Profile of 18th Lok Sabha: 216 incumbent MPs return as House gets younger, has fewer women

With the members of the newly elected 18th Lok Sabha declared on June 4, data compiled by PRS Legislative Research shows how the composition of the Lower House has changed from 2019.

The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the 18th Lok Sabha with 240 seats, followed by the biggest Opposition party in the Congress at 99 seats. In total, MPs from across 41 parties have been elected. While the national parties won 346 seats, or 64% of the total 543 seats, state parties won 179 seats, or 33%. Unrecognised parties won 11 seats and independents won seven.

Of the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha, 262 have previously served as MPs, including 216 who were re-elected from last time, accounting for almost 40% of all MPs. Of the re-elected MPs, eight had changed their constituencies from 2019.

The average age of MPs in the new Lok Sabha is 56 years, down from 59 years in the 17th Lok Sabha. While MPs 40 years or younger account for 11% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha, 38% are between 41 and 55 years, and 52% are older than 55 years. The oldest MP is 82 years old and three MPs are 25 years old, the youngest eligible age to be elected to the Lok Sabha.

Down from 78 women MPs in the previous Lok Sabha, there are now 74 women accounting for 14% of the total members.

In the new Lok Sabha, 78% of the MPs have completed at least an undergraduate degree and 5% have doctoral degrees. All 121 candidates who declared themselves illiterate in the affidavits lost the elections.

In terms of profession, 48% of the new MPs declared their occupation in their affidavits as social work, followed by 37% in agriculture.

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