Why in the News?

The Election Commission of India has announced biennial elections for eight Rajya Sabha seats, including two seats from Assam and six seats from Tamil Nadu.

These elections are part of the regular process through which

About Elections to the Rajya Sabha:

• Rajya Sabha members are indirectly elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies and Union Territory electoral colleges (Delhi and Puducherry).
• The elections follow the proportional representation system through the Single Transferable Vote (STV) method.
• Voting is done using an Open Ballot to ensure transparency and party discipline.
• Composition of the Rajya Sabha:
  • It can have a maximum of 250 members.
  • Out of these, 238 members are elected, and 12 are nominated by the President of India for contributions to art, literature, science, and social service.
  • As of now, the RS has 245 members — 233 elected and 12 nominated.
  • One-third of RS members retire every two years.
• Voting Requirements and Process:
  • A candidate must be proposed by at least 10 members of the State Legislative Assembly or 10% of the party’s strength in the Assembly.
  • Voters rank candidates by preference under the Single Transferable Vote system.
  • If a candidate is eliminated or elected, their votes are transferred to the next preference on the ballot.
  • Voting is done using an Open Ballot system to promote transparency.
• Quota for Election:
  • To win, a candidate must secure a vote quota, calculated as:
    (Total valid votes / (Number of vacancies + 1)) + 1.
• Tenure of Members:
  • RS is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved.
  • However, one-third of its members retire every two years, and new members are elected.
  • Each Rajya Sabha member serves a six-year term.
• Chairmanship and Leadership:
  • The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
  • A Deputy Chairman is elected by the Rajya Sabha members from among themselves.
• Eligibility (as per Article 84):
  • A candidate must be a citizen of India.
  • The minimum age required is 30 years.
  • The candidate must also meet other qualifications specified by the Constitution or law.
• Disqualification of Members:
  • A member can be disqualified for defection under the anti-defection law.
  • Disqualification can also happen due to criminal convictions, bankruptcy, or being declared of unsound mind.
• Administrative and Historical Details:
  • The first sitting of the Rajya Sabha was held on May 13, 1952.
  • The Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha acts as the chief executive and administrative head of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

Tap here to read everything about the Rajya Sabha.

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