• Four members have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha in the category of eminent persons nominated by the President of India.
• They are Olympic Sprinter T. Usha, music composer Ilaiyaraaja, philanthropist Veerendra Heggade of the Dharmasthala temple, and screenwriter V. Vijayendra Prasad, who wrote the blockbusters Bahubali and RRR.
• All four nominees are from the four southern States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh,
• Article 80 of the Indian Constitution specifies the Composition of the Council of States.
• Currently, it has 245 members, including 233 elected members and 12 nominated.
• As per the constitutional limit, the Upper House strength cannot exceed 250.
• Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated by the President of India in the field of art, literature, science and social service.
• Nominated members enjoy all powers and privileges which elected MPs are entitled to.
• They take part in proceedings of the House but are not allowed to vote in the election of the President.
• They have a voting right in the election of the Vice President.
• So far no nominated member has been inducted into the Council of Ministers.
• A nominated member can join a party within six months of taking his seat in the House.
• Every Rajya Sabha MP has a tenure of six years and elections to one-third seats are held every two years.
• A nominated member has also been exempted from filing his assets and liabilities under Section 75A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 which requires the elected member to do so within 90 days of his making or subscribing oath/affirmation.

Model Question

Q. With reference to the Indian Parliament, consider the following statements :

1. Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of India allocates seats in the Council of States.
2. A nominated member can join a party within six months of taking his seat in the House.
3. As of now, no nominated member has been inducted into the Council of Ministers.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer : D

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