Which one of the following statements is correct ?

1. Structure of the Indian Parliament (basic)

At its simplest level, the Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body of our country. It is founded on the principle of bicameralism, which means the legislature consists of two distinct houses. However, a common point of confusion is thinking that Parliament only consists of these two houses. In reality, the Parliament of India is composed of three parts: the President, the Lok Sabha (House of the People), and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 5, p.102. While the President is not a member of either house, no bill can become law without their formal assent.
The two houses serve very different roles in our democracy. The Lok Sabha is the 'Lower House' and represents the people of India directly; its members are chosen through universal adult franchise in general elections. In contrast, the Rajya Sabha is the 'Upper House' and represents the interests of the States and Union Territories. This house is elected indirectly by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Chapter 5, p.156. This structure ensures a balance between the national popular will and the specific interests of the various states that make up the Indian Union.

Feature	Lok Sabha (Lower House)	Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
Representation	The people of India directly	The States and Union Territories
Election Method	Direct election by citizens	Indirect election by MLAs Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Chapter 5, p.134
Territorial Link	Candidates can contest from any state regardless of residence	Members are specifically chosen to represent a particular state

Sources: Indian Constitution at Work, Legislature, p.102; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive, p.156; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Election to the Rajya Sabha, p.134

2. Composition of Rajya Sabha (basic)

The Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States, is the Upper House of India's Parliament, designed to represent the interests of the states and union territories in the federal structure. According to Article 80 of the Constitution, the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is fixed at 250 members. However, currently, the House has 245 members. This composition is divided into two distinct categories: elected representatives and nominated members Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Constitutional Prescriptions, p.454.

The majority of members are elected indirectly by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies (MLAs). Unlike the Lok Sabha, where you vote directly, here your representatives vote on your behalf. The election follows the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote (STV). Interestingly, seats are not distributed equally among states; instead, they are allocated based on population. This is why a large state like Uttar Pradesh has many more seats than a smaller state like Goa. These specific seat allocations are listed in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.223.

Category	Maximum Strength (Art. 80)	Current Strength
Representatives of States & UTs	238	233 (225 States + 8 UTs)
Nominated Members	12	12
Total	250	245

Beyond elected members, the President nominates 12 members to the House. These individuals are chosen for their special knowledge or practical experience in four specific fields: Literature, Science, Art, and Social Service. This allows the nation to benefit from the expertise of distinguished citizens who might not want to go through the heat and dust of direct political elections NCERT Class XI, Indian Constitution at Work, Legislature, p.106.

Sources: Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.223; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Constitutional Prescriptions, p.454; NCERT Class XI, Indian Constitution at Work, Legislature, p.106

3. Composition of Lok Sabha (basic)

The Lok Sabha, or the 'House of the People,' is the lower house of India's Parliament and serves as the primary forum representing the collective will of the Indian citizenry. To ensure this house is truly representative, its composition is governed by the principles of direct election and proportionality.

Currently, the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is fixed at 550 members. This includes 530 members representing the States and up to 20 members representing the Union Territories Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliament, p.223. At present, however, the house operates with 543 members (524 from States and 19 from Union Territories). Every member is elected directly by the people through Universal Adult Franchise, which grants the right to vote to every citizen above 18 years of age, ensuring the value of every individual's vote is equal Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), LEGISLATURE, p.106.

To maintain fairness across the country, the Constitution mandates Uniformity of Representation in two ways:

• Between States: Seats are allotted to each state so that the ratio between the number of seats and the state's population is consistent across India (this rule is relaxed for small states with a population below 6 million).
• Within a State: Each state is divided into territorial constituencies such that the ratio between the population of a constituency and the number of seats (usually one) is uniform throughout that state Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliament, p.224.

Interestingly, to prevent states with successful population control measures from losing political weight, the number of seats for each state has been frozen based on the 1971 Census. This freeze will continue until the results of the first census taken after 2026 are published, as mandated by the 84th Amendment Act Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Delimitation Commission of India, p.530.

Feature	Lok Sabha (House of the People)	Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
Election Method	Directly elected by the people.	Indirectly elected by State MLAs.
Residence Rule	Candidate can contest from any state in India.	Traditionally expected to be a resident of the representing state.
Representation	Represents the people of India as a whole.	Represents the interests of the specific States/UTs.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliament, p.223-224; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Delimitation Commission of India, p.530; Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), LEGISLATURE, p.106

4. The Vice-President: Office and Eligibility (intermediate)

The office of the Vice-President of India is the second-highest constitutional office in the country, ranked immediately below the President. This role was designed primarily to ensure political continuity—acting as a bridge so that the Indian State is never without a head during unexpected vacancies Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Vice President, p.206. Under Article 63, the Constitution mandates the existence of this office, while Article 64 establishes the Vice-President as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. This 'ex-officio' status means that whoever is elected as Vice-President automatically becomes the presiding officer of the Upper House, though they do not perform these duties while acting as the President Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.233. To be eligible for this prestigious office, a candidate must satisfy four primary constitutional requirements. First, they must be a citizen of India. Second, they must have completed 35 years of age. Third, they must be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha; this is a key distinction from the President, who must be qualified for election to the Lok Sabha. Finally, they must not hold any office of profit under the government Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Vice-President, p.204. Interestingly, serving as a Minister, Governor, or even as the sitting President or Vice-President does not count as holding an 'office of profit' for the purpose of eligibility. Once elected, the Vice-President serves a term of five years. However, the office can be vacated earlier through resignation or removal. A unique procedural detail to remember is the direction of resignation: while the President submits their resignation to the Vice-President, the Vice-President submits theirs to the President Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Constitutional Prescriptions, p.461.

Sources: Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Vice President, p.206; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.233; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Vice-President, p.204; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Constitutional Prescriptions, p.461

5. Ministerial Appointments and Eligibility (intermediate)

In the Indian parliamentary system, the Executive is drawn directly from the Legislature. At the Union level, Article 75 dictates that the Prime Minister is appointed by the President, while other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister Laxmikanth, Central Council of Ministers, p.213. A similar framework exists at the State level under Article 164, where the Governor appoints the Chief Minister and other ministers Laxmikanth, Chief Minister, p.328. To prevent the creation of excessively large cabinets for political appeasement, the 91st Amendment Act of 2003 capped the total number of ministers (including the PM/CM) at 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha (at the Union) or the Legislative Assembly (at the State).

One of the most unique features of ministerial eligibility is the six-month grace period. A person who is not a member of either House of Parliament can be appointed as a minister; however, they must secure a seat in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha within six consecutive months of their appointment. If they fail to do so, they must vacate their ministerial office D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, p.227. Furthermore, under the 10th Schedule, any member disqualified on the grounds of defection is also barred from being appointed as a minister until they are re-elected Laxmikanth, Central Council of Ministers, p.213.

Once appointed, a minister enjoys specific procedural rights. A minister who is a member of the Rajya Sabha has the right to speak and participate in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha (and vice versa). However, a crucial limitation exists: a minister can only vote in the House of which they are a formal member Laxmikanth, Central Council of Ministers, p.215. Additionally, to maintain the independence of legislative oversight, a minister is ineligible to be a member of any Departmentally Related Standing Committee (DRSC). If an existing committee member is elevated to a ministerial post, they must immediately resign from that committee Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.274.

Feature	Union (Article 75)	State (Article 164)
Appointing Authority	President	Governor
Max Size (91st Amendment)	15% of Lok Sabha	15% of Legislative Assembly
Non-Member Eligibility	Must join Parliament within 6 months	Must join State Legislature within 6 months

Sources: Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Central Council of Ministers, p.213, 215; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Chief Minister, p.328; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.274; D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, The Union Executive, p.227

6. Representation of People Act (RPA) 1951: The Residency Rule (exam-level)

To understand how our Parliament is composed, we must look at who is allowed to sit in its two chambers. While the Constitution sets the broad framework, it empowers Parliament to add specific qualifications. This was done through the Representation of People Act (RPA) 1951. One of the most significant and debated rules within this Act is the Residency Rule, which dictates where a candidate must be registered to vote before they can run for office.

Historically, there was a sharp distinction between the two houses. For the Lok Sabha, a candidate only needs to be registered as an elector in any parliamentary constituency in India to contest from anywhere in the country. However, for the Rajya Sabha, the law originally required a candidate to be an 'ordinarily resident' (and thus a registered voter) in the specific state they sought to represent. The logic was that since the Rajya Sabha is the 'Council of States,' its members should have a direct territorial link to the state they represent Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.226.

This changed significantly in 2003. Parliament amended the RPA 1951 to dispense with the residency requirement for the Rajya Sabha. Today, just like the Lok Sabha, a person can contest a Rajya Sabha seat from any state, provided they are registered as a voter in any parliamentary constituency in India Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.226. This change was challenged in the Supreme Court, but in the landmark case of Kuldip Nayar vs. Union of India (2006), the court upheld the amendment, ruling that the Indian federal structure does not strictly require a Rajya Sabha member to reside in the state they represent Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Basic Structure of the Constitution, p.130.

It is crucial to note that while this requirement was relaxed for Parliament, it remains strict for State Legislatures. To be elected to a State Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Council (MLC), a person must be an elector for an assembly constituency within that specific state Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, State Legislature, p.337.

Feature	Lok Sabha Candidate	Rajya Sabha Candidate	State MLA Candidate
Elector Status	Registered anywhere in India	Registered anywhere in India	Registered within that State
Current Rule	No residency required	Residency waived since 2003	Residency in State required

Sources: Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.226; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Basic Structure of the Constitution, p.130; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, State Legislature, p.337

7. Lok Sabha vs. Rajya Sabha: Comparative Election Procedures (exam-level)

To understand the architecture of the Indian Parliament, we must look at how the two houses are populated. The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is designed to reflect the direct will of the citizens, while the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) acts as the representative body for the constituent units of the federation. This difference in purpose leads to distinct election procedures. The Lok Sabha employs the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins Indian Constitution at Work, ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION, p.76. In contrast, the Rajya Sabha uses Proportional Representation by means of the Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV). This indirect method allows even smaller political groups and minority interests to find a voice in the legislature, as seats are distributed in proportion to the strength of parties within the State Legislative Assemblies Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.225.
A significant procedural nuance lies in the territorial linkage of the candidates. For the Lok Sabha, India is treated as one large democratic space for candidates; a person can contest from any constituency in the country, regardless of which state they reside in. However, the Rajya Sabha is fundamentally about representing States. Its members are elected indirectly by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) Introduction to the Constitution of India, The Union Legislature, p.244. Traditionally, this reinforced a strong link where a candidate was expected to be a resident of the state they sought to represent, highlighting the Rajya Sabha's role as the protector of regional interests at the Union level Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Chapter 5, p.134.
Regardless of these procedural differences, the integrity of both elections is maintained by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ECI exercises full control over the administrative machinery during the election process, ensuring that whether an election is direct (Lok Sabha) or indirect (Rajya Sabha), it remains free and fair Indian Constitution at Work, ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION, p.70.

Feature	Lok Sabha	Rajya Sabha
Nature of Election	Direct (by the people)	Indirect (by elected MLAs)
Voting System	First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)	Proportional Representation (PR-STV)
Candidature Rule	Can contest from any State/UT	Elected to represent a specific State

Sources: Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION, p.70, 76; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., Parliament, p.225; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science, Class VIII. NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System, p.134; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), The Union Legislature, p.244

8. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

This question brings together the building blocks of Parliamentary Structure and the Federal Principle. By now, you understand that the Rajya Sabha is designed as the Council of States, serving as a platform for regional interests, while the Lok Sabha represents the House of the People. The core reasoning behind Option (C) lies in this territorial distinction. While a Lok Sabha candidate can contest from any constituency across India to represent the national interest, the Rajya Sabha’s indirect election process by State MLAs creates a specific territorial linkage. As noted in Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science, Class VIII. NCERT (Revised ed 2025), this means a candidate is traditionally expected to be ordinarily resident in the State they represent, ensuring the House maintains its character as a representative body of the federating units.

To master UPSC questions, you must learn to spot common traps used to distract candidates. Option (A) uses the extreme word "All," which is a red flag; it overlooks the 12 nominated members who are appointed by the President rather than elected by State Assemblies. Option (B) creates a false requirement; while a Vice-President must be eligible for election to the Rajya Sabha, they do not need to be an active member to contest the office. Finally, Option (D) fails because the Constitution does not explicitly prohibit nominated members from holding ministerial posts; they enjoy the same eligibility as elected members once they take their seat. By eliminating these technical inaccuracies, you are left with the procedural logic of the federal system in Option (C).