The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is the upper house of the Indian Parliament, constituted under Article 80 of the Constitution. Its maximum strength is 250 members — up to 238 representing the states and union territories, chosen indirectly, plus 12 nominated by the President under Article 80(1)(a) for distinguished contributions in literature, science, art and social service. As of 2026 its actual strength is 245. Representatives of the states are elected by the elected members of the respective State Legislative Assemblies through the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, as mandated by Article 80(4). The allocation of seats to each state is fixed in the Fourth Schedule, weighted broadly by population, so Uttar Pradesh sends 31 members while smaller states send one. The Rajya Sabha is a continuing or permanent body — it cannot be dissolved; under Article 83(1) one-third of its members retire every second year, each member serving a six-year term, a model borrowed from the United States Senate.
The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha under Article 64, while a Deputy Chairman is elected from among its members under Article 89. The house enjoys broadly co-equal legislative powers with the Lok Sabha for ordinary and constitutional amendment bills, but is subordinate in financial matters: a Money Bill (defined in Article 110) can originate only in the Lok Sabha, and under Article 109 the Rajya Sabha may only recommend changes within fourteen days, which the lower house may reject. In a deadlock over an ordinary bill, Article 108 provides for a joint sitting, presided over by the Lok Sabha Speaker, where the numerically larger lower house usually prevails — invoked only thrice (1961, 1978, 2002). Crucially, the Rajya Sabha holds two exclusive powers no joint sitting can override: under Article 249 it may authorise Parliament to legislate on a State List subject in the national interest, and under Article 312 it may create new All-India Services, in both cases by a two-thirds resolution.
The Rajya Sabha also participates in electing the President (Article 54) and removing him (Article 61), and its assent is indispensable for impeaching judges and removing the CAG or election commissioners. The Representation of the People Act 1951, as amended in 2003, abolished the domicile requirement for candidates, a change upheld in Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006), which also validated open-ballot voting in these elections. Notable nominated members have included M.S. Subbulakshmi, Sachin Tendulkar and Rekha. The chamber has been chaired since 2022 by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
For the UPSC examination, the Rajya Sabha is a high-yield topic in GS Paper II (polity and governance) and the Prelims. Examiners frequently test the distinction between its powers and those of the Lok Sabha, the special powers under Articles 249 and 312, the procedure for Money Bills, the rationale for its permanence, and the mechanics of single transferable vote elections. Comparative questions contrasting it with the US Senate or the British House of Lords are common in the mains and interview stages.
Example
In 2023, the Rajya Sabha passed the Women's Reservation Bill (106th Constitutional Amendment) unanimously, reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
Frequently asked questions
Under Article 83(1) it is not subject to dissolution; one-third of its members retire every two years and are replaced, while each member serves a six-year term. This staggered rotation ensures legislative continuity, distinguishing it from the Lok Sabha.