This winter session has been the least productive in parliament since 1985, and 2010 is perhaps the

least productive year ever in Indian parliamentary history.

MPs in the Lok Sabha used just six per cent of the time available for debate and discussion in the
winter session, thanks to the opposition’s boycott of proceedings. 

“Statistics before 1985 are hard to come by, but it is possible this could be the least productive year
ever,” said Tonusree Dutta, who works for PRS Legislative Research, a policy study group based in
Delhi.

In two earlier sessions this year, parliament recorded 72 and 87 per cent, low numbers by
themselves, but the winter session’s score of six per cent further pulls down the average to a rare
trough of 55 per cent.

Productivity is defined as the number of hours spent in parliament on discussion, debate, and
questions. A session is considered working from time the speaker calls the house to order and the
time she announces its adjournment.

Parliament worked only on November 9, the inaugural day of this year’s winter session, after which
the opposition stalled proceedings every day, forcing adjournments.

In 1990, parliament worked almost at double capacity, recording 190 per cent productivity in its last
session of the year.

Typically, parliament sits for three sessions a year. Special sessions are convened on occasion. The
budget session begins in February-March, takes a break, and reassembles in April-May. The break
gives standing committees time to examine budget proposals.

This year, the BJP-led opposition is demanding a joint parliamentary committee inquiry into the 2G
spectrum allocation scandal, and the winter session ended on Monday with no work getting done.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi slammed the opposition for the boycott, but leader of the opposition
L K Advani said sometimes a boycott 

The first session in 1985 worked 62 hours and 39 minutes of 66 hours available, recording 95 per
cent productivity. In three subsequent sessions that year, it recorded 118, 106 and 111 per cent
productivity.

In 1994, parliament overworked at nearly one and a half times its capacity, recording 148 per cent
productivity. 

Dutta quoted a 2008 Lok Sabha report when she told Yahoo! India that parliament spends Rs
29,000 on every minute of its functioning. Loss of an hour’s productivity sets Indian citizens back by
Rs 17.4 lakh.

Parliament typically works six hours a day. By that calculation, the loss adds up to Rs 10.44 crore
every day. Over 22 days, the loss comes to Rs 229.68 crore.
However, this session, parliamentary affairs minister V Narayanasamy accused the opposition of
causing a loss of Rs 78 crore a day. It is not clear what other expenses he was taking into account to
arrive at this figure.

In other democracies such as the UK and the USA, parliaments work to a fixed calendar. In India, the
schedule varies each year, and the dates remain uncertain until they are announced.

The next session for Indian parliament is due in February-March, and the opposition could continue
its boycott unless the UPA government gives in to the demand for a joint parliamentary probe into
the spectrum scandal.

The Tehelka scam had prompted a boycott for 17 days in 2001, when the NDA was in power. In 1987,
the Bofors scandal caused parliament to be disrupted frequently over 45 days.