Published on 30 Mar 2025
• Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-term parliamentarian, was appointed as Pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu.
• The term “pro-tem,” meaning “for the time being” in Latin, refers to a temporary role that presides over initial proceedings until a permanent Speaker is elected.
• Though not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, the Pro-tem Speaker is usually the senior-most member of the house.
• The role involves administering oaths to new MPs or MLAs and facilitating the election of the new Speaker.
Pro-tem Speaker
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parliamentary system