Does changing MP salaries and MPLAD entitlements raise resources to fight COVID-19?
Distilled Policy Brief
- The central government issued Ordinances to amend the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 to reduce MP salaries by 30% for one year, and suspended the MPLAD Scheme for two years to supplement resources for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The reduction in MP and Minister salaries is estimated to save Rs 55 crore (0.03% of the COVID relief requirement), while the suspension of the MPLAD scheme is expected to save Rs 7800 crore (4.5% of the Rs 1.7 lakh crore required under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana).
- Currently, Indian MPs determine their own salaries by passing an Act of Parliament, which creates a conflict of interest; other democracies resolve this by using independent bodies like Australia's Remuneration Tribunal.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Constitutional provisions regarding MP salaries (Article 106) and the operational guidelines, funding nature (non-lapsable), and implementation agency of the MPLAD Scheme.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Analyze the constitutional and developmental implications of suspending the MPLAD scheme, balancing centralized disaster response with decentralized local governance.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the salaries, allowances, and entitlements of political representatives in India, consider the following statements: 1. Amendments reducing the salaries and constituency allowances of Members of Parliament (MPs) also apply to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, but the salary of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha remains unaffected. 2. Unlike democracies such as Australia which utilize independent tribunals, India does not have an independent body to determine MP salaries, and MPs determine their own salaries by passing an Act of Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statement 1 is correct because the amendments to MP salaries and constituency allowances apply to Ministers, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, while the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha remains unaffected. Statement 2 is also correct because Indian MPs currently determine their own salaries by passing an Act of Parliament, whereas other democracies like Australia resolve this conflict of interest by using independent bodies like the Remuneration Tribunal.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.