MPs Get 24% Salary Hike, New Pay Effective from April 1

The central government has increased the salaries of Members of Parliament (MPs) by 24%, raising their monthly pay from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.24 lakh. The new salaries will take effect from April 1, 2023.

Why the Salary Hike?

The increase is based on the Cost Inflation Index (CII), which ensures that salaries are adjusted automatically according to inflation. Along with the salary hike, the government has also raised allowances and pensions for both current and former MPs.

Key Changes in Salaries & Allowances

• Daily Allowance for attending Parliament sessions and committee meetings: ₹2,500 (earlier ₹2,000).
• Former MPs’ Pension: ₹31,000 per month (earlier ₹25,000).
• Extra Pension for every additional year of service beyond five years: ₹2,500 per month (earlier ₹2,000).
• Constituency Allowance: ₹87,000 per month (earlier ₹70,000).
• Office Expenses: ₹75,000 per month (earlier ₹60,000).

Automatic Salary Adjustments

To ensure transparency, the government has introduced a system where MPs’ salaries and allowances will be revised every five years based on inflation, preventing them from setting their own pay.

Past Salary Changes & COVID-19 Cut

The last major revision was in 2018 when MPs’ salaries were doubled from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, MPs took a voluntary 30% pay cut for a year as a cost-cutting measure.

This latest revision ensures MPs’ earnings keep pace with rising costs while maintaining fairness in the process.