The Centre has increased the salaries, allowances, and pensions of Members of Parliament (MPs), effective April 1, 2023, according to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on Monday.
The salary of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.24 lakh per month, while the daily allowance has risen from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500, according to the notification.
The pension paid to former MPs has also been increased to Rs 31,000 per month from Rs 25,000, as per the notification.
The additional pension for each year of service beyond five years has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500, as per the notification.
The revision of MPs’ salaries, allowances, and pensions was announced during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament. The previous revision of salaries and allowances for sitting and former MPs was announced in April 2018.
The 2018 revision set an MP’s base pay at Rs 1,00,000 per month to align with inflation and the rising cost of living.
According to the 2018 revision, MPs receive an allowance of Rs 70,000 as a constituency allowance to cover the costs of maintaining their offices and engaging with voters in their respective districts. Apart from this, they receive Rs 60,000 per month as an office allowance and Rs 2,000 as a daily allowance during Parliamentary sessions. These allowances will also be increased now.
In addition, MPs receive an annual allowance for phone and internet usage. They enjoy 34 free domestic flights per year for themselves and their families, as well as first-class train travel at any time for professional and personal use. They can also claim a mileage allowance for road travel. MPs are further entitled to 50,000 free units of electricity and 4,000 kilolitres of water annually.
The government also provides for their housing and accommodation. During their five-year term, MPs are provided with rent-free housing in New Delhi. They may be allocated hostel rooms, apartments, or bungalows based on seniority. Individuals who choose not to utilize official accommodations are eligible to receive a monthly housing allowance.
(Inputs from IANS)
