Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Constitution of India provides for the allocation of seats to the States in Rajya Sabha on the basis of the area of each State.
2. Constitution does not provide for allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to the Union Territories.
3. Constitution has not fixed the term of office of members of the Rajya Sabha and left it to the Parliament.
How many statements given above are correct?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Fourth Schedule to the Constitution provides for allocation of seats to the States and Union Territories in Rajya Sabha. The allocation of seats is made on the basis of the population (not on the basis of area) of each State.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to the states and union territories. The representatives of each union territory in the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by members of an electoral college specially constituted for the purpose. This election is also held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Out of the nine union territories, only three (Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir) have representation in Rajya Sabha.
Statement 3 is correct: The Rajya Sabha is a continuing chamber, that is, it is a permanent body and not subject to dissolution. However, one-third of its members retire every second year. 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.
