Rajya Sabha
The Council of States & The Eternal Chamber
PART I — STRUCTURE & ELECTION
ARTICLE 80
Composition
- **Maximum Strength:** 250 (238 representatives of States/UTs + 12 Nominated).
- **Current Strength:** 245 (225 from States, 8 from UTs, and 12 Nominated).
- Seats are allocated to states based on **population** (unlike the US Senate, where every state gets equal representation). UP has 31 seats; Tripura has 1.
INDIRECT VOTE
Election Process
- Representatives of states are elected **indirectly** by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies (MLAs).
- The election uses the system of **Proportional Representation by means of a Single Transferable Vote (STV)**.
- This ensures that political parties secure RS seats in rough proportion to their strength in the state assembly.
PART II — TENURE & NOMINATION
ARTICLE 83(1)
The Permanent House
∞
- The Rajya Sabha is a continuing chamber. It is **not subject to dissolution** (it can never be dissolved by the President).
- However, **one-third (1/3rd)** of its members retire every second year.
- The term of an individual member is **6 years** (as determined by the Representation of the People Act, 1951, not explicitly in the Constitution).
THE EXPERTS
Nominated Members
- The President nominates **12 members** to the Rajya Sabha.
- They must have special knowledge or practical experience in four specific fields: **Literature, Science, Art, and Social Service**.
- This allows eminent non-political persons to contribute to the legislative process without contesting elections.
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