In a move toward tech-driven governance, Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha have begun marking their daily attendance directly from their seats, using an advanced digital system integrated into the newly built Parliament building. The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize and digitize parliamentary procedures in line with India’s Digital India vision.

The new setup, known as the Multi-Media Device (MMD) system, allows MPs to record their attendance with a simple tap from their designated seat—eliminating the need to queue at entry points or sign physical registers. This marks a major shift from earlier methods where MPs either manually signed attendance sheets or used stylus-based tablets installed at chamber entrances.

The system was rolled out under the leadership of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who has consistently advocated for a paperless and technologically advanced Parliament. Initially, the tablets placed at each MP’s seat were used to access schedules, legislative texts, and official notices. Now, those same devices also serve as attendance terminals, improving both speed and convenience.

Technical support for the transition is being handled by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), whose engineers are stationed at various points within the chamber to assist members and troubleshoot any issues. Attendance remains a key requirement for MPs to receive their daily sitting allowances, making the system not only a matter of record-keeping but also of financial relevance.

While the Lok Sabha has embraced the new system, the Rajya Sabha will continue using the earlier attendance method for now, though a similar upgrade is expected in the near future.