Explanations:The Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States, is one of the two houses of the Indian Parliament, the other being the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha plays a crucial role in the legislative process and is designed to represent the interests of the states and union territories. The composition of the Rajya Sabha is governed by the Constitution of India, specifically Article 80.
According to the Constitution, the Rajya Sabha can have a maximum of 250 members. Out of these, 238 members are elected by the legislative assemblies of the states and union territories, while 12 members are nominated by the President of India. The nominated members are typically individuals who have made significant contributions in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service. This provision ensures that the Rajya Sabha includes individuals with specialized knowledge and experience, which can be beneficial for the legislative process.
The nomination of members by the President is an important aspect of the Rajya Sabha's composition. It allows the President to bring in experts and individuals with diverse backgrounds, thereby enriching the legislative debates and discussions. The number of nominated members is fixed at 12, which is a constitutional provision and cannot be altered without a constitutional amendment.
It is important to note that the nominated members serve a term of six years, and they can be re-nominated. The election of the other members of the Rajya Sabha is based on a system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. This ensures that the representation in the Rajya Sabha is broadly proportional to the population of the states and union territories.
Understanding the composition of the Rajya Sabha, including the number of nominated members, is essential for anyone studying Indian politics and governance. It is a key aspect of the Indian political system and is often tested in competitive examinations such as the UPSC, SSC, and other government exams.