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In a move aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in parliamentary proceedings, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has announced that the attendance of Members of Parliament (MPs) will now only be recorded when they are physically present in their designated seats within the House. This new regulation will take effect from the upcoming budget session. Birla shared this information during a brief interaction with the media at the 86th All India Presiding Officers' Conference.

The Speaker indicated that the previous system allowing members to mark their attendance from outside the House will be discontinued, emphasizing the need for seriousness and discipline in legislative work. Attendance will now only be counted when members are seated inside the House. This initiative is designed to bolster transparency and accountability, and no member will be able to register their attendance after the House has been adjourned, even if it is due to disruptions. This change is expected to encourage members to be present from the start of daily proceedings.

Birla explained that this decision aims to ensure that attendance reflects active participation in the House's proceedings rather than mere presence in the parliamentary complex. By linking attendance to physical presence in the House, the initiative seeks to motivate members to be present during debates and discussions. According to Birla, designated consoles have already been installed in every section of the Lok Sabha chamber. This reform is part of broader efforts to modernize parliamentary processes and enhance the overall productivity of legislative sessions.

The Lok Sabha Speaker also mentioned that AI tools are being tested for use in Parliament, with manual verification mechanisms established to address potential errors. Real-time translation is being utilized for select meetings and will be operational in the coming months. Additionally, 24/7 research support services are being made available to provide legislators with timely access to research papers and reference materials. Birla noted that the decreasing number of assembly meetings is also a concern, and efforts are underway to strengthen legislative bodies by enhancing their effectiveness, accountability, and productivity. Proposals regarding the minimum number of meeting days for assemblies have been discussed previously in this context.