Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Rajya Sabha Panel Reviews Rules for MPs’ Conduct
A Rajya Sabha committee is checking whether the rules for MPs need to be updated.
It is concerned about disorderly behavior and offensive language during debates.
The committee wants MPs to be careful when speaking about public officials, fellow members, national heroes, and historical events.
It is also asking whether MPs should be stopped from using parliamentary speech protections to unfairly harm someone’s reputation.
Political parties are being asked how such rules should work.
They are also being asked what punishments or corrections might be appropriate.
The review includes statements made inside Parliament and on public or digital platforms.
The process began after concerns about changing technology and social media.
These are proposals for consultation, not final rules.
The Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee is reviewing whether conduct rules should explicitly bar MPs from undermining constitutional authorities or fellow members.
The panel is seeking views on misuse of parliamentary free-speech protections when statements could damage reputations.
Political parties have been asked about sensitive debates, historical subjects, accountability, and disciplinary measures.
The committee is considering stricter rules against inappropriate or unparliamentary language in House proceedings.
The review follows concerns about disorderly proceedings, changing technology, and increased social-media use; no final rules have been adopted.
- Who
- The Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee, chaired by BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, is reviewing the conduct code for Rajya Sabha members.
- What
- The committee is consulting political parties on possible rules covering sensitive debates, offensive language, misuse of parliamentary speech protections, and attacks on constitutional authorities or fellow members.
- When
- The review was directed in March 2025; the committee discussed it on January 20, April 28, and July 10 before circulating its questionnaire, with the report dated September 30.
- Where
- The review concerns Rajya Sabha proceedings and members’ statements on public and digital platforms; the report was issued from New Delhi.
- Why
- The committee cited increasing disorderly proceedings, disregard for parliamentary customs, technological developments, and the rise of social media.
Opposition position
Government and committee position
Discussing the Election Commission
Opposition position
Opposition parties, including the Congress, have raised issues concerning the functioning of the Election Commission and its commissioners in Parliament.
Government and committee position
The government has maintained that MPs cannot discuss the Election Commission of India in Parliament.
Limits on parliamentary speech
Opposition position
The consultation is seeking views on safeguards and accountability for speech that could harm the reputations of members, ministers, or other public figures.
Government and committee position
The committee is considering explicitly stating that MPs must not misuse parliamentary free-speech protections and whether corrective or disciplinary action should follow.
Enforcing conduct standards
Opposition position
Political parties have been asked to recommend ways to encourage caution, restraint, sensitivity, and avoidance of offensive language.
Government and committee position
The committee is examining whether stricter provisions are needed because of disorderly proceedings and disregard for parliamentary customs.
- Reviewing body
- The Ethics Committee of the Rajya Sabha
- Committee chair
- BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari
- Review ordered
- Then Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar directed the review in March 2025.
- Earlier ethics report
- The committee is reviewing the 1998 S.B. Chavan Committee report on ethics.
- Consultation participants
- Political parties, state legislatures, international parliamentary bodies, and other stakeholders
- Issues under review
- Sensitive debates, unparliamentary language, accountability, parliamentary free speech, and conduct inside and outside the House
- Election Commission dispute
- Opposition parties including Congress have raised issues concerning the Election Commission, while the government says MPs cannot discuss the matter in Parliament.
