Consider the following statements: 1. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are not the members of that House. 2. While the nominated members of the two Houses of the Parliament have no voting right in the presidential election, they have the right to vote in the election of the Vice President. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Contents17
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (B) 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong.
While the Chairman of Rajya Sabha (the Vice-President) is NOT a member of Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Chairman IS elected from among the members of Rajya Sabha.
So the statement says 'both are not members' — this is incorrect because the Deputy Chairman is a member.
Statement 2 is correct.
In the Presidential election, only elected members of Parliament and State Legislatures vote — nominated members have NO voting right.
But in the Vice-Presidential election, ALL members of both Houses of Parliament vote, including nominated members.
This is a key distinction UPSC tests frequently.
Presidential elections exclude nominated MPs from voting, but Vice-Presidential elections include all MPs including nominated ones - this distinction creates frequent exam confusion.
The Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha must be elected from among its members, while the Chairman (Vice-President) is not a member of the House.
UPSC tests whether students can distinguish between these two different electoral processes and the membership status of presiding officers.
Rajya Sabha Presiding Officers
Indian Polity Chairman Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha Presiding Officers: Chairman vs Deputy Chairman
Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the Vice President — NOT a member of the House
Deputy Chairman is elected FROM among the members of Rajya Sabha
Deputy Chairman serves for 5 years or until ceasing to be a member
Key Constitutional Setup
The Rajya Sabha has two presiding officers with completely different constitutional positions. Understanding their membership status is crucial for UPSC questions.
Chairman vs Deputy Chairman
Aspect | Chairman | Deputy Chairman |
|---|---|---|
Identity | Vice President of India | Elected from RS members |
Member of RS? | NO - presides but not member | YES - must be RS member |
Election | Elected by Parliament + State Legislatures | Elected by RS members only |
Term | 5 years | 5 years or till membership ends |
Removal | Impeachment like President | Simple resolution by RS |
Casting Vote | Yes, when tie | Yes, when Chairman absent |
Question Connection
Statement 1 claimed both Chairman and Deputy Chairman are not members — this is the trap. Only Chairman (Vice President) is not a member.
Trap: Both presiding officers treated as non-members — only Chairman is non-member
Confusion: Deputy Chairman's dual role as member + presiding officer
Mix-up: Lok Sabha Speaker is elected from members, RS Chairman is not
Presidential vs Vice-Presidential Elections
Indian Polity nominated members voting right presidential election Vice President
Voting Rights: Presidential vs Vice-Presidential Elections
Presidential Election: Only elected members vote — nominated members excluded
Vice-Presidential Election: ALL Parliament members vote — including nominated
12 nominated RS members and 2 nominated LS members can vote for VP only
Electoral College Difference
The electoral college composition differs drastically between these two elections, creating a key UPSC trap around nominated members' voting rights.
Who Can Vote?
Voters | Presidential Election | Vice-Presidential Election |
|---|---|---|
Elected MPs | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Nominated MPs (14 total) | ✗ NO | ✓ YES |
Elected MLAs | ✓ Yes | ✗ NO |
Nominated MLAs | ✗ NO | ✗ NO |
MLCs (Legislative Councils) | ✗ NO | ✗ NO |
Electoral College Logic
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Presidential Election**
**Federal character** — needs State + Centre balance, so only **elected** representatives`"]
s2["`**Vice-Presidential Election**
**Parliamentary officer** — only Parliament votes, **all** members including nominated`"]
s3["`**Result**
VP election has **smaller but inclusive** electoral college`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3Question Connection
Statement 2 correctly identified this distinction — nominated MPs vote for VP but not President. This is tested frequently as candidates mix up the two electoral colleges.
Trap: Assuming same voting rules for President and VP elections
Reversal: Mixing up who excludes nominated members (President excludes, VP includes)
Numbers confusion: 14 nominated MPs total (12 RS + 2 LS) vote only for VP
State angle: MLAs vote for President but have no role in VP election
Nominated Members of Parliament
Indian Polity nominated members
Nominated Members: Numbers, Criteria & Powers
12 nominated members in Rajya Sabha for special knowledge/experience
2 nominated members in Lok Sabha from Anglo-Indian community (till 2030)
All nominated members have full legislative powers except in some elections
Constitutional Provision
Article 80 and Article 331 provide for nominated members to bring specialized expertise and ensure minority representation in Parliament.
Nomination Details
House | Number | Authority | Criteria | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rajya Sabha | 12 | President | Literature, science, art, social service | Always active |
Lok Sabha | 2 | President | Anglo-Indian community | Extended till 2030 |
Powers & Restrictions
# Nominated MPs Powers
## Full Powers
- Legislative voting
- Question Hour
- Committee membership
- VP election voting
## Restrictions
- No Presidential election vote
- Cannot be Ministers (convention)Numbers trap: 12 + 2 = 14 total nominated MPs across both Houses
Authority confusion: President nominates both RS and LS nominated members
Timeline: Anglo-Indian reservation extended from 2020 to 2030 by 104th Amendment
Powers mix-up: They vote for VP but not President — opposite of what seems logical
Constitutional Elections in India
Indian Polity presidential election Vice President
Constitutional Elections: President, VP & Key Differences
President: Largest electoral college with proportional representation system
Vice President: Parliament-only electoral college with simple majority
Both use secret ballot but different vote value calculations
Indirect Election System
India uses indirect elections for constitutional posts to balance federal character (President) and parliamentary democracy (Vice President). Each election reflects different constitutional principles.
Electoral Systems Comparison
Aspect | President | Vice President |
|---|---|---|
Electoral College | Parliament + All State Assemblies | Parliament only |
Voting System | Proportional Representation + STV | Simple Majority |
Vote Value | Weighted (State parity maintained) | Equal (one member = one vote) |
Nominated Members | Cannot vote | Can vote |
Quorum | 50% of electoral college | No specific quorum |
Disputes | Supreme Court | Supreme Court |
Vote Value Calculation (President)
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Step 1**
Calculate **MLA vote value** = State population ÷ (Total MLAs × 1000)`"]
s2["`**Step 2**
Calculate **total value** of all MLA votes across states`"]
s3["`**Step 3**
Calculate **MP vote value** = Total MLA vote value ÷ Total MPs`"]
s4["`**Result**
Ensures **parity between states** and between **Parliament vs States**`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4Electoral college confusion: President involves States, VP only Parliament
Vote value: President has weighted votes, VP has equal votes per member
Nominated member trap: They participate in VP but not Presidential election
Quorum mix-up: Presidential election needs 50% attendance, VP election doesn't specify