Art. 81 Part V: The Union

Composition of the House of the People

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Subject to the provisions of article 331, the House of the People shall consist of—(a) not more than five hundred and thirty members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States, and (b) not more than twenty members to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes the Lok Sabha's composition — directly elected by citizens from territorial constituencies (unlike the Rajya Sabha's indirect election), with a maximum of 550 total seats (530 from states plus 20 from UTs). This is the House where genuine direct-democracy representation happens, and where the government's survival ultimately depends on maintaining majority confidence.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha, is where you as a voter directly elect your representative — it's the House whose composition most directly reflects the electorate's choices in each general election.

Read alongside this one

Art. 82 — Readjustment After Each Census

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 81

Why the reference to Article 331 in this Article's text?

Article 331 originally addressed Anglo-Indian community nomination to the Lok Sabha; since that provision was omitted by the 104th Amendment (2019), this cross-reference is now largely a vestigial textual link to a since-repealed provision.

← PreviousArticle 80: Composition of the Council of States Next →Article 82: Readjustment After Each Census

The text above reproduces Article 81 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.