Question

Why is the Rajya Sabha called a ‘Permanent house’?

Answer 1

Hint:
- 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 representatives of the states and union territories using single transferable votes by Open Ballot.
-President nominates 12 members for their contributions to art, literature, education, and social services.

Complete answer:
The upper chamber, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), is a permanent assembly that cannot be dissolved. Every two years, one-third of the members resign and are replaced by newly elected members. Members are chosen indirectly by members of state legislative bodies. The Rajya Sabha is a Building that remains forever.

The Rajya Sabha is ineligible to be dissolved. Each Rajya Sabha member is elected for a six-year term. In order to be elected a Member of Parliament, a person must be a citizen of India and not less than 30 years of age in the case of Rajya Sabha and not less than 25 years of age in the case of Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has a cumulative membership of 250 members. It currently has 245 members, 233 of whom are chosen by States and Union Territories and 12 of whom are nominated by the President. The population of a state determines the number of representatives it has. Additional qualifications can be prescribed by Parliament by statute.

Note:
- All the subjects/areas about law have been classified into three Lists - Union List, State List and concurrent List.
- Union and State Lists are mutually exclusive - one cannot legislate on a matter held in the sphere of the other.
- If Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a vote of not less than two-thirds of members present and voting stating that it is “necessary or expedient in the national interest” that Parliament should make a law on a matter enumerated in the State List, Parliament becomes empowered to make a law on the subject mentioned in the resolution, for the entire or any part of the territory of India.