NOMINATION OF MEMBERS FOR RAJYA SABHA SEAT

NOMINATION OF MEMBERS FOR RAJYA SABHA SEAT

Subject: Polity

Context: After an unsuccessful contest for a seat in the West Bengal Assembly, Swapan Dasgupta, who had resigned from his nominated membership of the Rajya Sabha to fight the elections on a BJP ticket, was Tuesday re-nominated to the Upper House.

Concept:

Nominated members in RS

• Article 80(1)(a) of Constitution of India makes provision for the nomination of 12 members to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India in accordance with provisions of Arts.80(3).
• Article80(3) says that the persons to be nominated as members must be possessing special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following namely : Literature, science, art and social service.
• As per the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950, the Rajya Sabha was to consist of 216 members of which 12 members were to be nominated by the President and the remaining 204 elected to represent the States.
• The present strength, however, is 245 members of whom 233 are representatives of the states and union territories and 12 are nominated by the President.
• The Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution; one-third of its members retire every second year.
• The 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are persons who are eminent in particular fields, and are well known contributors in the particular field.
• The nominated members are usually amongst persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social service.