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Government Announces 24% Salary Hike for MPs, Increasing Monthly Pay to Rs 1.24 Lakh
The Indian government has implemented a significant 24% salary increase for Members of Parliament (MPs), effective from April 1, 2023, raising their monthly remuneration to Rs 1.24 lakh. Alongside this salary bump, allowances for former MPs and daily allowances for current members have also seen an increase.
Lead: In a move to adjust to inflation, the Indian government has announced a 24% increase in salaries for Members of Parliament (MPs), bringing their monthly pay to Rs 1.24 lakh, effective April 1, 2023. This decision, disclosed on Monday, aims to ensure MPs’ remuneration reflects the current economic climate and rising living costs. The notification from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs also revealed increased daily allowances for active MPs and pension benefits for former members, addressing broader concerns about financial adequacy amidst ongoing inflation.
Details of the Salary Hike
– **New Monthly Salary**: MPs will now earn Rs 1.24 lakh, up from Rs 1 lakh.
– **Daily Allowance Increase**: Daily allowance for Parliament sessions raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.
– **Pensions Updated**: Monthly pension for former MPs increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 31,000.
– **Additional Pension**: The extra monthly pension for every year of service beyond five years goes up from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.
Reasons Behind the Increase
The government’s decision follows a systematic review of MPs’ salaries, which are automatically indexed to inflation every five years. This approach eliminates the need for MPs to recommend their own salary adjustments, promoting financial transparency.
– **Previous Salary Trends**: The last salary revision occurred in 2018 when MPs’ pay was increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
– **Pandemic Adjustments**: During the COVID-19 pandemic, MPs saw their salaries reduced by 30% temporarily.
Reactions from Members of Parliament
There have been mixed responses to the salary increase:
– **Concerns Raised**: Congress MP Harish Meena questioned the actual benefits of the salary surge, noting that the new salary might place MPs in a taxable bracket.
– **Support Expressed**: Bharat Adivasi Party MP Rajkumar Roat welcomed the increase but urged the government to also elevate the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund to Rs 5 crore to assist MPs in constituency-related expenses.
Conclusion: The recent salary hike for MPs underscores the government’s recognition of rising living costs while also sparking discussions among parliamentarians about the adequacy of financial support for their constituency initiatives. As debates continue, it’s clear that the balance between adequate compensation and public accountability remains a critical conversation within Parliament.
Keywords: Salary hike, Members of Parliament, government notification, inflation adjustment, MP allowances, parliamentary affairs, monthly pay increase, pension update, India.
Hashtags: #SalaryHike #MembersOfParliament #India #Inflation #GovernmentPolicy #MPsCompensation #ParliamentaryAffairs
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