40% of MPs absent from key parliamentary panel meetings: Lok Sabha data

New Delhi: Several Members of Parliament (MPs) from various political parties have frequently skipped meetings of the Parliamentary Standing Committees, according to attendance data published on the Lok Sabha website.

These committees, reconstituted in September 2023, are vital to reviewing legislation and policies before they reach Parliament.

The data reveals that, on average, only about 60% of the members attended committee meetings, meaning roughly 40% were absent. Each Standing Committee has 31 members — 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

The low participation has affected key discussions. For instance, only 13 members attended the External Affairs panel meeting on May 20, while 18 were present on May 11 when the committee adopted its report on the 2025–26 Demand for Grants. Twenty-four members attended a May 19 meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on India–Pakistan tensions.

Other committees saw similarly low attendance. Just 15–16 members attended meetings of the Agriculture, Defence, Chemicals and Fertilisers, and Coal and Mines panels in recent months. Only 12 members attended the Rural Development Committee’s session on May 16, while just 12 were present for the Railways panel meeting on March 7.

The data raises concerns about the seriousness with which MPs approach committee responsibilities, despite repeated demands by all parties for legislative scrutiny before bills are introduced in Parliament. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla previously called committees “mini Parliaments” that play a crucial role in shaping effective public policies.
(With PTI inputs)