The Union Legislature in India consists of the President and two Houses - the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The Rajya Sabha has 250 members, of which 238 represent States and Union Territories and 12 are nominated by the President. Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly by state legislative assemblies through proportional representation. The Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution and one-third of its members retire every two years. The Lok Sabha has up to 530 elected members representing territorial constituencies in States, up to 20 members representing Union Territories, and up to 2 nominated members from the Anglo-Indian community.
2. Legislature of the Union, which is
called Parliament, consists of the
President and two Houses, known as
Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and
House of the People (Lok Sabha). Each
House has to meet within six months
of its previous sitting. A joint sitting of
two Houses can be held in certain
cases.
3. Rajya Sabha
The Constitution provides that the Rajya Sabha
shall consist of 250 members, of which 12
members shall be nominated by the President
from amongst persons having special
knowledge or practical experience in respect of
such matters as literature, science, art and
social service, and not more than 238
representatives of the States and of the Union
Territories.
4. Rajya Sabha :
Elections to the Rajya Sabha are indirect;
members representing States are elected by
elected members of legislative assemblies of
the States in accordance with the system of
proportional representation by means of the
single transferable vote, and those representing
Union Territories are chosen in such manner as
Parliament may by law prescribe. The Rajya
Sabha is not subject to dissolution, One-third of
its members retire every second year.
5. *Rajya Sabha, at present, has 245
seats.
*Of these, 233 members represent
the States and the Union
Territories,
* 12 members are nominated by
the President.
6. Lok Sabha, shall consist of—
(a) not more than five hundred and thirty
members chosen by direct election from
territorial constituencies in the States;
(b) not more than twenty members to
represent the Union territories, chosen in
such manner as Parliament may by law
provide; and
7. c) not more than two members of the
Anglo-Indian Community nominated
by the President, if he is of opinion that
that community is not adequately
represented in Lok Sabha.
[Articles 81 & 331]
8. Presently the Actual composition of Lok Sabha :
(i) From States ........................................... 530
members (all elected)
(ii) From Union Territories ...........................
13 members (all elected)
(iii) Anglo-Indians .......................................... 2
members (if nominated by the President under
Article 331 of the Constitution)
Total ....................................................... 545
members