Lok Sabha election results 2024: How much do MPs earn? What other perks do they enjoy?

India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections ended with the National Democratic Alliance getting 293 seats and the INDI alliance getting 232 seats.

With the BJP-led NDA set to form the government for a third time after easily crossing the half way mark of 272 seats in the 543-seat Parliament, all eyes are now on the newly elected MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha.

But have you ever wondered how much our MPs earn? Or what other perks our lawmakers enjoy?

Let’s take a closer look:

Salary

A vast majority of these MPs don’t need their salary.

After all, 93 per cent of the newly elected MPs are crorepatis – up from 88 per cent in 2019.

Still, the MPs get Rs 1 lakh per month as their basic salary, as per NDTV.

The MPs last got a pay hike in 2018 when their salary was rejigged to match with inflation and the cost of living.

However, the MPs took a pay cut of 30 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As per Times Now, the MPs took a pay cut for a year from 1 April, 2020 to fund the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allowance and perks

The MPs also receive an additional constituency allowance of Rs 70,000.

This lets them pay for office expenses and meet constituents back home.

They also receive another Rs 60,000 as office expenses.

They can use this money to pay for stationary, phones and the salaries of their staff.

As per Indian Express, this is broken up into Rs 20,000 for items and postage, while staff is paid Rs 40,000 by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

They also receive another Rs 2,000 as daily expenses when attending parliamentary sessions and committee meetings in the National Capital, as per NDTV.

Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers

According to Times Now, the prime minister and cabinet ministers get extra allowances in order to entertain visitors.

The PM gets Rs 3,000 per month, cabinet ministers get Rs 2,000 per month, while ministers of state get Rs 1,000 per month.

Travel Allowance

As per Times Now, MPs also get a travel allowance to attend Parliament and their other official duties.

They also get a free season pass for first-class AC trains**.**

As per NDTV, they also receive 34 free domestic air journeys every year for themselves and their immediate families.

As per Indian Express, MPs receive a mileage fee of Rs 16 per kilometre if they travel by road.

Accommodations

Every MP gets a flat to stay in during his or her term. If he or she gets a bungalow, then a nominal license fee is paid.

MPs also get free electricity up to 50,000 units per year.

They also get free water up to 4,000 kilolitres per year, as per Indian Express.

They also get telephones free of cost at their home and office in Delhi as well their state.

The first 50,000 local calls are free.

MPs also get free medical care for themselves and their family after making a monthly payment of Rs 500, as per Indian Express.

How often are the salaries and perks increased?

These perks and salaries are reviewed every five years on the basis of the Cost Inflation Index, as per Indian Express.

It all adds up.

According to an RTI reply in May 2023, India spent around Rs 200 crore on salaries, allowances and facilities for Rajya Sabha MPs over the previous two years.

Around Rs 63 crore was spent on just their travel.

In 2021-22, in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, the exchequer spent over Rs 97 crore on Rajya Sabha members_._

An RTI in 2018 revealed that the government has spent Rs 1,997 crore towards salaries and perks of parliamentarians in the previous four financial years.

While Rs 71.29 lakh was spent on an average for a member of Lok Sabha, Rs 44.33 lakh was spent on a Rajya Sabha member, the Lok Sabha secretariat said in response to the RTI application filed by activist Chandra Shekhar Gaud.

With inputs from agencies