Presiding Officers in Parliament & State legislatures
iasparliament
January 20, 2026
Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Polity
Why in News?
The 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC) held recently in Lucknow.
Lok Sabha (Lower House)
Speaker - Om Birla (BJP) since June 17, 2019.
Deputy Speaker - Position exists to assume duties in the absence of the Speaker.
Panel of Chairpersons - Nominated by the Speaker (up to 10 members) to preside in the absence of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker.
Speaker Pro Tem - Appointed by the President to swear in new members and oversee the election of a new Speaker.
Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
Chairman - The Vice-President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman.
Deputy Chairman - Elected by the Rajya Sabha from among its members.
Panel of Vice-Chairpersons - Nominated by the Chairman to preside in their absence.
Key Roles and Responsibilities (Parliament)
Maintaining Order -Ensuring decorum and preventing disorderly conduct.
Procedural Compliance - Final interpreters of the Constitution and rules of procedure within their respective Houses.
Money Bills - The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the final authority to decide if a bill is a Money Bill.
Anti-Defection Law - Deciding on disqualification matters under the Tenth Schedule.
Casting Vote - Voting only in the case of a tie.
Presiding Officers of State Legislatures
Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) - Speaker and Deputy Speaker elected from among the members (Article 178).
Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) - Chairman and Deputy Chairman elected from among the members (Article 182).
Election Presiding Officers - In the context of elections, a Presiding Officer is appointed by the District Election Officer for each polling station to ensure a free and fair poll.
Duties - Managing the polling station, supervising Polling Officers, operating Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and maintaining the secrecy of the ballot.
Legal Standing - They are bound by the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and maintain a "Presiding Officer’s Diary" to record all events.
