A recent analysis of Parliament's performance in 2025 has revealed a concerning trend of diminished focus on core legislative duties. According to data compiled by PRS Legislative Research, both houses of India's Parliament – the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha – dedicated less than 30% of their total functional time to legislative business this year.
Key Findings from the PRS Legislative Analysis
The report, which scrutinizes the productivity and functioning of Parliament, highlights a significant allocation of time to non-legislative activities. Legislative business, which includes the introduction, discussion, and passing of bills, was sidelined for a substantial portion of the sessions. Furthermore, the analysis pointed out that the crucial Question Hour did not function for its scheduled duration, operating for even less time than what was officially allotted.
Implications for Democratic Functioning
This decline in time spent on lawmaking raises important questions about parliamentary efficiency and priority. The Question Hour is a vital tool for holding the government accountable, and its curtailment limits this oversight mechanism. When such a small fraction of parliamentary time is dedicated to creating and debating laws, it can impact the depth of scrutiny applied to proposed legislation and delay important policy decisions.
Context and Broader Trends
The findings for the year 2025, as reported on 31st December 2025, continue a pattern that has been observed in previous parliamentary sessions. Experts often debate the balance between legislative work, debates on matters of public importance, and other procedural elements. This report provides concrete data showing a tilt away from the primary function of Parliament: to legislate. The analysis by PRS Legislative serves as a critical benchmark for evaluating the performance of India's democratic institutions.
As the year concludes, this report card on Parliament's productivity underscores the need for introspection and potentially, procedural reforms to ensure that the nation's highest legislative body maximizes its time on the core task of governance and lawmaking.
