• India is often called the “mother of democracy”.
• The recognition is founded on the solid bedrock of India’s historical and cultural legacy that goes back several years.
• India’s ancient texts refer to institutions and political structures that facilitated deliberation and debate, including participative governance, particularly at the village community level.
• People practising tribal culture have exhibited examples of resilient local self-governance.

Importance of Parliament

• Parliaments are the supreme expression of the will of sovereign peoples.
• Members of Parliament in a constitutional democracy like India are legally obligated to seek approval for their plans through free, fair and open elections.
• Parliaments constituted by popular will are bestowed with constitutional and moral authority to enact laws, determine political goals, allocate resources, give voice to the common citizens and hold the executive accountable.

Preserving Democratic Ethos

• People of a nation are heart of any parliamentary democracy.
• The Indian people have held onto the democratic ethos which is deeply ingrained in their common psyche.
• That parliamentary democracy has strengthened and flourished in independent India is in itself a testimony to this democratic ethos.
• The Indian Parliament seamlessly continues a historic democratic legacy spanning millennia.

Overcoming Doubts

• When India attained independence in 1947, serious doubts were expressed about the viability of the democratic experiment, which was considered to be an alien implant on the Indian political terra firma.
• India’s founding fathers who were influenced from its history, tradition and culture, and had faith in the political judgement and wisdom of common people, had no hesitation or self-doubt.
• The journey in the last seven decades has justified that faith in the people of India and in their capability to make the right choice when it mattered the most.

Role of parliamentary system

• India’s robust and accommodative parliamentary system manages conflicts, cherishes diversity and nurtures oneness of spirit to keep India united and strong.
• It guides the nation forward on the path of development and prosperity for the last person in the queue.
• It has provided space and respect for diversity in all its dimensions while dealing with all in an even-handed way and never hesitating to reach out to the weaker sections of society.

Watchdog of the public exchequer:

• It is the final watchdog of the public exchequer, approves the allocation of funds and finances and monitors expenditure.

Securing Executive Accountability:

• Parliament, is entrusted with securing accountability of the Executive through various instruments available to it in the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, tradition and well-settled precedents.

Representing citizens:

• Parliament serves as an effective mouthpiece of the people in bringing their issues, concerns, problems and difficulties to the attention of governments and the nation.

Positive socio-economic change:

• The Parliament of India has played a determined and purposive role in bringing about positive socio-economic change in a society as diverse as India through progressive legislation and debates on matters of contemporary national interest.

Passing legislations:

• Parliament has passed many laws since Independence, these pieces of legislation have established India as a nation that promotes the rule of law.
• It also establishes India as a nation that is determined to uplift and improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens, and make society inclusive and fair.

Enhancing Parliamentary Scrutiny

• Parliamentary committees are extensions of Parliament.
• These committees are vested with great authority and responsibility to carry out detailed scrutiny of bills, budgetary proposals, programmes and policies and the working of different ministries of the Union government.
• Committees complement and support the work of Parliament enormously since they enjoy greater flexibility in their functioning.
• They can devise their own methodology, take evidence of government officials and elicit views directly from the people, organisations and experts.
• These feedback mechanisms help to sharpen parliamentary scrutiny and oversight of government ministries and departments.

Rights and Responsibility of Parliamentarians

Parliamentary privileges:

• The Constitution grants members, individually and collectively as members of the Houses of Parliament, certain rights, privileges and immunities to enable them to discharge their responsibilities efficiently, effectively and without fear or favour.
• Parliamentary privileges shield and safeguard the autonomy, authority and dignity of Parliament from incursions by other arms of the state.
• These privileges are vital as they enable members to express their views freely.
• These privileges include:
• Immunity from prosecution for speech made in the Houses of Parliament.
• Immunity from arrest in civil matters during parliamentary sessions or committee meetings.
• However, rights come with responsibilities, which members have to remain cognisant of, so that these privileges are not used for frivolous, baseless and defamatory allegations.

Responsibility of Parliamentarians:

• The members of Parliament are morally and ethically bound to speak responsibly in the House, and their behaviour and conduct should adhere to the highest parliamentary norms.
• There have been instances when the way Parliament has functioned has disappointed those who look upon the Houses for meaningful deliberation and debates on national issues and those of common concern.
• Occasional disruptions during sittings and displays of unruly behaviour on the part of some members have unfortunately, increased in frequency.

Right to question and dissent:

• Right to question and dissent is integral to democracy and should be protected at all costs, this right should not become a licence to foment disruption and disorder in the House when disapproval can be expressed through informed debate, wit and humour.
• The net result of disruptive obstructionism is:
• Lower productivity of the House
• Passing of important legislation without detailed debates
• Wasting the opportunity to demand answers from the government to search questions and raise parliamentary constituency-related issues during Zero Hour.
• Members of Parliament and citizens should introspect as to how the pre-eminence of Parliament among the organs of the state can be restored as a responsible body that is uniquely competent to finding solutions through well-informed, methodical and open deliberation.

Parliament''s Technological Advancements

• Parliament has integrated information technologyto improve connectivity with members, other legislative bodies, and citizens.
• Modern technologyand green building norms are incorporated into the new Parliament building.
• The Digital Sansad apphas been developed and is being continuously fine-tuned to serve members and stakeholders better.
• Social media coverageof the activities and archival resources of Parliament is being upgraded to connect effectively with the youth.
• As India enters the Amrit Kaalof its existence as a sovereign nation, it is the people of India who will have to find ways to make this representative institution a place worthy of the respect and trust that voters have reposed in their elected representatives. Members of Parliament owe it to the citizens of this great nation to uphold the glory and dignity of Parliament.
• Parliament is not a lifeless institutionbut a vibrant and living embodiment of the will of more than a billion Indians. Individually and collectively, Parliamentarians are committed to working towards the welfare of citizens, and in this, their authority is amply fortified by the Constitution, the laws of the land and the moral authority bestowed by the people of India.
• Parliament of India’s capacious spirit has embraced all shades of opinionwith equal respect, while all along resolutely standing up for constitutional values, national interest, unity of the nation and the common good.