RS Chairman Nominates 4 Women MPs to the Panel of Vice-Chairperson | 22 Jul 2023

Source: IE

Why in News?

Rajya Sabha Chairman nominated four women parliamentarians to the panel of vice-chairpersons, giving women equal representation in the panel, for the first time in the history of the Rajya Sabha, even as the women’s reservation Bill, that was first introduced in 1996, remains pending.

  • Smt. S. Phangnon Konyak is the first ever woman from Nagaland to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
  • In another notable development, the Rajya Sabha Chair has become fully digital.

What is Panel of Vice Chairperson of Rajya Sabha?

  • Article 118(1) of the Constitution empowers each House of Parliament to make rules for regulating its Procedure and the Conduct of its business.
  • Under this provision of the Constitution, Rajya Sabha adopted rules for regulating its procedure and the conduct of its business in 1964.
  • Under the Rules of Rajya Sabha, the Chairman nominates from amongst the members a panel of vice-chairpersons holds office until a new panel of vice-chairpersons is nominated.
  • Any one of them can preside over the House in the absence of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman.
  • He/she has the same powers as the Chairman when so presiding.
  • When a member of the panel of vice-chairpersons is also not present, any other person as determined by the House acts as the Chairman.
  • A member of the panel of vice-chairpersons cannot preside over the House when the office of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman is vacant.
  • During such time, the Chairman's duties are to be performed by such members of the House as the President may appoint for the purpose.

What is the Status of Women’s Representation in Parliament?

  • The number of women members in the Lok Sabha has shown a regular increasing trend in the recent times. The number of Women MP’s in Lok Sabha has increased from 45 (8.3%) in 2004 (14th Lok Sabha) to 81 (14.9%) in 2019 (17th Lok Sabha).

UPSC Civil Services Exam, Previous Year Questions (PYQ)

Q. Consider the following statements: (2013)

  1. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are not the members of that House.
  2. While the nominated members of the two Houses of the Parliament have no voting right in the presidential election, they have the right to vote in the election of the Vice President.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

  • The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who presides over its sessions. But he is not a member of that house. However, the Deputy Chairman, who takes care of the day-to-day matters of the House in the absence of the Chairman, is elected from amongst the members of the Rajya Sabha. Thus, Deputy Chairman is the member of the House. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
  • The President of India is chosen by the Electoral College, which consists of the following members: elected members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States including NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry. Hence, the nominated members of the two Houses have no voting rights in the presidential election.
  • The Vice President is elected by the elected as well as nominated members of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.