Elections to Rajya Sabha

2022 JUN 8

Preliminary   > Polity   >   Parliament   >   Rajya Sabha

Why in news?

  • On June 10, the Assemblies of 4 states elected 16 MPs to Rajya Sabha.

Composition of Rajya Sabha:

  • The Constitution provides that the Rajya Sabha shall consist of 250 members of which;
    • 12 members shall be nominated by the President from amongst persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and social service
    • 238 are representatives of the States and of the Union Territories.
  • Representation of States in Rajya Sabha is not equal. It depends on its population. State with a larger population will have more number of seats in Rajya Sabha than those with a lesser population.
  • The Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution; one-third of its members retire every second year.
  • According to Section 154 of the Representation of the People Act 1951, a member chosen to fill a casual vacancy will serve for the remainder of his predecessor’s term of office.

How are the members elected?

  • Elections to the Rajya Sabha are indirect.
  • Members representing States are elected by elected members of legislative assemblies of the States in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
  • Members representing Union Territories are chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law prescribe.
  • Out of 8 union territories, Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir have representation in Rajya Sabha.

Add ons:

  • Two changes were made to Rajya Sabha election in 2003:
    • To be elected as a Rajya Sabha member from a particular state, the requirement to be an elector from that state was removed.
    • System of the open ballot was introduced in place of secret ballot system.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. To be elected as a Rajya Sabha member from a particular state, he/she should be an elector from that state.

2. Among the Union Territories, only the Delhi and Puducherry have representation in Rajya Sabha

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer