What is Rajya Sabha?
Answers
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the Upper House of the Parliament of India. Membership of Rajya Sabha is limited by the Constitution of India to a maximum of 250 members and current laws has provision of 245 members. Most of the members of the house are indirectly elected by members of the State and Union Territories legislatures using single transferable vote, while the President of India can appoint 12 members for their contribution towards arts, literature, sports, science and social services. Members sit for staggered six year term, with one-third of the members retiring every two years.
The Rajya sabha meets in continuous sessions, and unlike the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of the Parliament of India, is not subject to dissolution. However, the Rajya Sabha, like the Lok Sabha can be prorogued by the President. The Vice President of India (currently Hamid Ansari) is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who presides over its sessions. The Deputy Chairman, who is elected from amongst the members of the house, takes care of the day-to-day matters of the house in absence of the Chairman.The Rajya Sabha held its first sitting on 13th May 1952.
Answer:
Explanation:
The Rajya Sabha has fewer powers than the Lok Sabha. But it has considerable utility. It's advantages are:-
1. Permanent Chamber:
From time to time the Lok Sabha stands dissolved, but the Rajya Sabha is never dissolved. If any Emergency is declared by the President of India during the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, then that proclamation is to be approved by the Rajya Sabha.
2. Experience and Maturity:
As compared to the Lok Sabha, the members of the Rajya Sabha are generally older, more experienced and mature. As a result of this, the Rajya Sabha is able to correct the mistakes of the Lok Sabha. The members of the Rajya Sabha do not take any hasty decision while making law or amending the constitution. They take decisions after serious consideration.
3. Inclusion in Council of Ministers:
The Council of Ministers is not responsible to the Rajya Sabha, but there is no constitutional bar to the members of Rajya Sabha being appointed as Ministers. At different times, the members of Rajya Sabha have been appointed as Cabinet Ministers in charge of important Departments like Home, Foreign Affairs, and Human Resources Development etc.
4. Democratic Value:
In the absence of the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha might have been authoritarian and monopolistic. The Rajya Sabha exercises moral control over the Lok Sabha. The valuable opinions expressed by the seasoned and mature members of the Rajya Sabha are good for Indian democracy. Their views increase the political consciousness of people, and inculcate in them democratic values.
5. Federal Balance:
The Rajya Sabha helps in maintaining a healthy balance between the centre and the states.