Centre Hikes MPs' Salaries, Allowances, Pensions With Effect From April 2023

The Centre has hiked the salaries, allowances and pensions of Members of Parliament with effect from April 1, 2023, according to a gazette notification issued on Monday.

The salary of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs has been raised to Rs 1.24 lakh per month from Rs 1 lakh at present, whereas the daily allowance has been increased to Rs 2,500 from Rs 2,000.

The pension paid to former lawmakers has been increased to Rs 31,000 per month from Rs 25,000 at present, as per the notification issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

The additional pension for every year of service in excess of five years has been hiked to Rs 2,500 from Rs 2,000, it added.

The revision in salaries, allowances and pensions for the MPs has been announced amid the ongoing budget session of the Parliament. The three elements paid to current and former lawmakers were last revised in April 2018.

The increase in salaries and pensions is expected to impact the exchequer, as there are a total of 543 incumbent Lok Sabha MPs and 245 Rajya Sabha MPs, in addition to hundreds of former lawmakers.

Notably, serving MPs are entitled to a range of other perks as well apart from their salaries and allowances. This includes constituency allowance of Rs 70,000 per month, which is to be used in their electoral constituencies. They also receive Rs 60,000 per month for office expenses, which covers the cost of staff salary, telecommunications and stationary.

The lawmakers are also allowed 34 free domestic air journeys per year for themselves and their immediate families, along with rent-free accommodations in prime locations. Those who choose not to take the official accommodation can claim monthly housing allowance of Rs 2 lakh.

Furthermore, they are also eligible for 50,000 units of free electricity per year, and 4,000 kilolitres of free water per annum.

The MPs, along with their immediate family members, are also covered under Central Government Health Scheme for free medical care.