Sambhav-2025

Approach In introduction, define the role of Rajya Sabha as a revising chamber and its significance. Explain how it lacks direct democratic legitimacy in comparison to Lok Sabha. Critically evaluate its strengths, weaknesses with relevant examples and data. Provide a balanced conclusion on its necessity and areas of reform.

Introduction

The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) serves as the upper house of the Indian Parliament, playing a crucial role in legislative review and federal representation. However, unlike the directly elected Lok Sabha, its members are indirectly elected, raising concerns about its democratic legitimacy. Despite this, its role as a deliberative and revising chamber makes it an essential pillar of India’s parliamentary democracy.

Body

Strengths of Rajya Sabha as an Essential Revising Chamber:

• Legislative Revision & Quality Control:
  • Acts as a second chamber to review hasty decisions of Lok Sabha, ensuring detailed scrutiny of bills.
  • Example: In 2002, Rajya Sabha insisted on improvements in the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) before passing it.
• Federal Representation & State Interests:
  • Provides representation to states and union territories in national decision-making.
  • Prevents majoritarian tendencies by ensuring smaller states have a voice.
  • Example: Discussions on GST implementation saw Rajya Sabha debating state concerns extensively.
• Permanent House Ensuring Continuity:
  • Unlike Lok Sabha, which dissolves every five years, Rajya Sabha is a permanent body with one-third of its members retiring every two years.
  • Ensures institutional memory and prevents abrupt policy discontinuities.
• Space for Experts & Eminent Personalities:
  • Allows nomination of 12 distinguished individuals from fields like science, literature, arts, and social service (Article 80).
  • Enhances quality debates and policy formulation.
  • Example: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Rukmini Devi Arundale, Sachin Tendulkar contributed significantly as nominated members.
• Resists Populism & Electoral Pressures:
  • Members are not directly elected, allowing them to engage in rational policy making without worrying about vote-bank politics.
  • Example: Rajya Sabha’s role in blocking the dilution of Land Acquisition Act (2015) protected the interests of farmers.

Weaknesses of Rajya Sabha: Lacking Direct Democratic Legitimacy:

• Indirect Election Mechanism:
  • Members are elected by MLAs of State Assemblies, leading to political bargaining and undue influence by ruling parties.
  • Example: The cross-voting and horse-trading allegations in Rajya Sabha elections reduce its democratic credibility.
• Disproportionate Representation:
  • Rajya Sabha does not follow proportional representation of population. Smaller states have equal representation despite lower population.
  • Example: Uttar Pradesh (200M people) has 31 seats, while Sikkim (0.6M people) has 1 seat, distorting representation.
• Obstructionism & Political Stalemates:
  • Being a non-directly elected body, Rajya Sabha is sometimes used for political delays and obstruction rather than constructive debate.
  • Example: Women’s Reservation Bill (first introduced in 1996) remained stalled due to lack of consensus in Rajya Sabha until 2023.
• Lack of Financial Power:
  • Rajya Sabha cannot reject money bills (Article 110) and can only suggest amendments within 14 days, making its role weak in economic matters.
  • Example: The Aadhaar Act 2016 was passed as a Money Bill, bypassing Rajya Sabha’s scrutiny.
• Dominance of Political Parties Over Experts:
  • While Rajya Sabha is meant to provide expert opinion, it often serves as a rehabilitation ground for defeated politicians.
  • Example: Leaders like Arun Jaitley and Manmohan Singh entered politics via Rajya Sabha despite not contesting Lok Sabha elections.

Conclusion

Rajya Sabha remains an indispensable revising chamber, ensuring checks and balances in governance. However, its lack of direct democratic legitimacy and political misuse raise concerns about its effectiveness. While it protects federalism and prevents hasty decisions, reforms such as transparency in elections, limiting party influence, and enhancing accountability can strengthen its democratic credentials.