New Delhi, March 24 (IANS). The central government has increased the salary of MPs by 24 percent, which will be effective from 1 April 2023. This increase has been fixed on the basis of the price increase index, which means that this change in the salary of MPs has been made according to the inflation rate.
According to the Gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on Monday, the Center has increased the salaries, allowances and pension of Members of Parliament (MPs), effective from April 1, 2023.
According to the notification, 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 been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.
The pension given to former MPs has also been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 31,000 per month.
The notification states that additional pension for each year of service of more than five years has been increased from the earlier Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.
During the current budget session of Parliament, amendment in salary, allowances and pension of MPs was announced. The last time amendment to the salary and allowances of the current and former MPs was announced in April 2018.
In the amendment of the year 2018, the basic salary of MPs was fixed at Rs 1,00,000 per month according to the increasing cost of inflation and living.
According to the 2018 amendment, MPs get an allowance of Rs 70,000 as constituency allowance to maintain their offices and cover the cost of joining voters in their respective districts. In addition, they get Rs 60,000 per month as office allowance and Rs 2,000 as daily allowance during parliamentary sessions. These allowances will also be increased now.
Apart from this, MPs also get annual allowance for use of phone and internet. They enjoy 34 free domestic flights per year for themselves and their family and travel first class trains at any time for professional and personal use. They can also claim mileage allowance when using the road. MPs also get 50,000 units of electricity and free facility of 4,000 kiloliter water annually.
The government also makes arrangements for their residence and living. During their five-year tenure, MPs are provided rent-free housing in New Delhi. They can find hostel rooms, apartments or bungalows based on their seniority. MPs who do not want to use official housing are eligible to receive monthly housing allowance.
This increase of 24 percent in the salary of MPs has been made under the powers provided by “Salary, Allowance and Pension Act, 1954” of MPs. Under this Act, the Central Government has the right to amend the salaries, allowances and pension of MPs.
The Act determines the financial benefits and facilities of MPs and these benefits are amended from time to time on the basis of inflation.
-IANS
AKS/ABM
