MPs to Make ₹1,24,000 per Month: Know the Perks, Benefits and Numbers in Light of Central Government’s 24% Salary Hike
The Government has justified the salary hike, contending the same to be reflective of current economic conditions
“Let them Eat Cake” is a quote often claimed to have been said by the queen of France, Marie-Antoinette when she was informed that the common folk of France did not even have bread to eat during the French Revolution. While the origins of the phrase are still unclear, it is a stark reminder of how the bureaucracy may remain oblivious to the actual pain and suffering of...
“Let them Eat Cake” is a quote often claimed to have been said by the queen of France, Marie-Antoinette when she was informed that the common folk of France did not even have bread to eat during the French Revolution. While the origins of the phrase are still unclear, it is a stark reminder of how the bureaucracy may remain oblivious to the actual pain and suffering of the people.
India’s latest chapter of bridging the gap between the bureaucracy and the people, Ministers of Parliament (MPs) are set to receive a 24% salary hike, upping their ₹1,00,000 per month salary to ₹1,24,000 per month after the Central Government approved a 24% salary hike effective April 1, 2023.
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The announcement, which follows Karnataka’s approval of a 100% salary hike for its MLAs and ministers, was made under the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, using the Cost Inflation Index under the Income-tax Act, 1961. The government argues that this revision is necessary to "reflect economic conditions" - a phrase that just sounds too true for the average Indian who earns between ₹15,000 and ₹20,000 per month while juggling with food prices, rent and basic needs.
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The revised salary structure for MPs now includes:
Monthly Salary: ₹1,24,000 (up from ₹1,00,000)
Constituency Allowance: ₹87,000 (earlier ₹70,000)
Office Allowance: ₹75,000 (earlier ₹60,000)
Daily Allowance: ₹2,500 per day when Parliament is in session (earlier ₹2,000)
Pension for Former MPs: ₹31,000 per month (earlier ₹25,000)
Additional Pension Per Year of Service: ₹2,500 per month (earlier ₹2,000)
MPs enjoy extensive perks, including 34 free domestic flights per year and unlimited first-class train travel for themselves and their families. Additionally, they receive rent-free accommodation in Lutyens, New Delhi with 50,000 free electricity units and 4,000 kilolitres of free water annually.
While the Karnataka Government had already paved the way for doubling the salaries of the Chief Minister, Ministers, and MLAs earlier this year, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara defended the decision stating that "A common man is also suffering, and MLAs are also suffering. Everybody has to survive."
Congress MP Harish Meena pointed out that the hike has now pushed MPs into a higher tax bracket, questioning its actual financial benefit. Meanwhile, Bharat Adivasi Party MP Rajkumar Roat welcomed the increase but suggested that MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) funds be raised to ₹5 crore, aligning them with what MLAs in Rajasthan receive.
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While inflation is a fact and rising costs of living are very much real, the ground reality of matters need to be assessed; especially the reality of the ones who have nothing to lay down on but solid ground. For reference, an MP’s new monthly salary alone is more than six times the median Indian salary. Add to that the numerous benefits that are enjoyed by the ministers, it is almost certain that there is no “real” suffering.
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