5 points to know about 'Rajya Sabha'

 The Rajya Sabha (RS) or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India while Lok Sabha is the lower house of the parliament.

Here are 5 facts about Rajya Sabha:
 
1. The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper place of the Parliament of India. Participation is restricted to 250 parts, 12 of whom are designated by the President of India for their commitments to craftsmanship, writing, science, and social administrations. Parts sit for six-year terms, with one third of the parts resigning at regular intervals.

2. The Rajya Sabha meets in ceaseless sessions and, not at all like the Lok Sabha, the lower place of Parliament, is not subject to disintegration. The Rajya Sabha has equivalent balance in every aspect of enactment with Lok Sabha, aside from in the region of supply.

3. For anybody to turn into a part of the Rajya Sabha, he/she must be no less than 30 years old. 

• Article 84 (Part V.—The Union) of Indian Constitution sets qualifications for being a member of Lok Sabha, which are as follows:-

1. He/She should be a citizen of India, and must subscribe before the Election Commission of India an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule of Indian Constitution.
2. He/She, in the case of a seat in the House of the People, should not be less than twenty-five years of age; and
3. He/She possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.

• However, a member can be disqualified of being a member of Parliament:-

1. If he/she holds office of profit;
2. If he/she is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court
3. If he/she is an undischarged insolvent;
4. If he/she is not a citizen of India, or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State, or is under any acknowledgment of allegiance or adherence to a foreign State;
5. If he/she is violating party discipline (as per Tenth schedule of the constitution); disqualified under Representation of People Act.

 4. Special Powers of Rajya Sabha

• To pass a resolution under article 249 of the Constitution enabling Parliament to legislate on any subject enumerated in the State List.
• To pass a resolution under article 312 of the Constitution enabling Parliament to create one or more All India Services common to the Union and the States.
• If a proclamation is issued for imposing national emergency(article 352)or failure of Constitutional machinery in a State (article 356)or financial emergency (article 360), at a time when Lok Sabha has been dissolved then the proclamation remains effective even if it is approved by Rajya Sabha alone.

5. Rajya Sabha Television (RSTV) is a 24*7 parliamentary TV channel fully owned and operated by the Rajya Sabha. The channel is aimed at providing in-depth coverage and analysis of parliamentary affairs especially the functioning of and developments related to Rajya Sabha.