Rajya Sabha In English: All You Need To Know About India's Parliament And Their English Names

The Rajya Sabha, serving as India's Upper House of Parliament, plays a crucial role in the country's legislative proceedings. With a maximum strength of 250 members, 238 represent states and union territories through elections, while the President of India nominates the remaining 12 from diverse non-political backgrounds such as literature, science, art, and social service.

In contrast to the Lok Sabha, which is directly elected by the people, members of the Rajya Sabha are elected through an indirect process.

But Do You Know What Are Rajya Sabha And Lok Sabha Called In English?

The Legislature of the Union, referred to as Parliament, is comprised of the President and two Houses, known as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). Each House must convene within six months of its previous sitting, and a joint sitting of the two Houses can be convened in certain cases.

Rajya Sabha

• As per the Constitution, the Rajya Sabha is mandated to consist of 250 members, out of which 12 members are to be nominated by the President, possessing specialized knowledge or practical experience in areas such as literature, science, art, and social service.
• The remaining seats, not exceeding 238, are allocated to representatives from States and Union Territories.
• Elections to the Rajya Sabha are conducted indirectly; representatives from States are elected by the elected members of their respective legislative assemblies through the system of proportional representation using the single transferable vote method.
• Members representing Union Territories are selected as determined by Parliament's legislation.
• The Rajya Sabha does not undergo dissolution; instead, one-third of its members retire every two years.
• Currently, the Rajya Sabha comprises 245 seats, with 233 members representing States and Union Territories, and 12 members nominated by the President.

Lok Sabha

• The Lok Sabha is constituted of representatives directly elected by the people based on adult suffrage.
• As per the Constitution, the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is 552 members, comprising 530 representatives from States, 20 from Union Territories, and up to two members nominated by the President to represent the Anglo-Indian community if deemed necessary.
• The distribution of elective seats among States aims to maintain a proportional ratio between the number of seats and the population of each State.
• Currently, the Lok Sabha comprises 545 members, with 530 directly elected from States, 13 from Union Territories, and two nominated by the President for the Anglo-Indian community representation.
• Following the Constitution 84th Amendment Act, the allocation of seats to States in the Lok Sabha remains unchanged based on the 1971 census until the first census conducted after 2026.
• Unless dissolved earlier, the term of the Lok Sabha lasts for five years from its first meeting date.
• During a state of emergency, Parliament has the authority to extend the term of the Lok Sabha by law for up to one year at a time, not exceeding six months after the emergency proclamation's termination.
• Fourteen Lok Sabhas have been constituted to date.

Qualification for Membership of Parliament

To qualify as a member of Parliament, an individual must hold Indian citizenship and be at least 30 years old for the Rajya Sabha and at least 25 years old for the Lok Sabha. Parliament has the authority to establish additional qualifications through legislation.

Functions and Powers of Parliament

• Similar to other parliamentary democracies, the Parliament in India performs essential functions including legislation, administrative oversight, passing the Budget, addressing public grievances, and discussing various topics such as development plans, national policies, and international relations.
• The distribution of powers outlined in the Constitution emphasizes the overarching authority of Parliament in the legislative domain, even in areas traditionally under the exclusive jurisdiction of the States.
• Under specific circumstances, Parliament can assume legislative authority over subjects reserved exclusively for the States, highlighting its significant role in governance.
• Parliament holds the power to impeach the President and remove Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, the Chief Election Commissioner, and the Comptroller and Auditor General, following the procedures laid down in the Constitution.
• All legislation necessitates approval from both Houses of Parliament, although in the case of money bills, the Lok Sabha's decision takes precedence.
• Delegated legislation is subject to review and control by Parliament.
• Additionally, Parliament has the authority to initiate amendments to the Constitution.

Other State Legislatures in English

India operates under a bicameral system of legislature, mirroring the Union level's Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Similarly, states can have two houses: the Vidhan Sabha, also known as the Legislative Assembly, and the Vidhan Parishad, also known as the Legislative Council in English.

Presently, six states in India have a Legislative Council: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Previously, there were seven states, including Jammu and Kashmir. However, through the J&K Reorganization Bill 2019, the state's status was altered to become the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, resulting in the abolition of its Legislative Council.