Biennial Elections to the Council of States
Context:
The Election Commission of India has announced biennial elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states.
The polls and the counting of votes are scheduled for March 16, 2026, to fill the vacancies of members retiring in early April 2026.
Historical Background of the Council of States:
The origin of India's second chamber can be traced to the Montague-Chelmsford Report of 1918.
The Government of India Act, 1919, provided for the creation of a 'Council of State' with a restricted franchise, which came into existence in 1921.
Initially, the Governor-General served as its ex-officio President.
The subsequent Government of India Act, 1935, made hardly any changes to the composition of this second chamber.
Biennial/Bye-election:
Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and is not subject to dissolution. However, one-third Members of Rajya Sabha retire after every second year.
A member who is elected for a full term serves for a period of six years.
The election held to fill a vacancy arising otherwise than by retirement of a member on the expiration of his term of office is called ‘Bye-election’.
A member elected in a bye-election remains member for the remainder of the term of the member who had resigned or died or disqualified to be member of the House under the Tenth Schedule.
Electoral College:
Members of the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected.
The electoral college consists strictly of the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and two Union Territories.
The twelve members nominated by the President are typically individuals possessing special knowledge or practical experience in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service.