Indian Parliament consists of two houses: Lok Sabha, or the House of the People, and Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States.
Rajya Sabha: A Pillar of India's Parliamentary System
The Rajya Sabha, often referred to as the Council of States, plays a crucial role in India's parliamentary system, complementing the Lok Sabha, or the House of the People. While both houses share similar powers, the Rajya Sabha possesses unique functions that contribute to the federal character of the Indian government.
As a permanent house, the Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution, unlike the Lok Sabha which has a fixed 5-year term. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly by state legislative assemblies through proportional representation, representing the states and union territories of India.
One of the key powers of the Rajya Sabha is its ability to authorise Parliament to legislate on subjects in the State List, which normally only states can legislate on, according to Article 249. The Rajya Sabha can also authorise Parliament to create new All-India Services under Article 312.
The Rajya Sabha holds a special role in the removal of the Vice-President and in cases of national emergency when the Lok Sabha is dissolved. If a national emergency is proclaimed when the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the emergency can continue with only the Rajya Sabha’s approval.
However, the Rajya Sabha does not have the power to introduce or reject Money (Revenue) Bills, which is an exclusive power of the Lok Sabha. They can only delay money bills for up to 14 days. The Rajya Sabha also lacks the power to pass a vote of no confidence against the government, a power exclusive to the Lok Sabha.
In addition to its legislative powers, the Rajya Sabha is responsible for the election and impeachment of the President, and the election and removal of the Vice-President. The Rajya Sabha can also recommend the President for the removal of the Chief Justice and judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, the chief election commissioner, and the comptroller and auditor general.
The Rajya Sabha has played a significant role in democratic discourse, law-making, and bringing socio-economic changes. Notable bills passed by the Rajya Sabha include The Hindu Marriage and Divorce Bill, 1952, The Hindu Succession Bill, 1954, The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill, 2012, The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, and The Constitution (One Hundred and Third) Amendment Act, 2019.
Since 1952, the Rajya Sabha has hosted a total of 5466 sittings and passed a total of 3817 bills. The Rajya Sabha serves to provide effective checks against the whims and fancies of the Lok Sabha, maintain federal equilibrium, promote deliberations in law-making, work as a shock absorber, and facilitate representation of eminent professionals and experts.
A publication titled 'RS- The journey since 1952' highlights the role of the Rajya Sabha in detail. The Rajya Sabha continues to be a vital part of India's democratic process, contributing to the nation's growth and development.
[1] Constitution of India [2] M. M. Punchhi Commission Report [3] Rajya Sabha Rules of Procedure and Conduct [4] Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure and Conduct [5] Demystifying Indian Constitution by R.S. Sharma
- Ongoing debates in the Rajya Sabha highlight the need for careful policy-and-legislation when it comes to migration, addressing concerns about personal-growth, education-and-self-development, and lifelong-learning opportunities for migrants.
- As more people migrate for better job-search prospects, accidents like car-accidents become a pressing concern. Rajya Sabha members have advocated for stringent safety measures to reduce such incidents.
- In an effort towards promoting productivity and career-development, the Rajya Sabha has supported skill-training programs that cater to the needs of various industries.
- Mindfulness and mental health have received attention in the Rajya Sabha during discussions on general-news issues and the impact of war-and-conflicts on citizens' well-being.
- Members of the Rajya Sabha have emphasized the importance of online-education in providing equal opportunities to those residing in remote areas, enabling them to pursue personal-growth and learning.
- The Rajya Sabha has underscored the need for proper policy-and-legislation to address issues of crime-and-justice, ensuring that local communities remain safe and secure.
- As the Rajya Sabha strives to fulfill its role in fire safety regulations, members have proposed implementing regular training programs to prepare individuals across the country for potential accidents.
- Policy-makers in the Rajya Sabha have called for the development of a comprehensive goal-setting framework to align various aspects of India's society with the objectives of overall progress, productivity, and career-development.
- Recent discussions in the Rajya Sabha have highlighted the urgent need for revisions in the existing policy-and-legislation concerning clean energy, with a focus on job-search opportunities and the promotion of sustainable lifelong-learning practices.
- In an effort to promote a democratic and inclusive society, Rajya Sabha members have supported initiatives aimed at strengthening the legislative processes, such as goal-setting, mindfulness, and skills-training, to facilitate better policy-making and overall societal development.
