India

Council of States

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Openness and transparency

Information about access to parliamentary documents, parliament’s reporting to the public, parliament’s relation to Freedom of Information laws, and lobbying.

Parliamentary documents

The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance
All
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance
All
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site
Some
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website
All
Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site
No

Annual reporting by parliament

Parliament publishes an annual report on its activities
Yes
The annual report is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes
Parliament publishes the parliamentary budget
Yes
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public
A summary of the main elements
The parliamentary budget is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes

Access to parliament

Plenary meetings are open to the public
Yes

Notes: Admission to the Public Gallery to witness House proceedings is governed by Rule 264 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). Visitors’ cards are issued for admission to the Public Gallery at the request of Members or Officers of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat after receiving full particulars about the visitors in a prescribed form.

Committee meetings are open to the public
No

Notes: Not applicable

There is a dedicated channel for broadcasting parliamentary meetings
Yes
Media used for the dedicated channel
TV
Webcast
Meetings broadcast on the dedicated channel
Plenary sittings

Freedom of information

There is a freedom of information law in the country
Yes
Parliament is subject to the freedom of information law
Yes
Parliament has an office/division dedicated to FOI requests
Yes
Categories of Information that are exempt from disclosure

Items of information that are exempt from disclosure are specified in sections 8 and 9 of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Lobbying

There are rules about the activities of lobbyists in parliament
No
There is a register of accredited lobbyists
No

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No