Lok Sabha to roll out new digital seat-based attendance system for MPs

New Delhi: A new attendance system for Lok Sabha members will be implemented from the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, requiring MPs to mark their presence from their designated seats instead of using the traditional registers in the lobby.

According to official sources, the updated system is aimed at saving time and reducing congestion, as lobbies often become crowded. Additionally, concerns have been raised in the past over some MPs marking their attendance and leaving without participating in House proceedings. The new system seeks to curb such instances.

Speaker Om Birla is reportedly keen to enforce this new method. However, the traditional attendance register in the lobby will remain operational for a transitional period, allowing MPs to gradually adjust to the new electronic system.

Last year, Speaker Birla had introduced an option for members to record their attendance using a digital pen on electronic tablets in the lobby, as part of a broader effort to make Parliament paperless.

It is worth noting that ministers and the Leader of the Opposition are exempt from signing attendance records. However, attendance remains critical for other MPs, as it determines eligibility for daily allowances during sessions. The regularity of an MP’s presence in the House has also frequently figured in public discourse.

The Monsoon Session is scheduled to begin on July 21 and continue until August 21.

With PTI inputs