Part V - Parliament • Article

Article 81 Simplified: Composition of the House of the People

Article 81 defines the Lok Sabha (Lower House). This is the 'People's House' where you directly vote for your MP. It has a maximum of 550 members (530 from States, 20 from UTs). Seats are divided among states based on their population so that every citizen's vote has roughly the same weight.

Official Text

(1) [Subject to the provisions of article 331 ***], the House of the People shall consist of- (a) not more than [five hundred and thirty members] chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States; and (b) not more than [twenty members] to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide. (2) For the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (1),- (a) there shall be allotted to each State a number of seats in the House of the People in such manner that the ratio between that number and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States; and (b) each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it is, so far as practicable, the same throughout the State: [Provided that the provisions of sub-clause (a) of this clause shall not be applicable for the purpose of allotment of seats in the House of the People to any State so long as the population of that State does not exceed six millions.] (3) In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published: [Provided that the reference in this clause to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year [2026] have been published, [be construed,- (i) for the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (2) and the proviso to that clause, as a reference to the 1971 census; and (ii) for the purposes of sub-clause (b) of clause (2) as a reference to the [2001] census.]]

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

Article 81 is the rule about the Lok Sabha (the Lower House). This is the 'People's House' where citizens go to vote and choose their leaders directly.

Student Mode

Determines the composition of the Lok Sabha, specifying a maximum of 530 representatives elected directly from territorial constituencies in the States, and up to 20 representatives from Union Territories.

Example

When you go to vote in the General Elections to choose the Prime Minister's party, you are participating in the process defined by Article 81.

Key Takeaway

Lok Sabha is the direct voice of the Indian people in the government.

FAQs

How are Lok Sabha members elected?

They are directly elected by citizens on the basis of adult suffrage from single-member territorial constituencies.

What is the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha specified in Article 81?

The maximum is 550 members (excluding the now-repealed Anglo-Indian nominated seats).