Discuss the powers and functions of the Rajya Sabha
Answers
The Rajya Sabha can have a maximum strength of 250 members; out of these 238 are to be the representatives of the States and remaining 12 members are to be nominated by the President from amongst persons who have achieved distinctions in the fields of art, literature, science or social services.
At present, the Rajya Sabha has 245 members 233 elected and 12 nominated. Members of each State Legislative Assembly, together elect their allotted number of MPs for Rajya Sabha. The President nominates 12 MPs of Rajya Sabha. Odisha has 10 seats in the Rajya House.
II. Method of Election:
The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly by the people. The people of each state elect the members of their state legislative assembly who then elect the members of Rajya Sabha by a method of proportional representation—single transferable vote system. Each State Legislative Assembly elects as many representatives as have been allocated to it by the Constitution. Odisha Legislative Assembly has 147 MLAs who together elect 12 members of Rajya Sabha.
The Rajya Sabha, i.e., the Council of States, is the Upper House of the Union Parliament. It gives representation to the States of the Indian. However, the states do not enjoy an equal representation in the Rajya Sabha. These have been given representations on the basis of the size of their populations
The Rajya Sabha has the power to create new All India Services by passing a resolution supported by not less than two-third members present and voting. The Lok Sabha does not enjoy any such power to create new All India Services.