Benefits Enjoyed by Members of India's Lok Sabha
On Sunday, Narendra Modi will be sworn in for the third time as India's Prime Minister. His party, the BJP, secured 240 out of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, while Congress obtained 99 seats. With 293 seats, Modi's NDA alliance is set to form the government.
Rahul Gandhi has been nominated as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, a proposal passed during a Congress Working Committee meeting. Party members consider Rahul to be the most suitable candidate to challenge Modi. However, Rahul has stated that he will take some time to decide.
Although the swearing-in was initially scheduled for Saturday, it has been postponed to Sunday evening for undisclosed reasons, speculated to be due to last-minute negotiations with allies. Regardless, let's take a look at the salary and various allowances that elected MPs receive in India.
An elected MP in the Lok Sabha receives a basic salary of ₹100,000 per month. This amount was set in 2018, considering inflation, cost of living, and other economic factors. Additionally, MPs receive ₹70,000 per month for constituency expenses, which cover office maintenance and other related activities.
For office expenses, an MP receives ₹60,000 monthly, which includes costs for stationery, telecommunications, and staff salaries. During parliamentary sessions and committee meetings, MPs are given a daily allowance of ₹2,000 to cover lodging, food, and other expenses. MPs can also travel free of charge on 34 domestic flights each year for official or personal purposes.
For government and personal travel, MPs enjoy complimentary first-class train travel. Within their constituencies, they receive mileage allowances for travel. During their five-year term, MPs are provided with free housing in upscale areas, with options for bungalows, flats, or hostel rooms based on seniority. Those who opt out of this accommodation can claim ₹200,000 monthly as a housing allowance.
Under the Central Government Health Scheme, MPs and their family members receive free medical treatment at both government and empaneled private hospitals. Former MPs receive a monthly pension of ₹25,000, with an increment of ₹2,000 for each additional year of service. Annually, MPs can make 150,000 free telephone calls and have free high-speed internet connections at their offices and residences. They also receive 50,000 units of electricity and 4,000 kiloliters of water free of charge each year.
