kids encyclopedia robot

Rajya Sabha facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Rajya Sabha
Emblem of India
Type
Type
Term limits
6 years
Leadership
Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu
Since 11 August 2017
Deputy Chairman
Harivansh Narayan Singh, JD(U)
Since 14 September 2020
Secretary General
Desh Deepak Verma
Since 1 September 2017
Leader of the House
Thawar Chand Gehlot, BJP
Since 11 June 2019
Deputy Leader of the House
Piyush Goyal, BJP
Since 11 June 2019
Leader of the Opposition
Ghulam Nabi Azad, INC
Since 8 June 2014
Deputy leader of the opposition
Anand Sharma, INC
Since 8 June 2014
Structure
Seats 245 (233 Elected + 12 Nominated)
Rajya Sabha Indian Upper House August 2020.svg
Elections
233 members by single transferable vote by state legislatures, 12 appointed by the President
Last election
19 June 2020
Next election
November 2020
Meeting place
view of Sansad Bhavan, seat of the Parliament of India
Rajya Sabha chamber, Sansad Bhavan,
Sansad Marg, New Delhi, India - 110 001
Constitution
Constitution of India

The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India. It currently has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories using single transferable votes through Open Ballot while the President can appoint 12 members for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services. The potential seating capacity of the Rajya Sabha is 250 (238 elected, 12 appointed), according to article 80 of the Indian Constitution. Members sit for staggered terms lasting six years, with elections every year but almost a third of the 233 designates up for election every two years, specifically in even-numbered years. The Rajya Sabha meets in continuous sessions, and unlike the Lok Sabha, being the lower house of the Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house of Parliament, is not subjected to dissolution. However, the Rajya Sabha, like the Lok Sabha can be prorogued by the President.

The Rajya Sabha has equal footing in legislation with the Lok Sabha, except in the area of supply, where the latter has overriding powers. In the case of conflicting legislation, a joint sitting of the two houses can be held, where the Lok Sabha would hold greater influence because of its larger membership. The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who presides over its sessions. The Deputy Chairman, who is elected from amongst the house's members, takes care of the day-to-day matters of the house in the absence of the Chairman. The Rajya Sabha held its first sitting on 13 May 1952.

Rajya Sabha meets in the eponymous chamber in Parliament House in New Delhi. Since 18 July 2018, the Rajya Sabha has facility for simultaneous interpretation in all the 22 scheduled languages of India.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Rajya Sabha para niños

kids search engine
Rajya Sabha Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.