Types of Majorities in the Indian Parliament - Indian Polity

India follows a parliamentary democracy. In a parliamentary democracy, all major decisions are taken by the Parliament. To pass a bill to make the laws, the Parliament needs to pass them with a majority. There are different types of majorities in the Indian Parliament. This is a basic polity concept which aspirants must read about for the UPSC exam polity segment.

In this article, you can read all about the four types of majorities in the Parliament of India (simple, absolute, special and effective majority) for the polity and governance segments of the IAS syllabus.

Types of Majorities in Indian Parliament

Although the Constitution of India does not provide an explicit classification for the kinds of majorities needed for passing various kinds of bills, a careful interpretation of the Constitution provides four major types of majorities.

They are as follows:

1. Simple Majority
2. Absolute Majority
3. Effective Majority
4. Special Majority

Simple Majority

• This refers to a majority of more than 50% of the members present and voting in the House.
• Also known as Functional or Working majority.
• This is the most commonly used type of majority.
• When the law does not specify the kind of majority needed, a simple majority is used for passing bills or motions.
• Ordinary bills require only a simple majority.
• For example, in the Lok Sabha, out of the total strength of 545, suppose 45 were absent and 100 abstained from voting. This means, only 400 members were present and voting. In this case, the simple majority needed is 201 (50% + 1).
• Instances where a simple majority is needed:
  • To pass money bill/financial/ordinary bills
  • To pass Adjournment Motion/No-Confidence Motion/Censure Motion/Confidence Motion (Read about Parliamentary Proceedings’ Devices.)
  • To declare a financial emergency
  • To declare President’s Rule (state emergency)
  • To elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • Constitution Amendment Bill under Article 368 which needs to be ratified by the states needs only a simple majority at the State Legislatures; etc. 

Absolute Majority

• This refers to a majority of more than 50% of the House’s total membership.
• This means that in the Lok Sabha, the absolute majority is 273. (50% more than 545, the total membership of the Lok Sabha).
• In case of Lok Sabha,

Absolute Majority = Total membership of the house+1 = 273

• In the case of Rajya Sabha,

Absolute Majority = Total membership of the house+1 = 123

Effective Majority

• The effective majority refers to a majority of more than 50% of the effective strength of the House.
• Effective strength refers to the number of members present in the house at that time. This is calculated by deducting the number of vacant and absent seats from the total strength/total seats of the house.
• For example, in the Lok Sabha, out of the total strength of 545, suppose 5 are vacant seats. This means the effective strength of the House is (545 – 5)  = 540. In this case, the effective majority is more than 270.
• In the Constitution, an effective majority is mentioned as “all the then members”.
• Instances where an effective majority is needed:
  • Removal of the Deputy Chairman in the Rajya Sabha (Article 67(b)).
  • Removal of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the State Legislatures.

Special Majority

Any majority other than simple, absolute and effective are called Special Majorities. There are four types of special majorities. They are as follows:

1. Special Majority according to Article 249
2. Special Majority according to Article 368
3. Special Majority according to Article 368 + 50 percent state ratification by a simple majority
4. Special Majority according to Article 61

Special Majority according to Article 249

This refers to a majority of 2/3rd members present and voting. This is used to pass a Rajya Sabha resolution to empower the Parliament to make laws in the State List.

Special Majority according to Article 368

This refers to a majority of 2/3rd members present and voting supported by over 50% of the total strength of the House. This is chiefly used for most of the Constitution Amendment Bills.

Instances where this type of majority is used:

1. Passing a constitutional amendment bill which does not affect federalism.
2. Removing judges of the Supreme Court or High Court.
3. Removing the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) or the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
4. National emergency
5. Resolution by the State Legislature for the abolition or creation of the Legislative Council.

Special Majority according to Article 368 + 50 percent state ratification by a simple majority

This type of majority is needed when a constitutional amendment tries to change the federal structure. 

E.g. The bill that introduced the National Judicial Appointments Commission. It needed the support of at least 15 state legislatures out of the 29 states.

Special Majority according to Article 61

This refers to a majority of 2/3rd of the total strength of the House. This is used in the case of impeachment of the President of India.

You can also read other Polity articles linked in the table below: