New Delhi, Nov 25, 2024 — As the Winter Session of Parliament begins on Monday, Lok Sabha members will now have the option to mark their attendance digitally using a digital pen on an electronic tab. This initiative, aimed at moving towards a paperless Parliament, is part of Speaker Om Birla’s ongoing efforts to modernize parliamentary procedures.
Electronic tabs will be set up at four counters in the lobby of the Lok Sabha chamber for members to mark their attendance. While physical attendance registers will still be available at these counters, members are encouraged to use the tabs as their preferred method of signing in.
According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the new system will require members to select their names from a drop-down menu on the tab, use a digital pen to sign, and then press the ‘submit’ button to register their attendance.
To assist with the technical process, a team of engineers from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) will be present at each counter to provide support.
It is mandatory for members to mark their attendance, either physically or digitally, in order to be eligible for their daily allowances when Parliament is in session.
Previously, Lok Sabha members had used a mobile app to mark their attendance, but this new digital pen system is expected to streamline the process further and align with the government’s push for a more eco-friendly and efficient parliamentary setup.