Parliament of India

The Parliament of India is the highest legislative body in India. It includes the President and the two houses, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha. Within the bicameral parliament, the Rajya Sabha is popularly known as the Upper House, and the Lok Sabha is the Lower House.

The Rajya Sabha is the Council of States and the Lok Sabha is the House of the People.

The Rajya Sabha, as per the Constitution of India, shall have not more than 250 members, out of which 12 are nominated by the President of India. The 238 seats are allocated to the various states and the Union Territories in proportion to their respective population. Every state and UT, howsoever little population they might have, must be allocated at least one seat as per the Constitution of India. A member of the Rajya Sabha is elected by the Legislative Assembly of the state which the members is supposed to represent in the Rajya Sabha. The minimum age of the member must be at least 30 years. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body. It is not subject to dissolution. One third of its members retire every two years. The term of a member of the Rajya Sabha is six years.

The Lok Sabha is composed of the representative of the people who elect them by casting their votes as per the system of adult suffrage. As per the Constitution of India, maximum strength of the house may be 552. A total of 530 members are to be directly elected from various states, 20 members are to be elected from the Union Territories, and not more than two members are to be nominated by the President of India from the Anglo-Indian community, if in the opinion of the President the community is not adequately represented in the House. The term of the Lok Sabha is five years, and after the expiry of which the House is dissolved. The minimum age of a member of the Lok Sabha is 25 years.