The Parliament of India consists of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and the President of India. While Lok Sabha is the lower house, the Rajya Sabha serves as the upper house and is often referred to as the House of Elders. Understanding Rajya Sabha is crucial for the IAS examination as it forms an integral part of Indian Polity.
What is Rajya Sabha?
The Rajya Sabha is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Indian Parliament. It primarily represents the states and union territories and acts as a safeguard for their interests, especially when there is interference by the Union Government in their functioning.
Unlike the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha is a continuing body, making it permanent in nature.
Composition of Rajya Sabha
The maximum strength of Rajya Sabha is 250 members, which is distributed as follows:
Category | Number of Members |
Representing States & Union Territories | 238 |
Nominated by the President | 12 |
Current Strength: 245 members
- 225 represent states
- 8 represent union territories
- 12 are nominated by the President
Note: The allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha is governed by the Fourth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
How are Rajya Sabha Members Elected?
1. Representation of States
- Elected by elected members of State Legislative Assemblies.
- Election principle: Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote.
- Representation is not equal; it depends on the population of the state. Larger states have more seats.
2. Representation of Union Territories
- Members are indirectly elected by an electoral college constituted for this purpose.
- Union Territories with representation: Delhi, Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir.
- Election principle: Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote.
3. Nominated Members
- The President nominates 12 members for their expertise in:
- Art
- Literature
- Science
- Social Service
Facts for UPSC:
In 2003, two important changes were made:
- Members no longer need to be electors of the state they represent.
- Open ballot system replaced the secret ballot system.
Rajya Sabha Tenure
- Rajya Sabha is permanent and is never dissolved.
- Retirement cycle: Every second year, one-third of members retire.
- Vacancies are filled through fresh elections; nominations happen at the beginning of the third year.
- The President determines the order of retirement under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Chairman & Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
Details | Chairman | Deputy Chairman |
Who holds the post | Vice-President of India (ex-officio) | Elected from among Rajya Sabha members |
Role | Presides over the House | Presides in case: Chairman seat vacant, Chairman acting as President, or Chairman absent |
Removal | Only if removed as Vice-President | By resolution of majority of Rajya Sabha members (after 14 days’ notice) |
Membership | Not a member | Yes |
Voting Rights | No vote, except in case of tie | Ordinary member when Chairman is present; casting vote in tie when presiding |
Salary | Charged on Consolidated Fund of India | Charged on Consolidated Fund of India |
Note: When the Chairman acts as President, he draws the President’s salary, not the Chairman’s.
Key Features of Rajya Sabha
Details | Chairman | Deputy Chairman |
Who holds the post | Vice-President of India (ex-officio) | Elected from among Rajya Sabha members |
Role | Presides over the House | Presides in case: Chairman seat vacant, Chairman acting as President, or Chairman absent |
Removal | Only if removed as Vice-President | By resolution of majority of Rajya Sabha members (after 14 days’ notice) |
Membership | Not a member | Yes |
Voting Rights | No vote, except in case of tie | Ordinary member when Chairman is present; casting vote in tie when presiding |
Salary | Charged on Consolidated Fund of India | Charged on Consolidated Fund of India |
Note: When the Chairman acts as President, he draws the President’s salary, not the Chairman’s.
Essential Points
- Permanent body – Cannot be dissolved, ensuring continuity in the parliamentary process.
- Protects states’ interests – Serves as a federal safeguard, representing the voice of the states at the national level.
- Diverse representation – Includes members from states, union territories, and nominated experts from various fields.
- Proportional elections – Members are elected through proportional representation, ensuring balanced representation.
- Leadership structure – Headed by the Vice-President as Chairman, with a Deputy Chairman and other designated officers ensuring effective functioning.
What is the Rajya Sabha and why is it called the Upper House of Parliament?
The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Indian Parliament, representing states and union territories. It acts as a permanent body safeguarding federal interests, hence known as the House of Elders.
What is the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha as per the Constitution?
The maximum strength is 250 members – 238 from states/UTs and 12 nominated by the President.
How many members are there in the Rajya Sabha at present?
The current strength of Rajya Sabha is 245 members – 225 from states, 8 from UTs, and 12 nominated by the President.
How are Rajya Sabha members elected?
Members representing states and UTs are elected indirectly through Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote (STV) by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies.
Which Union Territories are represented in Rajya Sabha?
Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir currently have representation in Rajya Sabha.
