India's lower house of parliament elected a woman as its speaker Wednesday, a first in the male-dominated chamber's history.

Meira Kumar was nominated by the ruling Congress party.

Meira Kumar is also a member of the"untouchable" Dalit class, the lowest rung in the centuries-old caste system in the country.

The speaker conducts the proceedings of the house. She will preside over 543 elected members, of which 58 are women.