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'{{Short description|Upper house of the Parliament of India}} {{About||the lower house|Lok Sabha|current list of Rajya Sabha members|List of current members of the Rajya Sabha}} {{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 | name = Rajya Sabha | legislature = <br> | coa_pic = Rajyasabha.svg | coa_caption = | coa_res = 250px | coa_alt = | 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 = [[Jagdeep Dhankhar]] | party1 = | election1 = [[2022 Indian vice-presidential election|11 August 2022]] | leader2_type = [[Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha|Deputy Chairman]] | leader2 = [[Harivansh Narayan Singh]] | party2 = | election2 = 9 August 2018 | leader3_type = [[Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha|Secretary General]] | leader3 = [[Pramod Chandra Mody]] | party3 = | election3 = 12 November 2021 | leader4_type = [[Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)|Leader of the House]] | leader4 = [[Piyush Goyal]]<br /> {{small|([[Second Modi ministry|Union Cabinet Ministers]])}} | party4 = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] | election4 = 14 July 2021 | leader5_type = [[Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)|Deputy Leader of the House]] | leader5 = ''Vacant'' | party5 = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] | election5 = 6 July 2022 | leader6_type = [[Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha|Leader of the Opposition]] | leader6 = [[Mallikarjun Kharge]] | party6 = [[Indian National Congress|INC]] | election6 = 16 February 2021 | leader7_type = [[Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha|Deputy leader of the opposition]] | leader7 = | party7 = [[Indian National Congress|INC]] | election7 = 8 June 2014 | seats = '''245''' (233 Elected + 12 Nominated) | structure1 = File:Rajya Sabha Updated July 2022.svg | structure1_res = 290px | structure1_alt = Rajya Sabha | political_groups1 = '''[[Government of India|Government]] (108)'''<br>'''[[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] (108)''' * {{colorbox|{{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}|border=silver}} [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] (91) * {{colorbox|{{party color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}|border=silver}} [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]] (4) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Republican Party of India (A)}}|border=silver}} [[Republican Party of India (A)|RPI(A)]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Asom Gana Parishad}}|border=silver}} [[Asom Gana Parishad|AGP]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|United People's Party Liberal}}|border=silver}} [[United People's Party Liberal|UPPL]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}|border=silver}} [[Mizo National Front|MNF]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|National People's Party (India)}}|border=silver}} [[National People's Party (India)|NPP]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Pattali Makkal Katchi}}|border=silver}} [[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Tamil Maanila Congress}}|border=silver}} [[Tamil Maanila Congress|TMC(M)]] (1) * {{colorbox|#CDCDCD|border=silver}} [[Independent politician|IND]] (1) * {{colorbox|#000000|border=silver}} [[List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha|NOM]] (5) '''[[Parliamentary Opposition|Opposition]] (129)'''<br>'''[[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] (50)''' * {{colorbox|{{party color|Indian National Congress}}|border=silver}} [[Indian National Congress|INC]] (31) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}|border=silver}} [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] (10) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Nationalist Congress Party}}|border=silver}} [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]] (4) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Jharkhand Mukti Morcha}}|border=silver}} [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha|JMM]] (2) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Indian Union Muslim League}}|border=silver}} [[Indian Union Muslim League|IUML]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}|border=silver}} [[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|MDMK]] (1) *{{colorbox|#CDCDCD|border=silver}} [[Independent politician|IND]] (1)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/anti-caa-activist-ajit-bhuyan-is-congress-aiudf-supported-candidate-for-rajya-sabha/articleshow/74588658.cms|title=Anti-CAA activist Ajit Bhuyan is Congress AIUDF supported candidate for Rajya Sabha}}</ref> '''Non-Aligned groups (79)''' * {{colorbox|{{party color|All India Trinamool Congress}}|border=silver}} [[All India Trinamool Congress|AITC]] (13) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Aam Aadmi Party}}|border=silver}} [[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]] (10) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Biju Janata Dal}}|border=silver}} [[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]] (9) * {{colorbox|{{party color|YSR Congress Party}}|border=silver}} [[YSRCP]] (9) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Telangana Rashtra Samithi}}|border=silver}} [[Telangana Rashtra Samithi|TRS]] (7) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}|border=silver}} [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]] (6) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Janata Dal (United)}}|border=silver}} [[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]] (5) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}|border=silver}} [[CPI(M)]] (5) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Samajwadi Party}}|border=silver}} [[Samajwadi Party|SP]] (3) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Shiv Sena}}|border=silver}} [[Shiv Sena|SHS]] (3) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Communist Party of India}}|border=silver}} [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] (2) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Bahujan Samaj Party}}|border=silver}} [[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Rashtriya Lok Dal}}|border=silver}} [[Rashtriya Lok Dal|RLD]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Sikkim Democratic Front}}|border=silver}} [[Sikkim Democratic Front|SDF]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Janata Dal (Secular)}}|border=silver}} [[Janata Dal (Secular)|JD(S)]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Kerala Congress (M)}}|border=silver}} [[Kerala Congress (M)|KC(M)]] (1) * {{colorbox|{{party color|Telugu Desam Party}}|border=silver}} [[Telugu Desam Party|TDP]] (1) * {{colorbox|#CDCDCD|border=silver}} [[Independent politician|IND]] (1) '''Vacant (8)''' * {{colorbox|#FFFFFF|border=silver}} Vacant (8) | voting_system1 = 233 members by [[single transferable vote]] by state legislatures, 12 appointed by the President | last_election1 = [[2022 Indian Rajya Sabha elections|June 2022]] | next_election1 = [[2023 Rajya Sabha elections|June 2023]] | 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}} }} The '''Rajya Sabha''', [[wikisource:Constitution_of_India/Part_V#Article_80|constitutionally]] the '''Council of States''', is the [[upper house]] of the [[bicameral]] [[Parliament of India]]. {{As of|2021}} it 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 ballots, 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 245 (233 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|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815105314/https://rajyasabha.gov.in/rsnew/about_parliament/rajya_sabha_introduction.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> Members sit for [[Staggered elections|staggered terms]] lasting six years, with about a third of the 238 designates up for election every two years, 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 is not subjected to dissolution. However, the Rajya Sabha, like the Lok Sabha, can be [[Prorogation|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 a greater influence because of its larger membership. The [[vice president of India]] (currently, [[Jagdeep Dhankhar]]) 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> 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 the 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|website=[[The Times of India]]|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== {{Primary sources section|date=January 2021}} 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 insolvency]], 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 the Rajya Sabha, and the 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 the Constitution of India. A money bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha by a minister and only on the recommendation of the president of India. When the Lok Sabha passes a money bill then the Lok Sabha sends the money bill to the Rajya Sabha for 14 days during which it can make recommendations. Even if the Rajya Sabha fails to return the money bill in 14 days to the Lok Sabha, that bill is deemed to have passed by both 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 in the form the Lok Sabha finally passes it. Hence, the Rajya Sabha can only give recommendations for a money bill, but the Rajya Sabha cannot amend a money bill. This is to ensure that the Rajya Sabha must not add any non-money matters to the money bill. There is no joint sitting of both the houses for 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>{{Primary source inline|date=January 2022}} ===Joint Sitting of the Parliament=== {{Unreferenced section|date=January 2022}} 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 with the amendments proposed by the Lok Sabha on a bill passed by it. Considering that the numerical strength of the Lok Sabha is more than twice that of the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha tends to have a greater influence in a joint sitting of Parliament. A joint session is chaired by the speaker of the Lok Sabha. Also, because the joint session is convened by the president on the advice of the government, which already has a majority in the 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 the last 71 years, for 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.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} ==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 government. ===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-third majority]] 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 the Rajya Sabha. The union government reserves the power to make laws directly affecting the citizens across all the states whereas, a single state in itself reserves the power to make rules and governing laws of their region. If any bill passes through the Rajya Sabha, that means, majority of states of the union want that to happen. The Rajya Sabha, therefore, plays a vital role in protecting the states' culture and interests. ===Creation of all-India services=== The Rajya Sabha, by a two-thirds supermajority, can pass a resolution empowering the Indian government to create more all-India services common to both the union and the states. ==Membership by party== Members of the Rajya Sabha by their political party ({{As of|2022|August|lc=y}}): {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" ! colspan="3" |Alliance ! colspan=2| Party ! MPs ! R.S Leader |- | rowspan="11" bgcolor="FF99933" | | colspan="2" rowspan="11" |'''[[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]]''' '''(108)''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| | [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] | 91 | [[Piyush Goyal]] |- | bgcolor="#007500" | | [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]] | 4 | [[M. Thambidurai]] |- | bgcolor="#99CCFF" | | [[Asom Gana Parishad|AGP]] | 1 | [[Birendra Prasad Baishya|B.P Baishya]] |- | bgcolor="#2E5694" | | [[Mizo National Front|MNF]] | 1 | [[K. Vanlalvena]] |- | bgcolor="#DB7093" | | [[National People's Party (India)|NPP]] | 1 | [[Wanweiroy Kharlukhi|W. Kharlukhi]] |- | bgcolor="#F3ED13" | | [[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]] | 1 | [[Anbumani Ramadoss|A. Ramadas]] |- | bgcolor="#002BB4" | | [[Republican Party of India (Athawale)|RPI(A)]] | 1 | [[Ramdas Athawale]] |- | bgcolor="#FF4500" | | [[Tamil Maanila Congress|TMC(M)]] | 1 | [[G. K. Vasan]] |- | bgcolor="#F3ED13" | | [[United People's Party Liberal|UPPL]] | 1 |[[Rwngwra Narzary]] |- | bgcolor="#CDCDCD" | | [[Independent politician|IND]] | 1 |[[Kartikeya Sharma]] |- | bgcolor="#000000" | | [[List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha|NOM]] | 5 |'''NA''' |- | rowspan="6" bgcolor="00BFFF" | | colspan="2" rowspan="6" |'''[[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]]'''<br>'''(49)''' | bgcolor="#00BFFF" | | [[Indian National Congress|INC]] | 31 | [[Mallikarjun Kharge|M. Kharge]] |- | bgcolor="#DD1100" | | [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] | 10 | [[Tiruchi Siva]] |- | bgcolor="#00B2B2" | | [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]] | 4 | [[Sharad Pawar]] |- | bgcolor="#8A0000" | |[[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha|JMM]] | 2 | [[Shibu Soren]] |- | bgcolor="#008500" | |[[Indian Union Muslim League|IUML]] | 1 | [[Abdul Wahab]] |- | bgcolor="#996699" | |[[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|MDMK]] | 1 |[[Vaiko]] |- | rowspan="19" bgcolor="#696969" | | rowspan="19" |'''Others'''<br>'''(81)''' | rowspan="11" |'''Oth(57)''' | bgcolor="#3CB371" | | [[All India Trinamool Congress|AITC]] | 13 | [[Derek O'Brien (politician)|Derek O'Brien]] |- | {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}} | [[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]] | 10 | [[Sanjay Singh (Indian politician)|Sanjay Singh]] |- | bgcolor="#006400" | | [[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]] | 9 | [[Sasmit Patra]] |- | bgcolor="#1569C7" | | [[YSRCP]] | 9 | [[V. Vijayasai Reddy]] |- | bgcolor="#F84996" | | [[Telangana Rashtra Samithi|TRS]] | 7 | [[K. Keshava Rao]] |- | bgcolor="#FF6634" | |[[Shiv Sena|SHS]] | 3 | [[Sanjay Raut]] |- | {{party color cell|Telugu Desam Party}} |[[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="#22409A" | | [[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]] | 1 | [[Ramji Gautam]] |- | {{party color cell|Sikkim Democratic Front}} |[[Sikkim Democratic Front|SDF]] |1 |[[Hishey Lachungpa]] |- | bgcolor="#cdcdcd" | | [[Independent politician|IND]] | 1 | *[[Ajit Kumar Bhuyan]] |- | rowspan="2" |'''MGB (11)''' | bgcolor="#008000" | | [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]] | 6 | [[Prem Chand Gupta|P.C. Gupta]] |- | bgcolor="#004285" | | [[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]] | 5 | [[Ram Nath Thakur|R.N.Thakur]] |- | rowspan="3" |'''LDF(8)''' | bgcolor="#FF0000" | | [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]] | 5 | [[Elamaram Kareem]] |- | bgcolor="#FF4A4A" | | [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] | 2 | [[Binoy Viswam]] |- | bgcolor="#CC9900" | | [[Kerala Congress (M)|KC(M)]] | 1 | [[Jose K. Mani]] |- | rowspan="3" |'''SP+(5)''' | bgcolor="#EE0000" | | [[Samajwadi Party|SP]] | 3 | [[Ram Gopal Yadav]] |- | bgcolor="#006400" | | [[Rashtriya Lok Dal|RLD]] | 1 | [[Jayant Chaudhary]] |- | bgcolor="#cdcdcd" | | [[Independent politician|IND]] | 1 | *[[Kapil Sibal]] |- | colspan="5" rowspan="1" |'''Vacant''' | 8 | *Jammu & Kashmir (4) *Nominated (3) *Tripura (1) |- | colspan="5" |'''Total''' |'''245''' | |} ==Composition== {{Main|List of current members of the Rajya Sabha}} 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, because in past they too had high population. 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]] and [[Lakshadweep]] do not send any representatives. [[List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha|Twelve members]] are nominated by the 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.today/2013.07.24-045633/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 sanctioned strength of the Rajya Sabha in the Constitution of India is 250, which can be increased by constitutional amendment. However, the present strength is 245 members according to the [[Representation of People Act, 1951]], which can be increased up to 250 by amending the act itself, 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. === Number of members by state/union territory === {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;" |- style="background:#00f;" ! rowspan="3" | State/ UT ! rowspan="3" | ! colspan="2" rowspan="3" |Largest Party ! colspan="4" |NDA ! colspan="4" |UPA | rowspan="48" bgcolor="#696969" | ! colspan="2" |Parties (>1 States) ! colspan="3" rowspan="2" |Others ! rowspan="3" |Vac ! rowspan="3" |Election Cycle |- !BJP ! colspan="3" |Others !INC ! colspan="3" |Others !AAP !CPI(M) |- | colspan="4" bgcolor=#FF99933| | colspan="4" bgcolor="#00BFFF" | | {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}} | bgcolor="#FF4A4A" | | colspan="3" bgcolor="#696969" | |- | rowspan="2" | [[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> | rowspan="2" | '''11''' | rowspan="2" {{party color cell|YSR Congress Party}} | rowspan="2" |'''9''' | rowspan="2" |1 | colspan="3" rowspan="2" | ! colspan="4" rowspan="2" | | colspan="2" rowspan="2" | |{{Party name with color|YSR Congress Party}} |'''9''' ! rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |'''2024 (3)''' 2026 (4) 2028 (4) |- | {{Party name with color|Telugu Desam Party}} |1 |- | [[Arunachal Pradesh]] | '''1''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| |'''1''' |'''1''' | colspan="3" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | ! |2026 (1) |- | rowspan="2" | [[Assam]] | rowspan="2" | '''7''' | rowspan="2" bgcolor="#FF99933" | | rowspan="2" |'''4''' | rowspan="2" |'''4''' | {{Party name with color|Asom Gana Parishad}} |1 ! colspan="4" rowspan="2" | | colspan="2" rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |[[Anchalik Gana Morcha|AGM]] | rowspan="2" |1 ! rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |2025 (2) 2026 (3) 2028 (2) |- | {{party color cell|United People's Party Liberal}} |[[United People's Party Liberal|UPPL]] |1 |- | [[Chhattisgarh]] | '''5''' | bgcolor="#00BFFF" | |'''4''' |1 | colspan="3" | |'''4''' | colspan="3" | | colspan="5" | ! |'''2024 (1)''' 2026 (2) 2028 (2) |- | [[Goa]] | '''1''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| |'''1''' |'''1''' | colspan="3" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | ! |'''2023 (1)''' |- | [[Gujarat]] | '''11''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| |'''8''' |'''8''' | colspan="3" | |3 | colspan="3" | | colspan="5" | ! |'''2023 (3)''' '''2024 (4)''' 2026 (4) |- | [[Haryana]] | '''5''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| |'''3''' |'''3''' ! |[[Independent politician|IND]] |1 |1 | colspan="3" | | colspan="5" | ! |'''2024 (1)''' 2026 (2) 2028 (2) |- | [[Himachal Pradesh]] | '''3''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| |'''3''' |'''3''' | colspan="3" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | ! |'''2024 (1)''' 2026 (1) 2028 (1) |- | [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] | '''4''' | | ! colspan="4" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | |'''4''' | |- | [[Jharkhand]] | '''6''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| |'''3''' |'''3''' | colspan="3" | |1 | {{Party name with color|Jharkhand Mukti Morcha}} |2 | colspan="5" | ! |'''2024 (2)''' 2026 (2) 2028 (2) |- | [[Karnataka]] | '''12''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| |'''6''' |'''6''' | colspan="3" | |5 | colspan="3" | | | | {{Party name with color|Janata Dal (Secular)}} |1 ! |'''2024 (4)''' 2026 (4) 2028 (4) |- | rowspan="2" |[[Kerala]] | rowspan="2" |'''9''' | rowspan="2" {{party color cell|Communist Party of India}} | rowspan="2" |'''4''' ! colspan="4" rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |1 | rowspan="2" bgcolor="#008500" | | rowspan="2" |[[Indian Union Muslim League|IUML]] | rowspan="2" |1 | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |'''4''' | {{Party name with color|Communist Party of India}} |2 ! rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |'''2024 (3)''' 2027 (3) 2028 (3) |- | bgcolor="#CC9900" | | [[Kerala Congress (M)|KC(M)]] |1 |- | [[Madhya Pradesh]] | '''11''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| |'''8''' |'''8''' | colspan="3" | |3 | colspan="3" | | colspan="5" | ! |'''2024 (5)''' 2026 (3) 2028 (3) |- | [[Maharashtra]] | '''19''' | bgcolor="#FF99933" | |'''8''' |'''8''' | bgcolor="#002BB4" | | [[Republican Party of India (Athawale)|RPI(A)]] |1 |3 | {{Party name with color|Nationalist Congress Party}} |4 | colspan="2" | |bgcolor="#FF6634" | |[[Shiv Sena|SHS]] |3 ! |'''2024 (6)''' 2026 (7) 2028 (6) |- | [[Manipur]] | '''1''' | {{party color cell|Bhartiya Janata Party}} |'''1''' |'''1''' | colspan="3" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | ! |2026 (1) |- | [[Meghalaya]] | '''1''' | bgcolor="#DB7093" | |'''1''' | | bgcolor="#DB7093" | | [[National People's Party (India)|NPP]] |'''1''' ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | ! |2026 (1) |- | [[Mizoram]] | '''1''' | bgcolor="#2E5694" | |'''1''' | | bgcolor="#2E5694" | | [[Mizo National Front|MNF]] |'''1''' ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | ! |2026 (1) |- | [[Nagaland]] | '''1''' | {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}} |'''1''' | '''1''' | colspan="3" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | ! |2028 (1) |- | [[Delhi|NCT Of Delhi]] | '''3''' | {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}} |'''3''' ! colspan="4" | ! colspan="4" | |'''3''' ! | colspan="3" | ! |'''2024 (3)''' |- | [[Odisha]] | '''10''' | {{party color cell|Biju Janata Dal}} |'''9''' |1 | colspan="3" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="2" | | {{Party name with color|Biju Janata Dal}} |'''9''' ! |'''2024 (3)''' 2026 (4) 2028 (3) |- | [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] | '''1''' | bgcolor=#FF99933| |'''1''' |'''1''' | colspan="3" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | ! |2027 (1) |- | [[Rajasthan]] | '''10''' | bgcolor="#00BFFF" | |'''6''' |4 | colspan="3" | |'''6''' | colspan="3" | | colspan="5" | ! |'''2024 (3)''' 2026 (3) 2028 (4) |- | [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] |'''7''' | {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}} |'''7''' ! colspan="4" | ! colspan="4" | |'''7''' ! | colspan="3" | ! |2028 (7) |- | [[Sikkim]] | '''1''' |{{party color cell|Sikkim Democratic Front}} |'''1''' ! colspan="4" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="2" | | {{party name with color|Sikkim Democratic Front}} |'''1''' ! |'''2024 (1)''' |- | rowspan="3" | [[Tamil Nadu]] | rowspan="3" | '''18''' | rowspan="3" {{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}} | rowspan="3" |'''10''' | rowspan="3" | | {{party name with color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}} |4 | rowspan="3" |1 | {{party name with color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}} |'''10''' | colspan="5" rowspan="3" | ! rowspan="3" | | rowspan="3" |2025 (6) 2026 (6) 2028 (6) |- |bgcolor="#99FF00" | | [[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]] |1 | rowspan="2" bgcolor="#996699" | | rowspan="2" | [[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|MDMK]] | rowspan="2" |1 |- |bgcolor="#FF4500" | | [[Tamil Maanila Congress|TMC(M)]] |1 |- | [[Telangana]] | '''7''' |{{party color cell|Telangana Rashtra Samithi}} |'''7''' ! colspan="4" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="2" | | {{party name with color|Telangana Rashtra Samithi}} |'''7''' ! |'''2024 (3)''' 2026 (2) 2028 (2) |- |[[Tripura]] |'''1''' | | ! colspan="4" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | |'''1''' |'''By Poll 2023 (1)''' |- | rowspan="4" | [[Uttar Pradesh]] | rowspan="4" | '''31''' | rowspan="4" bgcolor="#FF99933" | | rowspan="4" |'''25''' | rowspan="4" |'''25''' | colspan="3" rowspan="4" | ! colspan="4" rowspan="4" | | colspan="2" rowspan="4" | | {{Party name with color|Samajwadi Party}} |3 ! rowspan="4" | | rowspan="4" |'''2024 (10)''' 2026 (10) 2028 (11) |- | {{Party name with color|Bahujan Samaj Party}} |1 |- | bgcolor="#006400" | | [[Rashtriya Lok Dal|RLD]] |1 |- | bgcolor="#cdcdcd" | | [[Independent politician|IND]] |1 |- | [[Uttarakhand]] | '''3''' | bgcolor="#FF99933" | |'''3''' |'''3''' | colspan="3" | ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | ! |'''2024 (1)''' 2026 (1) 2028 (1) |- | [[West Bengal]] | '''16''' | {{party color cell|All India Trinamool Congress}} |'''13''' ! colspan="4" | |2 | colspan="3" | | |1 | {{party name with color|All India Trinamool Congress}} |'''13''' ! |'''2023 (6)''' '''2024 (5)''' 2026 (5) |- | ''[[List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha|Presidential nominees]]'' | '''12''' | {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}} |'''4''' |'''4''' | bgcolor="#000000" | | [[List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha|NOM]] |5 ! colspan="4" | | colspan="5" | |3 |'''2022 (3)2024 (4)''' 2026 (1) |- | rowspan="3" | '''Total''' | rowspan="3" | '''245 ''' | rowspan="3" {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}} | rowspan="3" |'''91''' | rowspan="2" |'''91''' | colspan="3" rowspan="2" |22 | rowspan="2" |31 | colspan="3" rowspan="2" |18 !AAP !CPI(M) ! colspan="3" |Others ! rowspan="2" |Vac. ! rowspan="3" |2022 (07) 2023 (11) 2024 (68) 2025 (08) 2026 (73) 2027 (04) 2028 (69) |- |10 |5 | colspan="3" |60 |- ! colspan="2" |NDA | colspan="2" |'''113''' ! colspan="2" |UPA | colspan="2" |49 ! colspan="3" |Others | colspan="2" |75 |8 |} == Officers == ===Leader of the House=== {{main|Leader of the House in 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 the Rajya Sabha was set up under 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.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} 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.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} 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. The present secretary-general is [[Pramod Chandra Mody]].<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><ref>{{Cite news |others=Special Correspondent |date=2021-11-12 |title=Ex-CBDT chief P.C. Mody made Rajya Sabha Secretary General |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-cbdt-chairman-p-c-mody-appointed-as-new-secretary-general-of-rajya-sabha/article37451546.ece |access-date=2022-03-07 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In the 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== {{Main|Rajya Sabha TV}} Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) is a 24-hour parliamentary television channel owned and operated by the Rajya Sabha. 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 an analysis of the proceedings of the house as well as other day-to-day parliamentary events and developments. Now it has been merged in SansadTV along with LSTV and are being run by same channel.<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 == *[[Lok Sabha]] *[[List of current members of the Rajya Sabha]] *[[State legislative councils of India]] *[[Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha]] ==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== * {{Official website}} {{Rajya Sabha}} {{Parliament of India}} {{Government of India}} {{Legislatures of India}} {{India topics}} {{National upper houses}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Rajya Sabha| ]] [[Category:Parliament of India]] [[Category:National upper houses|India]]'