Consider the following statements with reference to the Rajya Sabha:

1. Delhi and Puducherry are the only Union Territories that have representation in Rajya Sabha. 

2. The Constitution has not fixed the term of office of members of the Rajya Sabha. 

3. Seats for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the Rajya Sabha are reserved on the basis of their population. 

Which of the statements given above are correct? 

a) 1 and 3 only 

b) 2 only 

c) 1 and 2 only 

d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: 

• The representatives of states in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of state legislative assemblies. 
• The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. 
• The representatives of each union territory in the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by members of an electoral college specially constituted for the purpose. 
• Currently out of the eight union territories, only Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir have representation in Rajya Sabha. 
• The Constitution has not fixed the term of office of members of the Rajya Sabha and left it to the Parliament. 
• Accordingly, the Parliament in the Representation of the People Act (1951) provided that the term of office of a member of the Rajya Sabha shall be six years. 
• The Constitution provides for the reservation of seats for scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha on the basis of population ratios. 
• There is no concept of reservation for SCs/STs in the Rajya Sabha. 

Ans: (b)