In a bid to strengthen transparency, accountability and discipline in parliamentary functioning, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, announced that Members of Parliament (MPs) will now be allowed to mark their attendance only when physically present inside the House and seated at their designated places. The new rule will come into effect from the forthcoming Budget Session of Parliament. The Budget Session is scheduled to begin on January 28, with the Union Budget set to be presented on February 1.
Birla conveyed the information during a brief interaction with the media on the sidelines of the 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference. He said the previous system, which allowed MPs to register attendance from outside the House while remaining within the Parliament premises, will be discontinued.
“Attendance will now be recorded only when members are seated inside the House,” Birla said, emphasising the need for seriousness, commitment and discipline in legislative proceedings. He added that no member will be allowed to mark attendance after the House has adjourned, even in cases where adjournment occurs due to disruptions.
Explaining the rationale, the Speaker said the move aims to ensure that attendance genuinely reflects active participation in House proceedings rather than mere presence within the Parliament complex. By linking attendance strictly to physical presence, the reform is expected to encourage MPs to attend sittings from the start and remain present throughout debates and discussions.
Birla also noted that designated attendance consoles have been installed at every seat in the Lok Sabha chamber. He described the reform as part of broader efforts to modernise parliamentary procedures and enhance the productivity and efficiency of legislative sessions.
The Speaker added that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are being tested for potential use in Parliament, with manual verification mechanisms in place to address possible errors. Realtime translation facilities are also being trialled in select meetings and are expected to become fully operational in the coming months. Additionally, 24×7 research support services are being provided to ensure legislators have timely access to research papers and relevant reference material.
Expressing concern over the declining number of sittings in Legislative Assemblies nationwide, Birla said efforts are underway to strengthen legislative institutions by improving their effectiveness, accountability and overall productivity. He noted that proposals to prescribe a minimum number of sitting days for Assemblies have been discussed previously.
While reiterating that the responsibility of conducting the House rests with the Speaker, Birla stressed that smooth and effective parliamentary functioning ultimately depends on active cooperation from both the government and its members.
