Composition of the Council of States
included in editionWhat does this mean?
Rajya Sabha includes representatives of States and Union territories and twelve members nominated for the specified fields of knowledge or experience. The Article sets constitutional composition and election principles; the Fourth Schedule supplies allocations.
The Union's President, ministers, Parliament, Supreme Court and Comptroller and Auditor-General.
Why is this provision here?
It provides a second parliamentary chamber representing States and Union territories and the specified nominated expertise.
This Article number belongs to the original constitutional framework, but its present wording may include later amendments or substitutions. A provision-specific original Assembly debate has not been verified here. The explanation of function above is editorial inference from the text, not an attributed single motive of the framers. The original draft-making archive is a research resource, not proof of a particular historical reason. The later amendment records linked below document changes affecting this Article; their Bill statements explain those proposals, not necessarily every original clause or the complete present legal outcome.
The explanation of purpose is an editorial reading of the provision. A drafting motive is attributed only where a linked historical source supports it.
Limits, exceptions & reading carefully
Educational summary of the linked source text. Exceptions, provisos, implementing laws and applicable judgments must be read before applying it to a real case.
Read the official constitutional text
Source-page notes · may concern neighbouring Articles
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Thirty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1974, s. 3, for "The Council of States" (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).
2. The words "Subject to the provisions of para. 4 of the Tenth Schedule," omitted by the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 5 (w.e.f. 26-4-1975).
3. Added by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
1. The words and letters "specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule" omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
2. Subs. by s. 3, ibid, for "States specified in Part C of First Schedule" (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
Extracted from the Legislative Department’s May 2026 edition. Page footnotes may refer to neighbouring provisions; check their markers in the PDF. Inclusion in this edition does not by itself establish commencement or judicial effect.