The Lok Sabha has 543 elected members. Someone has to run the House. That person is the Speaker. The Speaker keeps order, decides who will speak, and rules on what is a Money Bill. The post is old. It came from the British Parliament. Exams ask about the election, the powers, the removal and the "firsts". This post explains them in simple words. It ends with 15 previous year questions.
Key Points (Quick Revision)
- The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members (Article 93).
- The Speaker is removed by a resolution passed by an effective majority after 14 days' notice (Article 94).
- The Speaker decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill, and this decision is final (Article 110).
- The Speaker presides over a joint sitting of both Houses (Article 118).
- The first Speaker of the Lok Sabha was G. V. Mavalankar.
1. Who is the Speaker?
The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha. The post is created by Article 93 of the Constitution. The same Article also creates the Deputy Speaker.
The idea comes from Britain. The Speaker of the House of Commons has run that House for centuries. India took the office from there. In British India, the post was called the President of the Central Legislative Assembly. Vithalbhai Patel was the first Indian elected to it, in 1925.
In the Rajya Sabha, the same work is done by the Chairman, who is the Vice-President of India. In a State Assembly, it is done by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
2. Election of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha. A member needs only a simple majority of those present and voting.
The date of the election is fixed by the President. The election usually takes place in the first session after a general election. By convention, the Speaker is chosen by consensus, but a vote can be held.
Until the new Speaker is elected, a Speaker pro tem runs the House. The President appoints the pro tem Speaker. By convention, the senior-most member is chosen. The pro tem Speaker administers the oath to new members and conducts the election of the Speaker.
The Speaker holds office from the date of election until just before the first meeting of the next Lok Sabha. So the Speaker continues even after the House is dissolved.
3. Removal and resignation
The Speaker can be removed by a resolution of the Lok Sabha. The rules are in Article 94.
- A 14-day notice must be given before the resolution is moved.
- The resolution must be passed by an effective majority. This means a majority of all the then members of the House, excluding vacancies.
- While a removal resolution is under consideration, the Speaker cannot preside. But the Speaker can speak and vote in the first instance, though not in the case of a tie.
The Speaker can resign by writing to the Deputy Speaker. The Deputy Speaker resigns by writing to the Speaker.
The Speaker also vacates office on ceasing to be a member of the Lok Sabha.
4. Powers and functions of the Speaker
The Speaker has many duties. Exams pick from this list.
- Keeps order in the House. The Speaker can adjourn the House or suspend a sitting if there is no quorum.
- Casting vote. The Speaker does not vote in the first instance. In case of a tie, the Speaker gives a casting vote (Article 100).
- Money Bill. The Speaker decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill. This decision is final (Article 110).
- Joint sitting. The Speaker presides over a joint sitting of Parliament called by the President (Article 118).
- Anti-defection. The Speaker decides questions of disqualification on the ground of defection under the Tenth Schedule. This decision is subject to judicial review (Kihoto Hollohan case, 1992).
- Committees. The Speaker appoints the chairpersons of all parliamentary committees. The Speaker is the chairperson of the Business Advisory Committee, the Rules Committee and the General Purposes Committee.
- Privileges. The Speaker is the guardian of the rights and privileges of members and of the House.
- Secret sitting. The Speaker can allow a secret sitting of the House on the request of the Leader of the House.
- Conferences. The Speaker heads the Indian Parliamentary Group and the Conference of Presiding Officers in India.
5. Independence and impartiality of the Speaker
The Speaker is expected to be neutral. The Constitution gives some safeguards.
- The Speaker has security of tenure. Removal needs an effective majority.
- The salary and allowances are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. They are not voted on by Parliament.
- The conduct of the Speaker cannot be discussed in the Lok Sabha except on a removal motion.
- The Speaker's powers to regulate procedure are not subject to the jurisdiction of any court.
- The Speaker votes only in a tie, so the Speaker does not take sides in normal voting.
In Britain, the Speaker resigns from the party on election. In India, there is no such rule. Speakers usually stay in their party but keep away from active politics.
6. The Deputy Speaker and the panel of chairpersons
The Deputy Speaker is also elected by the Lok Sabha. The date is fixed by the Speaker. The Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker when the office is vacant or the Speaker is absent.
The Deputy Speaker has one special right. When a Deputy Speaker is a member of a committee, he or she becomes its chairperson automatically.
The Speaker also nominates a panel of up to ten chairpersons from among the members. Any one of them can preside when both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are absent.
Since 1967, there has been a convention of giving the post of Deputy Speaker to the opposition. But this is only a convention, not a rule.
7. Important firsts and facts
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| First Speaker of the Lok Sabha | G. V. Mavalankar (1952) |
| First Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha | M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar |
| First woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha | Meira Kumar (2009) |
| Speaker who later became President of India | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Longest-serving Speaker of the Lok Sabha | Balram Jakhar |
| First Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly | Vithalbhai Patel (1925) |
| Speaker of the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) | G. V. Mavalankar |
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy is also the only Speaker who resigned the post to contest the election for President of India.
8. Previous year questions
- Under which Article is the Speaker of the Lok Sabha elected? – Article 93
- Who was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha? – G. V. Mavalankar
- Who was the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha? – Meira Kumar
- The Speaker of the Lok Sabha can be removed by a resolution passed by which majority? – Effective majority
- How many days' notice is required for a resolution to remove the Speaker? – 14 days
- Who decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill? – The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- Who presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament? – The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- To whom does the Speaker of the Lok Sabha submit his resignation? – The Deputy Speaker
- Who appoints the Speaker pro tem? – The President of India
- Which Speaker of the Lok Sabha later became the President of India? – Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
- The salary of the Speaker is charged on which fund? – Consolidated Fund of India
- Under which Schedule does the Speaker decide cases of defection? – Tenth Schedule
- When does the Speaker vote in the Lok Sabha? – Only in case of a tie (casting vote)
- Who was the first Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly? – Vithalbhai Patel
- Who was the longest-serving Speaker of the Lok Sabha? – Balram Jakhar
9. How to revise this topic
Start with the Articles: 93 election, 94 removal, 100 casting vote, 110 Money Bill, 118 joint sitting.
Next, fix the removal rule: 14 days' notice, effective majority, Speaker does not preside during the motion.
Then learn the three "cannot be questioned" powers: Money Bill decision, procedure, and discussion of conduct.
Finally, memorise the firsts table: Mavalankar, Ayyangar, Meira Kumar, Sanjiva Reddy, Balram Jakhar.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Who elects the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
The members of the Lok Sabha elect the Speaker from among themselves by a simple majority. The date of the election is fixed by the President.
How is the Speaker of the Lok Sabha removed?
By a resolution of the Lok Sabha passed by an effective majority, that is a majority of all the then members of the House. A 14-day notice is required, and the Speaker does not preside while the motion is under consideration.
Does the Speaker vote in the Lok Sabha?
No, not in the first instance. The Speaker votes only when there is a tie, and this is called a casting vote.
Who was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
G. V. Mavalankar was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha, from 1952. He was also the Speaker of the Constituent Assembly (Legislative).
What is a Speaker pro tem?
A temporary Speaker appointed by the President to run the House until the new Speaker is elected. By convention, the senior-most member is chosen. The pro tem Speaker administers the oath to new members.
For more Polity topics in simple language, see our Parliament of India, Parliamentary Committees and Vice-President of India posts, or browse the Polity section. Preparing for SSC? Start with the SSC CGL guide or join the 100 Hour GS Course.