Rajya Sabha: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Upper house of the Parliament of India}}
The '''Rajya Sabha''' or '''Council of States''' is the [[upper house]] of the [[Parliament of India]]. The total number of members are 250. Twelve of the members are nominated by the [[President of India]] for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services. The rest of the house is elected by the [[States and territories of India|state and territorial]] [[legislature]]s. Members sit for six-year terms, with one third of the members retiring every two years.
{{About||the lower house|Lok Sabha|current list of Rajya Sabha members|List of current members of the Rajya Sabha}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Coord|28|37|0|N|77|12|30|E|display=title}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color = #A2070F
| name            = Rajya Sabha<br />
| legislature      =
| coa_pic          = Emblem of India.svg
| coa_caption      = [[State Emblem of India|Emblem of India]]
| coa_res          = 125px
| coa_alt          = Emblem of India
| house_type      = Upper house
| body              = Parliament of India
| term_limits      = 6 years
| leader1_type      = [[Chairman of the Rajya Sabha|Chairman <br/>(Vice President of India)]]
| leader1          = [[Venkaiah Naidu|Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu]]
| party1            =
| election1        = [[2017 Indian vice-presidential election|11 August 2017]]
| leader2_type      = [[Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha|Deputy Chairman]]
| leader2          = [[Harivansh Narayan Singh]]
| party2            = [[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]]
| election2        = 14 September 2020
| leader3_type      = Secretary General
| leader3          = Desh Deepak Verma, IAS
| party3            =
| election3        = 1 September 2017
| leader4_type      = [[Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)|Leader of the House]]
| leader4          = [[Thawar Chand Gehlot]]
| party4            = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| election4        = 11 June 2019
| leader5_type      = [[Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)|Deputy Leader of the House]]
| leader5          = [[Piyush Goyal]]
| party5            = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| election5        = 11 June 2019
| leader6_type      = [[Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha |Leader of the Opposition]]
| leader6          = [[Mallikarjun Kharge]]
| party6            = [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| election6        = 12 February 2021
| leader7_type      = [[Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha |Deputy leader of the opposition]]
| leader7          = [[Anand Sharma]]
| party7            = [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| election7        = 8 June 2014
| seats            = '''245''' (233 Elected + 12 Nominated)
| structure1        = RAJYA SABHA 2021.svg
| structure1_res    = 420px
| structure1_alt    = Rajya Sabha
| political_groups1 =
'''[[Second Modi ministry|Government]] (120)'''
'''[[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] (120)'''
* {{colorbox|#FF9933}} [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] (95)
* {{colorbox|#007500}} [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]] (9)
* {{colorbox|#004285}} [[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]] (5)
* {{colorbox|#99CCFF}} [[Asom Gana Parishad|AGP]] (1)
* {{colorbox|#DB7093}} [[National People's Party (India)|NPP]] (1)
* {{colorbox|#2E5694}} [[Mizo National Front|MNF]] (1)
* {{colorbox|#99FF00}} [[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]] (1)
* {{colorbox|#FF4500}} [[Tamil Maanila Congress|TMC(M)]] (1)
* {{colorbox|#002BB4}} [[Republican Party of India (A)|RPI(A)]] (1)
* {{colorbox|#CDCDCD}} [[Independent politician|IND]] (1)
* {{colorbox|#000000}} [[Nominated|NOM]] (4)
'''[[Parliamentary Opposition|Opposition]](118) '''<br>
'''[[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] (56)'''
* {{Color box|#00BFFF}} [[Indian National Congress|INC]] (36)
* {{Color box|#DD1100}} [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] (7)
* {{Color box|#008000}} [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]] (5)
* {{Color box|#00B2B2}} [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]] (4)
* {{Color box|#8A0000}} [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha|JMM]] (1)
* {{Color box|#008500}} [[Indian Union Muslim League|IUML]] (1)
* {{Color box|#996699}} [[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|MDMK]] (1)
* {{Color box|#757575}} [[Independent politician|IND]] (1)
'''Others (62)'''
* {{Color box|#3CB371}} [[All India Trinamool Congress|AITC]] (12)
* {{Color box|#006400}} [[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]] (9)
* {{Color box|#FFC0DB}} [[Telangana Rashtra Samithi|TRS]] (7)
* {{Color box|#1569C7}} [[YSRCP]] (6)
* {{Color box|#FF0000}} [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]] (5)
* {{Color box|#EE0000}} [[Samajwadi Party|SP]] (5)
* {{Color box|#5BB30E}} [[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]] (3)
* {{Color box|#22409A}} [[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]] (3)
* {{Color box|#BD710F}} [[Shiromani Akali Dal|SAD]] (3)
* {{Color box|#FF6634}} [[Shiv Sena|SS]] (3)
* {{Color box|#FF4A4A}} [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] (1)
* {{Color box|#FFFF00}} [[Telugu Desam Party|TDP]] (1)
* {{Color box|#138808}} [[Janata Dal (Secular)|JD(S)]] (1)
* {{Color box|#00FF7F}} [[Loktantrik Janata Dal|LJD]] (1)
* {{Color box|#990066}} [[Naga People's Front|NPF]] (1)
* {{Color box|#FFFF00}} [[Sikkim Democratic Front|SDF]] (1)
'''Vacant (7)'''
* {{Color box|#FFFFFF}} Vacant (7)


| voting_system1 = 233 members by [[single transferable vote]] by state legislatures, 12 appointed by the President
| last_election1 = [[2020 Indian Rajya Sabha elections|2 November 2020]]
| next_election1 = [[2021 Indian Rajya Sabha elections|February 2021]]
| session_room  = New Delhi government block 03-2016 img3.jpg
| session_res    = 250px
| session_alt    = view of Sansad Bhavan, seat of the Parliament of India
| meeting_place  = Rajya Sabha chamber, [[Sansad Bhavan]],<br />[[Sansad Marg]], [[New Delhi]], [[India]] - 110 001
| constitution  = [[Constitution of India]]
| rules          = [https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/rs_rule/rules_pro.pdf The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha)] (English)
| website        = {{url|http://rajyasabha.nic.in}}
| footnotes      = {{note|cap|†}}Includes 8 [[List of nominated members of Rajya Sabha|nominated]] members taking the BJP whip.
}}
The '''Rajya Sabha''' or '''Council of States''' is the [[upper house]] of the [[bicameral]] [[Parliament of India]]. It currently has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories using [[single transferable vote]]s through Open Ballot while the [[President of India|President]] can appoint 12 members for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services. The potential seating capacity of the Rajya Sabha is 250 (238 elected, 12 appointed), according to article 80 of the [[Constitution of India|Indian Constitution]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rajya Sabha Introduction|url=https://rajyasabha.gov.in/rsnew/about_parliament/rajya_sabha_introduction.asp|access-date=2020-08-03|website=rajyasabha.gov.in}}</ref> Members sit for [[Staggered elections|staggered terms]] lasting six years, with elections every year but almost a third of the 233 designates up for election every two years, specifically in even-numbered years.<ref>{{cite web|last=Deshmukh|first=Yashwant|title=Crucial polls today: A guide to calculus of Rajya Sabha for dummies|website=Firstpost|date=11 June 2016|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/the-calculus-of-rajya-sabha-elections-for-dummies-a-brief-guide-2822478.html|access-date=20 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619100417/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/the-calculus-of-rajya-sabha-elections-for-dummies-a-brief-guide-2822478.html|archive-date=19 June 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Rajya Sabha meets in continuous sessions, and unlike the [[Lok Sabha]], [[lower house|being the lower house of the Parliament]], the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house of Parliament, is not subjected to dissolution. However, the Rajya Sabha, like the Lok Sabha can be [[Legislative session|prorogued]] by the President.


The Rajya Sabha has equal footing in legislation with the Lok Sabha, except in the area of [[Loss of supply|supply]], where the latter has overriding powers. In the case of conflicting legislation, a [[Joint Session of Indian Parliament|joint sitting]] of the two houses can be held, where the Lok Sabha would hold greater influence because of its larger membership. The [[Vice President of India]] (currently, [[Venkaiah Naidu]]) is the ''[[ex-officio]]'' Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who presides over its sessions. The [[Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha|Deputy Chairman]], who is elected from amongst the house's members, takes care of the day-to-day matters of the house in the absence of the Chairman. The Rajya Sabha held its first sitting on 13 May 1952.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/intro/p1.htm|title=OUR PARLIAMENT|publisher=Indian Parliament|access-date=11 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517025653/http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/intro/p1.html|archive-date=17 May 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
{{asia-stub}}
 
{{authority control}}
The Rajya Sabha meets in the eponymous chamber in [[Parliament House (India)|Parliament House]] in [[New Delhi]]. Since 18 July 2018, the Rajya Sabha has facility for simultaneous interpretation in all the [[Languages with official status in India|22 scheduled languages of India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rajya-sabha-mps-can-now-speak-in-22-indian-languages-in-house/articleshow/65036650.cms|title=Rajya Sabha MPs can now speak in 22 Indian languages in House|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008234905/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rajya-sabha-mps-can-now-speak-in-22-indian-languages-in-house/articleshow/65036650.cms|archive-date=8 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Qualifications==
Article 84 of the Constitution lays down the qualifications for membership of Parliament. A member of the Rajya Sabha must:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/council_state/council_state.asp|title=Council of States (Rajya Sabha) – rajyasabha.in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618020042/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/council_state/council_state.asp|archive-date=18 June 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* Be a citizen of India.
* Make and subscribe before some person authorized in that behalf by the [[Election Commission of India|Election Commission]] an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule to the Constitution.
* Be at least 30 years old. (article 84 constitution of India)
* Be elected by the [[Vidhan Sabha|Legislative Assembly]] of States and Union territories by means of [[single transferable vote]] through [[proportional representation]].<ref>{{cite web|title=HANDBOOK FOR RETURNING OFFICERS  – FOR ELECTIONS TO THE COUNCIL OF STATES AND STATE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/HandBooks/Handbook_For_Returning_Officers(Council_Elections).pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=2 August 2017|pages=400–426|date=1992|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110142301/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/HandBooks/Handbook_For_Returning_Officers%28Council_Elections%29.pdf|archive-date=10 January 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* Not be a proclaimed criminal.
* Not be a [[Insolvency|subject of insolvent]], i.e. he/she should not be in debt that he/she is not capable of repaying in a current manner and should have the ability to meet his/her financial expenses.
* Not hold any other office of profit under the Government of India.
* Not be of unsound mind.
* Possess such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.
 
In addition, twelve members are nominated by the [[President of India]] having special knowledge in various areas like arts and science. However, they are not entitled to vote in Presidential elections as per Article 55 of the Constitution.
 
==Limitations==
The Constitution of India places some restrictions on Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha (The lower house, House of People) is more powerful in certain areas.
 
===Money bills===
The definition of a money bill is given in article 110 of constitution of India. A money bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha by a minister and only on recommendation of President of India. When the Lok Sabha passes a money bill then the Lok Sabha sends money bill to the Rajya Sabha for 14 days during which it can make recommendations. Even if Rajya Sabha fails to return the money bill in 14 days to the Lok Sabha, that bill is deemed to have passed by both the Houses. Also, if the Lok Sabha rejects any (or all) of the amendments proposed by the Rajya Sabha, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses of Parliament of India in the form the Lok Sabha finally passes it. Hence, Rajya Sabha can only give recommendations for a money bill but Rajya Sabha cannot amend a money bill. This is to ensure that Rajya Sabha must not add any non money matters in money bill. There is no joint sitting of both the houses with respect to money bills, because all final decisions are taken by the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{cite web|title=Website of the Rajya Sabha – Legislation|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/legislation/introduction.asp|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019215856/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/legislation/introduction.asp|archive-date=19 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
===Joint Sitting of the Parliament===
Article 108 provides for a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament in certain cases. A joint sitting can be convened by the President of India when one house has either rejected a bill passed by the other house, has not taken any action on a bill transmitted to it by the other house for six months, or has disagreed to the amendments proposed by the Lok Sabha on a bill passed by it. Considering that the numerical strength of Lok Sabha is more than twice that of Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha tends to have a greater influence in a joint sitting of Parliament. A joint session is chaired by the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Also, because the joint session is convened by the President on advice of the government, which already has a majority in Lok Sabha, the joint session is usually convened to get bills passed through a Rajya Sabha in which the government has a minority.
 
Joint sessions of Parliament are a rarity, and have been convened three times in last 71 years, for the purpose of passage of a specific legislative act, the latest time being in 2002:
* 1961: ''Dowry Prohibition Act, 1958''
* 1978: ''Banking Services Commission (Repeal) Act, 1977''
* 2002: ''Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002''
 
===No-confidence motion===
Unlike the Lok Sabha, a member of the Rajya Sabha cannot bring to the house a [[Motion of no confidence|no-confidence motion]] against the government.
 
==Powers==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2020}}
In the Indian federal structure, the Rajya Sabha is a representative of the States in the Union legislature (hence the name, '''Council of States'''). For this reason, the Rajya Sabha has powers that protect the rights of States against the Union.
 
===Union-state relations===
The Constitution empowers the Parliament of India to make laws on the matters reserved for States. However, this can only be done if the Rajya Sabha first passes a resolution by a [[Supermajority#Two-thirds vote|two-thirds supermajority]] granting such a power to the Union Parliament. The Union government cannot make a law on a matter reserved for states without any authorisation from Rajya Sabha.
 
The Union government reserves power to make laws directly affecting the citizens across all the states whereas, a single State in itself reserves power to make rules and governing laws of their region. If any bill passes through Rajya Sabha, that means, majority of states of the Union want that to happen. Rajya Sabha therefore, plays a vital role protecting the states' culture and interest.
 
===Creation of All-India Services===
The Rajya Sabha, by a two-thirds supermajority can pass a resolution empowering the Government of India to create more All-India Services common to both the Union and the States.
 
==Membership by party==
 
Members of Rajya Sabha by their political party (As of 15 February 2021):
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=2|Alliance
! colspan=2| Party
! No.of MPs
! Leader of the Party
|-
| Rowspan=11 bgcolor=FF99933|
| Rowspan=11|'''[[National Democratic Alliance]]'''<br />Seats: '''120'''
| bgcolor=#FF99933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| 95
| [[Thawar Chand Gehlot|T.C. Gahlot]]
|-
| bgcolor=#007500|
| [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]]
| 9
| [[A. Navaneethakrishnan|A. Navaneet]]
|-
| bgcolor=#004285|
| [[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]]
| 5
| [[Ram Nath Thakur|R.N.Thakur]]
|-
| bgcolor=#002BB4|
| [[Republican Party of India (Athawale)|RPI(A)]]
| 1
| [[Ramdas Athawale]]
|-
| bgcolor=#99CCFF|
| [[Asom Gana Parishad|AGP]]
| 1
| [[Birendra Prasad Baishya|B.P Baishya]]
|-
| bgcolor=#DB7093|
| [[National People's Party (India)|NPP]]
| 1
| [[Wanweiroy Kharlukhi|W. Kharlukhi]]
|-
| bgcolor=#2E5694|
| [[Mizo National Front|MNF]]
| 1
| [[K. Vanlalvena]]
|-
| bgcolor=#99FF00|
| [[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]]
| 1
| [[Anbumani Ramadoss|A. Ramadas]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FF4500|
| [[Tamil Maanila Congress|TMC(M)]]
| 1
| [[G. K. Vasan]]
|-
| bgcolor=#CDCDCD|
| [[Independent politician|IND]]
| 1
| rowspan=2|
|-
| bgcolor=#000000|
| [[List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha|NOM]]
|4
|-
| Rowspan=8 bgcolor=00BFFF|
| Rowspan=8|'''Opposition -'''
'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''<br />Seats: '''56'''
| bgcolor=#00BFFF|
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 36
| [[Mallikarjun Kharge|M. kharge]]
|-
| bgcolor=#DD1100|
| [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
| 7
| [[Tiruchi Siva]]
|-
| bgcolor=#008000|
| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]]
| 5
| [[Prem Chand Gupta|P.C. Gupta]]
|-
| bgcolor=#00B2B2|
| [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]]
| 4
| [[Sharad Pawar]]
|-
| bgcolor=#8A0000|
| [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha|JMM]]
| 1
| [[Shibu Soren]]
|-
| bgcolor=#996699|
| [[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|MDMK]]
| 1
| [[Vaiko]]
|-
| bgcolor=#008500|
| [[Indian Union Muslim League|IUML]]
| 1
| [[Abdul Wahab]]
|-
| bgcolor=#757575|
| [[Independent politician|IND]]
| 1
|
|-
| rowspan="16" bgcolor="FFFFFF" |
| rowspan="16" |'''Others'''<br />Seats: '''62'''
| bgcolor=#3CB371|
| [[All India Trinamool Congress|AITC]]
| 12
| [[Derek O'Brien (politician)|Derek O'Brien]]
|-
| bgcolor=#006400|
| [[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]]
| 9
| [[Prasanna Acharya]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FFC0DB|
| [[Telangana Rashtra Samithi|TRS]]
| 7
| [[K. Keshava Rao]]
|-
| bgcolor=#1569C7|
| [[YSRCP|YSRCP]]
| 6
| [[V. Vijayasai Reddy]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FF0000|
| [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]]
| 5
| [[Elamaram Kareem]]
|-
| bgcolor=#EE0000|
| [[Samajwadi Party|SP]]
| 5
| [[Ram Gopal Yadav]]
|-
| bgcolor=#22409A|
| [[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]]
| 3
| [[Satish Chandra Mishra|Satish Mishra]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FF6634|
| [[Shiv Sena|SS]]
| 3
| [[Sanjay Raut]]
|-
| bgcolor=#BD710F|
| [[Shiromani Akali Dal|SAD]]
| 3
| [[Balwinder Singh Bhunder|B.S. Bhunder]]
|-
| bgcolor=#5BB30E|
| [[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
| 3
| [[Sanjay Singh (Indian politician)|Sanjay Singh]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FF4A4A|
| [[Communist Party of India|CPI]]
| 1
| [[Binoy Viswam]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FFFF00|
| [[Telugu Desam Party|TDP]]
| 1
| [[Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar|K. Ravindra]]
|-
| bgcolor=#138808|
| [[Janata Dal (Secular)|JD(S)]]
| 1
| [[H. D. Deve Gowda|HD Devegowda]]
|-
| bgcolor=#00FF7F|
| [[Loktantrik Janata Dal|LJD]]
| 1
| [[M. V. Shreyams Kumar|Shreyams Kumar]]
|-
| bgcolor=#990066|
| [[Naga People's Front|NPF]]
| 1
| [[K. G. Kenye]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FFFF00|
| [[Sikkim Democratic Front|SDF]]
| 1
| [[Hishey Lachungpa]]
|-
| colspan="4"|'''Vacant'''
|'''7'''
|Bihar-1, J&K-4, Kerala-1, West Bengal-1
|-
| colspan="4"|'''Total'''
|'''245'''
|
|}
 
==Composition==
Seats are allotted in [[Degressive proportionality|degressive proportion]] to the population of each state or [[union territory]], meaning that smaller states have a slight advantage over more populous states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://india-seminar.com/2013/642/642_sidharth_chauhan.htm|title=642 Sidharth Chauhan, Bicameralism: comparative insights and lessons|access-date=15 May 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518092647/http://india-seminar.com/2013/642/642_sidharth_chauhan.htm|archive-date=18 May 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Certain states even have more representatives than states more populous than them: for example, Tamil Nadu has 18 representatives for 72 million inhabitants (in 2011) whereas Bihar (104 million) and West Bengal (91 million) only have 16. As the members are elected by the state legislature, some small Union Territories, those without legislatures, cannot have representation. Hence, [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], [[Chandigarh]], [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]],  [[Ladakh]] & [[Lakshadweep]] do not send any representatives. 12 members are nominated by the [[President of India|President]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/faq/freaq1.asp#six|title=FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RAJYA SABHA|publisher=Indian Parliament|access-date=8 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130724045633/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/faq/freaq1.asp#six|archive-date=24 July 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 
<ref name=RSat-work>{{cite web|title=Composition of Rajya Sabha – Rajya Sabha At Work|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/rsat_work/chapter-2.pdf|website=rajyasabha.nic.in|publisher=Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi|access-date=20 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020442/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/rsat_work/chapter-2.pdf|archive-date=5 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 
As per the '''Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of India''' on 26 January 1950, the Rajya Sabha was to consist of 216 members of which 12 members were to be nominated by the President and the remaining 204 elected to represent the States.<ref name=RSat-work /> The present strength, however, is 245 members of whom 233 are representatives of the states and union territories and 12 are nominated by the President.<ref name=RSat-work /> The 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are persons who are eminent in particular fields, and are well known contributors in the particular field.
 
=== List of members by State/Union Territory ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|- style="background:#00f;"
! State and Union Territory
! Seats
|-
| [[Andhra Pradesh]]<ref name=et-news>{{cite news|title=Rajya Sabha members allotted to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-05-30/news/50211274_1_c-m-ramesh-telangana-palvai-govardhan-reddy|access-date=21 October 2015|publisher=The Economic Times|date=30 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209173947/http://rstv.nic.in/rstv/aboutus.asp|archive-date=9 February 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| 11
|-
| [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| 1
|-
| [[Assam]]
| 7
|-
| [[Bihar]]
| 16
|-
| [[Chhattisgarh]]
| 5
|-
| [[Goa]]
| 1
|-
| [[Gujarat]]
| 11
|-
| [[Haryana]]
| 5
|-
| [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| 3
|-
| [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| 4
|-
| [[Jharkhand]]
| 6
|-
| [[Karnataka]]
| 12
|-
| [[Kerala]]
| 9
|-
| [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| 11
|-
| [[Maharashtra]]
| 19
|-
| [[Manipur]]
| 1
|-
| [[Meghalaya]]
| 1
|-
| [[Mizoram]]
| 1
|-
| [[Nagaland]]
| 1
|-
| [[Delhi|NCT Of Delhi]]
| 3
|-
| [[Odisha]]
| 10
|-
| [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
| 1
|-
| [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| 7
|-
| [[Rajasthan]]
| 10
|-
| [[Sikkim]]
| 1
|-
| [[Tamil Nadu]]
| 18
|-
| [[Telangana]]<ref name=et-news/>
| 7
|-
| [[Tripura]]
| 1
|-
| [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| 31
|-
| [[Uttarakhand]]
| 3
|-
| [[West Bengal]]
| 16
|-
| ''[[List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha|Presidential nominees]]''
| 12
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''245  '''
|}
 
==Officers==
 
===Leader of the House===
{{main|Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)}}
 
Besides the Chairman (Vice-President of India) and the Deputy Chairman, there is also a position called ''Leader of the House''. This is a cabinet minister – the Prime Minister if he is a member of the House, or another nominated Minister. The Leader has a seat next to the Chairman, in the front row.
 
===Leader of the Opposition===
{{main|Leader of the Opposition (India)}}
 
Besides the Leader of the House, who is the government's chief representative in the House, there is also a Leader of the Opposition (LOP) – leading the opposition parties. The function was only recognized in the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of the Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. This is commonly the leader of the largest non-government party, and is recognized as such by the Chairman.
 
==Secretariat==
The Secretariat of Rajya Sabha was set up pursuant to the provisions contained in Article 98 of the Constitution. The said Article, which provides for a separate secretarial staff for each House of Parliament, reads as follows:- 98. Secretariat of Parliament – Each House of Parliament shall have a separate secretarial staff: Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the creation of posts common to both Houses of Parliament. (2) Parliament may by law regulate the recruitment and the conditions of service of persons appointed to the secretarial staff of either House of Parliament.
 
The Rajya Sabha Secretariat functions under the overall guidance and control of the Chairman. The main activities of the Secretariat ''[[inter alia]]'' include the following :
 
(i) providing secretarial assistance and support to the effective functioning of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha); (ii) providing amenities as admissible to Members of Rajya Sabha; (iii) servicing the various Parliamentary Committees;
(iv) preparing research and reference material and bringing out various publications;
(v) recruitment of manpower in the Sabha Secretariat and attending to personnel matters; and
(vi) preparing and publishing a record of the day-to-day proceedings of the Rajya Sabha and bringing out such other publications, as may be required concerning the functioning of the Rajya Sabha and its Committees.
 
In the discharge of his constitutional and statutory responsibilities, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is assisted by the Secretary-General, who holds the rank equivalent to the Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India. The Secretary-General, in turn, is assisted by senior functionaries at the level of Secretary, Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary and other officers and staff of the Secretariat. Present secretary-general is Desh Deepak Verma, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://164.100.47.5/newsite/rssorgchart/sg.aspx|title=Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha|access-date=18 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811163311/http://164.100.47.5/newsite/rssorgchart/sg.aspx|archive-date=11 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In winter 2019 session, uniforms of Rajya Sabha marshals were restyled from traditional Indian attire comprising turbans to dark navy blue and olive green military-style outfits with caps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/curb-rampant-copying-of-military-uniform-867021|title=Curb rampant copying of military uniform|last=Harwant Singh (retd)|first=Lt Gen|website=The Tribune|language=en|access-date=2019-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226213523/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/curb-rampant-copying-of-military-uniform-867021|archive-date=26 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/naidu-orders-review-of-new-military-style-uniform-of-marshals-863078|title=Naidu orders review of new military-style uniform of marshals|last=Service|first=Tribune News|website=The Tribune|language=en|access-date=2019-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226213527/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/naidu-orders-review-of-new-military-style-uniform-of-marshals-863078|archive-date=26 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Media==
[[Rajya Sabha TV|Rajya Sabha Television]] (RSTV) is a 24-hour a day continuous parliamentary TV channel owned and operated by the body. The channel aims to provide in-depth coverage and analysis of parliamentary affairs especially its functioning and policy development. During sessions, RSTV provides live coverage and presents analysis of the proceedings of the House as well as other day-to-day parliamentary events and developments.<ref name="RSTV">{{cite web|title=About Rajya Sabha TV|url=http://rstv.nic.in/rstv/aboutus.asp|publisher=Rajya Sabha|access-date=19 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209173947/http://rstv.nic.in/rstv/aboutus.asp|archive-date=9 February 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 
== See also ==
*[[Parliament of India]]
*[[Lok Sabha]]
*[[List of current members of the Rajya Sabha]]
*[[List of oldest living members of the Rajya Sabha]]
*[[State legislative councils of India]]
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
==Further reading==
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/440115 The Nominated Members of India's Council of States: A Study of Role-Definition] J. H. Proctor, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Vol. 10, No. 1, Feb 1985, pp.&nbsp;53–70.
* {{cite web|last=Alistair|first=McMillan|title=Constitution 91st Amendment Bill: A Constitutional Fraud?|url=http://www.nuff.ox.ac.uk/users/Mcmillan/delim/comm1.htm|publisher=nuff.ox.ac.uk|access-date=19 May 2014}}
 
==External links==
* [http://rajyasabha.nic.in Rajya Sabha homepage hosted by the Indian government]
* [http://164.100.47.7/faq/output/qlist.aspx Rajya Sabha FAQ page hosted by the Indian government]
* [http://164.100.47.5/Newmembers/nominated.aspx Nominated members list]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090419165814/http://164.100.24.167:8080/members/StatewiseList.asp State wise list]
* [http://rstv.nic.in/ Rajya Sabha Television]
* [http://164.100.47.5/Newmembers/memberstatewise.aspx MEMBERS OF RAJYA SABHA (STATE WISE LIST) TN]
 
{{Rajya Sabha}}
{{Parliament of India}}
{{Government of India}}
{{Legislatures of India}}
{{India topics}}
{{National upper houses}}
 
[[Category:Rajya Sabha| ]]
[[Category:Parliament of India]]
[[Category:National upper houses|India]]
[[Category:National upper houses|India]]
[[Category:Politics of India]]

Revision as of 21:54, 24 February 2021

The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. The total number of members are 250. Twelve of the members are nominated by the President of India for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services. The rest of the house is elected by the state and territorial legislatures. Members sit for six-year terms, with one third of the members retiring every two years.


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