By TCO News Desk
New Delhi, India – January 18, 2026
Power, prestige, and a plush lifestyle define the role of a Member of Parliament (MP) in India, where taxpayers foot the bill for salaries exceeding ₹1.24 lakh monthly, free housing, unlimited travel perks, and lifelong pensions. Yet, as the 18th Lok Sabha settles into its second year, a growing chorus of citizens questions the return on this investment: Are MPs delivering governance worthy of their gilded perks, or is it time for performance audits and pay tied to productivity?
The emoluments for India's 543 Lok Sabha and 245 Rajya Sabha members form a comprehensive safety net, recently enhanced in March 2025 to keep pace with inflation and rising costs. Basic salary now stands at ₹1.24 lakh per month, up from ₹1 lakh, complemented by a ₹2,000 daily allowance during sessions and ₹60,000 for office expenses covering staff, stationery, and postage. Constituency allowances have doubled to ₹45,000 monthly, while housing—either government bungalows in Lutyens' Delhi or equivalents elsewhere—includes utilities like electricity and water, often running into lakhs annually for high-profile occupants.
Travel and communication perks add to the allure: Lok Sabha MPs enjoy 1.5 lakh free local and STD calls yearly, Rajya Sabha members get 50,000, and all qualify for 34 free domestic air tickets annually for family, plus international travel for official duties. Medical coverage is unlimited under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), extending to spouses and dependents, while pensions—₹25,000 monthly post-tenure, indexed to inflation—ensure financial security for life. In total, annual perks per MP can exceed ₹50 lakh, excluding the ₹5 crore Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund for constituency projects.
These benefits, enshrined under the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers Act and parliamentary rules, aim to insulate lawmakers from financial distractions, allowing focus on nation-building. "The perks are not luxuries; they're enablers for dedicated service," argues Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, defending the package while noting her active use of MPLADS funds for Maharashtra's infrastructure. Yet, in an era of economic inequality—where the average Indian earns under ₹2 lakh annually—the opulence jars against stagnant wages and soaring living costs.
The real sting lies in the perceived imbalance: What do citizens reap from this taxpayer largesse? Data paints a sobering picture. Re-elected MPs' average assets have ballooned 110% over the past decade, from ₹15.76 crore in 2014 to ₹33.13 crore in 2024, with BJP lawmakers leading the surge in declared wealth, per the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Critics link this to cronyism and unchecked influence, with over 40% of MPs facing criminal charges in the 2024 elections.
Parliamentary productivity tells a grimmer tale. The House sat for just 60 days in 2025, down 50% from pre-2014 averages, racking up ₹9 crore daily in operational costs for security, staff, and utilities—totaling over ₹540 crore for minimal output. Disruptions over trivial debates eclipse substantive work, while ₹300 crore vanishes on unreported foreign junkets. Social media seethes with frustration: "Indian Parliament works ONLY 60 days a Year, but MPs rake in ₹3L + Salary + FREE Perks! We Pay Taxes 365 Days, they Holiday 305!" vented X user @tanmoyofc, a sentiment echoed in viral reels amassing millions of views.
Calls for reform grow louder. Activist Manoj Kumar Majhi advocates annual performance audits for MPs and MLAs, akin to corporate reviews: "Everyone in India faces performance reviews—except the people who run India." X user @KUMARESHTRIVEDI laments MPs' inaction on scams like digital arrests, urging mandatory private member's bills: "Indians pay salaries and benefits to 750 MPs, but they haven't shown concern." Even Speaker Om Birla issued a stern warning this week against MPs flouting rules, like alleged e-cigarette use in chambers, signaling internal unease.
Defenders counter that systemic flaws, not perks, hobble performance. "Voters must demand accountability at the ballot," says ADR's Jagdeep Chhokar, pointing to low attendance (under 70% in many sessions) and MPLADS underutilization—Priyanka Chaturvedi's retort to trolls highlighted outdated ministry websites masking real efforts. Yet, with 2026's Union Budget looming, economists like those at Ideas for India warn of a "crisis of representation," where deferred seat reallocations deepen voter disillusionment.
As India eyes its centennial independence in 2047, the MP-citizen compact hangs in balance. Perks without performance erode trust; reform could restore it. Until then, the question lingers: In the world's largest democracy, is the price of power worth the public purse?
For More News Updates Follow Us On Www.tconews.in
