Parliament - FAQs

According to Article 71 of the Constitution, all doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a President or Vice-President shall be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court. Further, according to section 14 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, an election petition can be filed before the Supreme Court.

Q 1. What can be the maximum number of members of Rajya Sabha?
Ans. 250
The maximum number of members of Rajya Sabha can be 250. Article 80 of the Constitution of India provides that 12 members are to be nominated by the President of India and not more than 238 representatives from the States to be elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

Q 2. Are they all elected?
Ans. No
All of them are not elected. As mentioned above, 12 are nominated and 238 are elected.

Q 3. What is the life of Rajya Sabha?
Ans. Rajya Sabha is a Permanent House and is not subject to dissolution as per Article 83 (1) of the Constitution of India. But as nearly as possible, one third of its members shall retire every 2nd year and an equal number of members are chosen to replace them.

Q 4. Who elects the members of the Rajya Sabha?
Ans. Elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies
Article 80(4) of Constitution of India provides that members of Rajya Sabha shall be elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies through the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

Q 5. Who nominates the members of the Rajya Sabha?
Ans. President of India
The President of India nominates 12 members of Rajya Sabha as mentioned earlier.

Q 6. Is there any special qualification for nomination?
Ans. Yes
Article 80 (3) of the Constitution of India provides that the members to be nominated by the President to Rajya Sabha should have special knowledge or practical experience in matters like literature, science, art and social service.
Article 84 (b) stipulates that a person shall be of not less than 30 (Thirty) years of age.

Q 7. What is the term of Lok Sabha?
Ans. Normal Term : 5 years
Article 83 (2) of the Constitution stipulates that Lok Sabha shall have a normal term of 5 years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer. However, the President may dissolve the House earlier.

Q 8. What can be the maximum number of members of the Lok Sabha?
Ans. 550
The maximum number of elected members of Lok Sabha is 550. Article 81 of the Constitution provides that not more than 530 members will be elected from the States and not more than 20 members from Union Territories. Article 331 of the Constitution provides that not more than 2 members from the Anglo Indian Community may be nominated by the President of India, if in his opinion that community is not adequately represented in that House.

Q 9. How are the members of Lok Sabha elected?
Ans. Under Sec 14 of Representation of People Act 1951, the President of India by a notification will call upon the constituencies to elect their members to the House of People. Thereafter the electors of the Parliamentary Constituencies will directly elect the Lok Sabha members. As per article 326 of the Constitution of India, elections to the House of the People shall be on the basis of adult suffrage.

Q 10. How many members are elected by the electors of a Parliamentary Constituency?
Ans. One
Each Parliamentary Constituency will elect only one member.

Q 11. Was this the position from the very beginning?
Ans. No
Prior to 1962, there were both single - member and multi member constituencies. These multi - member constituencies used to elect more than one member. The multimember constituencies were abolished in 1962.

Q 12. When was the 1st general election held in India?
Ans. 1951-52
The first general election was held in India during 1951 - 1952.