Types of Majorities in Parliament: Definitions, Significance & UPSC Polity Notes

Types of majority in India follow a parliamentary democracy. The Indian Parliament operates on a system of different majorities depending on the nature of the decision being made. These majorities ensure broad consensus and stability, particularly for crucial matters like constitutional amendments or financial bills. There are 4 types of majority in India. They are the simple majority, special majority, absolute majority and effective majority. These majorities are used to pass a bill or resolution of motion in Parliament.

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The Constitution of India provides four types of majorities: Simple, Absolute, Effective, and Special. types of majority is a topic relevant to the UPSC CSE context under General Studies Paper II. It is a basic topic for aspirants to understand the dynamic aspect of the types of majority of the Indian Parliament. Types of majority is an important topic for UPSC Civil Services because it highlights the constitutional, parliamentary issues and their impact on Indian society, which are frequently discussed in the exam. Join UPSC Coaching today to boost your preparation. 

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In this article on types of majority in the Indian Parliament, the four different types of majority are discussed in detail. While studying the types of bills, aspirants should also get to know the type of majority used to pass those bills in the Indian Parliament.

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Types of Majorities in the Indian Parliament

India follows a parliamentary democracy. In a parliamentary democracy, all major decisions are taken by the Parliament. To pass a bill to make the laws, the Parliament needs to pass them with a majority. There are different types of majorities in the Indian Parliament. There are four types of Majorities in India, they are:

• Absolute Majority
• Effective Majority
• Simple Majority
• Special Majority

Study the Schedules of the Indian Constitution here.

There are four key types of majority in India: absolute, effective, simple, and special. Each plays a distinct role in parliamentary decisions, constitutional amendments, and the stability of governance.

Absolute Majority

An absolute majority requires over half of the total strength of the house.

• A majority of more than 50% of the total strength of the particular house is referred to as the absolute majority.
• In the case of Lok Sabha,

Absolute Majority = Total membership of the house+1 = 273

• In the case of Rajya Sabha,

Absolute Majority = Total membership of the house+1 = 123

Total Strength of the Houses of Parliament

• Lok Sabha – 545 members
• Rajya Sabha – 245 members

• An absolute majority is not used by either house of Parliament to pass any legislation. Rather, it is used in the general election. The Political Party which gains an absolute majority in the election, forms the government at the centre. Similarly, in State elections, the political party with the absolute majority forms the government in the state.

Check Important Articles of the Indian Constitution here.

Effective Majority

An effective majority means over 50% of the effective strength—total seats minus vacancies.

• A majority of more than 50% of the effective strength of the House of Parliament is considered as the effective majority.
• The term ‘effective strength’ refers to the number of members present in the house. This is calculated by deducting the number of vacant and absent seats from the total strength of the house.

Effective Majority = Total strength of the house – Total number of vacant and absent seats

• For example, there are five vacant seats each in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Then, the effective majority of Lok Sabha will be 540 (i.e. 545 – 5 = 540), and that of Rajya Sabha will be 240 (i.e. 245 – 5 =240).
• The Constitution of India describes the effective majority as “all the then members of the house.”
• As per the Indian Constitution, the effective majority is employed in the following cases,
  • Article 67(b) – Removal of Vice-President (Chairman of Rajya Sabha)
  • Article 94(c) – Removal of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
  • Article 179(c) – Removal of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of State Legislative Assembly.

Learn about Fundamental Rights here.

Simple Majority

A simple majority is more votes in favor than against among members present and voting.

• A majority of more than 50% of the total members present and voting in the house of Parliament is referred to as the simple majority. This is also known as the working or functional majority.
• For example, if there are 2 vacant seats in Lok Sabha and 30 of its members abstain from voting, then only 513 members (i.e. 545 – 2 – 30 = 513) are present and voting in that house. In that case, the simple majority of Lok Sabha is 256, which is 50% of 513.
• Compared to the other three types of majority, a simple majority is widely used in the houses of the Indian Parliament to pass legislation and carry out business.
• Whenever the type of majority is not stated in the Constitution of India for carrying out a particular business, then the simple majority is considered to do the same.

A simple majority is used in the following cases,

• To pass ordinary bills
• To pass Money Bills
• To pass financial bills
• To declare a state emergency, i.e. President’s rule in the state
• To declare a financial emergency in the country
• To declare discontinuance of emergency
• To pass confidence as well as the no-confidence motion
• To pass a Motion of Thanks, censure motion and adjournment motion.
• To elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly.
• To elect the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
• For the ratification of the Constitutional Amendment Bills by the State Legislatures.

Study the Difference between Ordinary Bills and money Bills here.

Special Majority

A special majority involves a stricter threshold: two‑thirds of present and voting members plus a majority of the total strength. Used for major actions like constitutional amendments under Article 368, removal of high officials, and federal changes with state ratification.

• Any type of majority other than the absolute, effective and simple majority employed in the houses of the Parliament is known as the special majority.
• There are 4 types of special majorities mentioned in the Indian Constitution under different articles. They are as follows,
  • Special majority as under Article 61
  • Special majority as under Article 249
  • Special majority as under Article 368
  • Special majority as under Article 368 + 50% state ratification by a simple majority

Special Majority, as per Article 61

• Article 61 of the Indian Constitution deals with the procedure for impeachment of the President. Under this article, the special majority is referred to as the majority of 2/3rd of the total strength of the house.
• As per this article, the special majority of the Lok Sabha is 364, and that of the Rajya Sabha is 164.

Learn about Types of Writs in India here.

Special Majority, as per Article 249

• According to Article 249 of the Indian Constitution, the special majority is a majority of 2/3rd of members present and voting.
• This type of special majority is used to pass the Rajya Sabha resolution that empowers the Parliament to make laws on the subjects of the state list.

Special Majority, as per Article 368

• As per Article 368, a majority of 2/3rd of the members present and voting supported by more than 50% of the total strength of the house is referred to as the special majority.
• For example, if a bill has to be passed in Lok Sabha, it should get the support of 273 members (more than 50% of the total strength), and in addition to that, it should be accepted by more than 2/3rd of the members present and voting in the house.
• This type of special majority is employed in the following cases,
  • To pass the Constitutional Amendment Bills
  • To remove the judges of the Supreme Court and High Court
  • To remove the Chief Election Commissioner and Comptroller and Auditor General of India
  • Used by the State Legislative Assembly to pass a resolution on the creation or abolition of the State Legislative Council.
  • To approve the extension of the National Emergency in the country

Also, check the Significance of e-Governance here.

Special Majority as per Article 368 with 50% State Ratification by Simple Majority

• Whenever the Constitutional Amendment Bill tries to bring changes to the federal structure, then to pass such bills, a special majority of 2/3rd of the members present and vote plus ratification of more than 50% of the total strength of the State Legislatures by a simple majority is necessary.

Study the Right To Equality Articles 14 to 18 here.

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