Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Proposes National Legislative Index to rank state assemblies

In a bid to enhance the effectiveness of state assemblies and legislative councils, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has proposed the creation of a national legislative index. This index will rank these bodies based on their performance, evaluating them on parameters such as the number of sittings held annually, productivity of the House, quality of debates, adoption of technology, and effectiveness of committees.

The proposal, set to be discussed further at the meeting of presiding officers in Lucknow next January, aims to create a culture of productivity in legislatures. The index will assess various aspects of legislative functioning, including the relevance of discussion topics to public issues and the quality of debates.

The performance evaluation will also consider factors such as the quality and productivity of the assembly, effectiveness of House committees, legislative outcomes, and the number of bills passed in the public interest. Additionally, the index will look at innovative methods adopted by the assemblies, transparency, digitization, and technological integration, including the use of AI tools. Research works and fellowship programs will also be part of the assessment.

Notably, the index will be handled internally by the legislatures themselves, without any outside involvement, as per Birla. This initiative is expected to bring about a significant improvement in the functioning of state assemblies and councils, promoting accountability and efficiency in governance.