Context:
Elections for Rajya Sabha members (37 seats across 10 States) highlight the indirect electoral system and proportional representation mechanism.
Key Highlights:
- Constitutional & Institutional Framework
- Rajya Sabha is the Council of States.
- Maximum strength: 250 members (including 12 nominated by the President).
- It is a permanent House, with one-third members retiring every 2 years.
- Election Process
- Members are elected by elected MLAs of State Legislative Assemblies.
- Conducted using:
- Proportional Representation
- Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.
- Eligibility & Tenure
- Minimum age: 30 years.
- Term: 6 years.
- Voting Mechanism
- MLAs rank candidates in order of preference.
- Winning formula:
- Votes required =
(Total MLAs ÷ (Seats + 1)) + 1
- Votes required =
- Surplus votes are transferred based on preferences.
- Representation
- Some Union Territories like Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Chandigarh have no Rajya Sabha representation.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Article 80
- Composition of Rajya Sabha.
- Single Transferable Vote (STV)
- Ranked voting system ensuring proportional representation.
- Proportional Representation
- Seats allocated in proportion to votes.
- Electoral College (Rajya Sabha)
- Consists of elected MLAs of States.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Significance of Rajya Sabha
- Represents states in federal structure.
- Acts as a revising chamber.
- Ensures continuity in governance.
- Advantages of Current System
- Promotes proportional representation of parties.
- Reduces dominance of majority party.
- Challenges
- Possibility of cross-voting and political manipulation.
- Influence of money power in elections.
- Limited representation of smaller UTs.
- Way Forward
- Strengthen transparency in voting (open ballot system).
- Ensure ethical electoral practices.
- Debate inclusion of UT representation reforms.
UPSC Relevance:
• GS 2 – Polity (Parliament, electoral systems)
• Prelims – Rajya Sabha composition, STV, Articles