India's upper house can never be dissolved, and a third retires every two years
The Rajya Sabha, India's Council of States, is a permanent chamber: members serve staggered six-year terms, with about a third stepping down every second year, so the house itself never dissolves. Its members are chosen by state legislatures rather than voters, giving India's states a direct say in national law.
The council can hold up to 250 members under Article 80 of the Constitution, but its current ceiling is 245 after the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir. Of those, 233 are elected by state and union territory assemblies through the single transferable vote, cast in open ballots, and 12 are nominated by the President for achievements in art, literature, science or social service. The nominated members cannot vote in presidential elections. The vice president of India chairs the house, and it first sat on 13 May 1952.
On most legislation it stands level with the directly elected Lok Sabha, but money is the big exception. A money bill can only start in the lower house; the Rajya Sabha gets 14 days to suggest changes, which the Lok Sabha may simply ignore, and if it misses the deadline the bill counts as passed. It also cannot bring a no-confidence motion against the government.
When the houses disagree on ordinary bills, the President can call a joint sitting, chaired by the Lok Sabha speaker. Since the lower house has more than twice as many members, it usually prevails, and governments lacking a majority in the upper house have used this route. Such sittings are rare: only three have been held, the latest in 2002.
As the voice of the states, the council holds one distinctive power: Parliament may legislate on subjects reserved for the states only if the Rajya Sabha first approves by a two-thirds majority. Since 18 July 2018 members can speak in any of India's official languages with simultaneous interpretation, proceedings are broadcast live on Sansad TV, and the new parliament building seats 384 in its chamber.
Source: Rajya Sabha
