacted, by which the Lok Sabha members of the Union Territories are elected by direct election.

Rajya Sabha

  • The members are indirectly constituted by the members of an electoral college specially for this purpose.
  • Application of the election principle - proportional representation through the single transferable vote

Note: Out of the eight union territories, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry have representation in the Rajya Sabha.

Now practice related questions and see what you learnt?

☞ Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha GK Questions and Answers 🔗

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FAQs:

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 17 December 2013 and in the Lok Sabha the next day after making some amendments to the previous bill. It received assent from President Pranab Mukherjee on 1 January 2014 and came into effect from 16 January.

According to the Indian Constitution, there cannot be a gap of more than 6 months between two sessions of the two Houses of the Parliament - the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

The President nominates two members to the Lok Sabha from the Anglo-Indian community and twelve to the Rajya Sabha from amongst persons of eminence in the arts, sciences, literature and social service.

It is mandatory for the Rajya Sabha to return a Money Bill passed and transmitted by the Lok Sabha within 14 days of its receipt.

The Parliament has a sanctioned strength of 543 in the Lok Sabha and 245 in the Rajya Sabha, consisting of 12 nominees from various fields of expertise in literature, arts, science and social service. The Parliament meets in the Parliament House in New Delhi. The Lok Sabha consists of representatives elected by the people of the nation, whose maximum number is 550.

  Last update :  Fri 2 Sep 2022
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