Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States, is the upper house of India’s Parliament and represents the interests of the states and Union Territories in national law-making.

• Its members are not chosen directly by all voters. Most are elected by the elected members of each State Legislative Assembly, using a system that allows different political parties to gain representation according to their strength in the assembly.
• The Rajya Sabha can have up to 250 members. Of these, 12 members are nominated by the President for their special achievements in fields such as art, literature, science, and social service.
• It is a permanent house: it is never dissolved completely. Members serve for six years, and one-third retire every two years. This provides continuity even when Lok Sabha elections bring major political changes.
• For example, a law passed by the Lok Sabha is usually also discussed and approved by the Rajya Sabha. This second discussion can improve a bill by allowing members from different states to examine how it may affect their regions.
• The Rajya Sabha has a special role in protecting federalism. Since India has states with different languages, sizes, economies, and local needs, the house gives state-level voices a place in decisions made for the whole country.
• Although it cannot permanently block most money-related bills, it is an important check on hurried law-making and helps ensure that Parliament considers both the people’s direct choice and the interests of the states.