Rajya Sabha, or the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, will hold elections on Monday (March 16, 2026), with 37 seats going to the polls across 10 States, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body where one-third of the members retire every two years, each serving a six-year term. Article 80 of the Constitution allows a maximum of 250 members to it. Out of the 250, 238 are elected members who represent the States and Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir, which have Legislative Assemblies. The remaining 12 members are nominated by the President. Currently, the Upper House has 245 members.
How are members of the Rajya Sabha elected?
The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by MLAs or Members of Legislative Assemblies. Elected members of the State Assemblies or Vidhan Sabhas and electoral colleges of the Union Territories vote to elect people to the Rajya Sabha.
The President of India nominates 12 members with special knowledge or experience in fields such as art, literature, social services, etc.
