| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Sansad / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Rajya Sabha / Council of States |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Lok Sabha / House of the People
|
| LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
| Electoral Law |
17 July 1951
Last amendment: 01/08/1996 |
| Mode of designation |
indirectly elected 233
appointed 12 |
| Constituencies |
Single and multi-member constituencies (1 to 31 seats, based on population) representing federated States and Union Territories. |
| Voting system |
Proportional:
Indirect election by the legislative assemblies of the States and Union Territories on the basis of proportional representation and single transferable vote. Each elector indicates his order of preference among the candidates.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections.
Vote is not compulsory. |
| Voter requirements |
- age: 25 years
- Indian citizenship
- elected member of State legislative assembly or member of electoral college of Union Territory concerned |
| CANDIDATES |
| Eligibility |
Qualified electors
- age: 30 years
- Indian citizenship
- residence in State or Union Territory where running
- ineligibility: undischarged bankruptcy, allegiance to a foreign State, insanity, disqualification under parliamentary law or Constitution |
| Incompatibilities |
- members of the armed forces
- certain offices of profit (e.g. public offices)
- government contractors
|
| Candidacy requirements |
- nomination by 10% of the relevant electoral college/elected members or 10 members, whichever is less
- deposit of 10,000 rupees (5,000 rupees for those from Scheduled Castes or Tribes), reimbursed if the candidate obtains more than 1/6 of the votes prescribed as sufficient to secure the return of a candidate |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module
