Rajya Sabha and Legislative Process

Study Notes

Rajya Sabha

Also known as the Council of States
Upper house of the Indian Parliament
Comprises 245 members
- 233 members elected by the elected members of the state legislatures
- 12 members nominated by the President of India
Term of office: 6 years
One-third of the members retire every 2 years
Chairman: Vice President of India
Deputy Chairman: Elected by the members of the Rajya Sabha

Legislative Process

Introduction of a bill:
- Can be introduced in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha
- Must be introduced by a minister or a member with the permission of the Speaker
Stages of a bill:
1. First Reading: Bill is introduced and published in the Gazette
2. Second Reading: Bill is discussed and debated
3. Committee Stage: Bill is referred to a parliamentary committee for scrutiny
4. Third Reading: Bill is voted upon and passed
Passage of a bill:
- Must be passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
- If passed, sent to the President for assent
- If assented, becomes an Act of Parliament

Parliamentary Committees

Types of committees:
- Standing Committees: Permanent committees that oversee specific areas of governance
- Ad Hoc Committees: Temporary committees formed to address specific issues
Functions of committees:
- Scrutinize bills: Examine bills referred to them and report back to the Parliament
- Oversight of government: Monitor the functioning of government departments and ministries
- Investigate issues: Conduct inquiries into specific issues and report back to the Parliament
Examples of parliamentary committees:
- Public Accounts Committee: Examines the accounts of the government and ensures that public funds are used efficiently
- Estimates Committee: Examines the estimates of expenditure of the government and suggests ways to reduce unnecessary expenditure
- Committee on Subordinate Legislation: Examines the rules and regulations made by the government and ensures that they are in accordance with the laws passed by the Parliament

Rajya Sabha

Known as the Council of States and the upper house of the Indian Parliament
Comprises 245 members, with 233 elected by state legislatures and 12 nominated by the President of India
Members serve a 6-year term, with one-third retiring every 2 years
Led by the Vice President of India as Chairman and a Deputy Chairman elected by the members

Legislative Process

Bills can be introduced in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha
Introduction requires permission from the Speaker or must be introduced by a minister
The four stages of a bill are:
- First Reading: Introduction and publication in the Gazette
- Second Reading: Debate and discussion
- Committee Stage: Scrutiny by a parliamentary committee
- Third Reading: Voting and passage
A bill must be passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, then sent to the President for assent to become an Act of Parliament

Parliamentary Committees

Two types of committees: Standing Committees (permanent) and Ad Hoc Committees (temporary)
Committee functions include:
- Scrutinizing bills and reporting back to Parliament
- Overseeing government departments and ministries
- Investigating specific issues and reporting back to Parliament
Examples of parliamentary committees include:
- Public Accounts Committee: Examines government accounts and ensures efficient use of public funds
- Estimates Committee: Examines estimates of expenditure and suggests ways to reduce unnecessary expenditure
- Committee on Subordinate Legislation: Examines rules and regulations to ensure they align with Parliament-passed laws

Description

Test your knowledge on the Indian Parliament's upper house, the Rajya Sabha, and its role in the legislative process. Learn about its composition, term of office, and the process of introducing bills.