Centre Announces Salary, Allowance, and Pension Hike for MPs Effective April 1, 2023
The Central Government has announced an increase in the salaries, allowances, and pensions for Members of Parliament (MPs), set to take effect from April 1, 2023. This revision, communicated through a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, comes amid the ongoing budget session of the Parliament.
As per the notification, the salary of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members will rise to Rs 1.24 lakh per month, up from the current Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, the daily allowance has been increased to Rs 2,500 from Rs 2,000, which was the previous rate.
Former MPs will also see an increase in their pension, which has been raised to Rs 31,000 per month, up from Rs 25,000. Moreover, the additional pension paid for every year of service beyond five years has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per year.
This salary and allowance revision follows the last adjustment made in April 2018, when the base pay for MPs was set at Rs 1,00,000 per month. The primary objective of that increase was to account for inflation and the rising cost of living. Along with the salary revision, MPs were granted a constituency allowance of Rs 70,000 per month, office allowance of Rs 60,000 per month, and a daily allowance of Rs 2,000 during parliamentary sessions. These allowances will also see an increase under the new revision.
In addition to their base salary and allowances, MPs are entitled to various other benefits. They receive an annual allowance for phone and internet usage, and are eligible for 34 free domestic flights per year for themselves and their families. MPs also enjoy first-class train travel for both professional and personal use, as well as mileage allowances for road travel. Furthermore, they are granted 50,000 free units of electricity and 4,000 kilolitres of water annually.
The government also takes care of MPs’ accommodation needs during their five-year term. Rent-free housing is provided in New Delhi, with MPs being allocated accommodations such as hostel rooms, apartments, or bungalows, depending on their seniority. For those who opt not to use the official accommodation, a monthly housing allowance is provided.
This revision of salaries, allowances, and pensions reflects the government’s efforts to ensure that MPs are compensated in line with the growing cost of living while also continuing to provide a range of benefits to support their work.
