Four Eminent Persons Nominated to Rajya Sabha

President Droupadi Murmu, using powers under Article 80(1)(a) and 80(3) of the Constitution, nominated four eminent individuals to the Rajya Sabha to fill vacancies caused by retirement of earlier nominated members.

New Rajya Sabha Nominees & Their Contributions:

1. Harsh Vardhan Shringla:

• Former Foreign Secretary of India.
• Served as Chief Coordinator of G20 Summit 2023.
•  Joined BJP post-retirement.
• Noted diplomat and predecessor to EAM S. Jaishankar.

• Expertise:Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Multilateral Coordination.

2.Ujjwal Deorao Nikam:

• Special Public Prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and other high-profile terrorism/criminal cases.
•  Contested 2024 Lok Sabha elections (Mumbai North Central, BJP) but lost.
• oRecognized for legal acumen, constitutional commitment, and justice delivery

3. C. Sadanandan Master (Kerala):

•  BJP leader and former teacher.
• Victim of political violence in 1994 (lost both legs in an attack).
• Transitioned from Left background to RSS-BJP.
•  Known for youth empowerment and grassroots work.

4. Dr. Meenakshi Jain

• Historian, academic (University of Delhi), and Padma Shri awardee.
• Known for books on Indian civilisation, education under British rule, and cultural

identity.

• Seen as part of the ideological revival of Indigenous historical narratives.

Article 80-Composition of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha)

The Constitution of India lays down the structure, maximum strength, and the methods of selection for members of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

This is detailed in Article 80 of Part V (The Union), which specifically deals with the Union Legislature.

The article ensures the representation of States and Union Territories in the Parliament of India.

Article 80(1) – Maximum Strength

The Rajya Sabha shall consist of not more than 250 members.

These 250 members are divided into two categories:

• 12 members nominated by the President.
•  Not more than 238 representatives of the States and of the Union Territories.

Article 80(1)(a) – Presidential Nomination

This clause empowers the President of India to nominate a specific number of members to the Rajya Sabha.

The President can nominate up to 12 members.

These nominated members are appointed by the President, rather than being elected.

Their nominations are made based on the advice of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet).

Purpose: The intent behind this provision is to ensure that India’s Upper House includes non-political individuals of eminence.

•  These individuals are drawn from various walks of life.
•  Their inclusion is to enrich parliamentary discussions with their domain-specific expertise.

Article 80(3) – Criteria for Nomination

This clause specifies the qualifications for individuals who may be nominated under clause (1)(a).

Nominees must be persons possessing:

•  Special knowledge or
• Practical experience in certain designated fields.

These specified fields are:

• Literature
• Science
• Art
•  Social Service

Constitutional Idea:

This selection of fields reflects India’s cultural and intellectual diversity.

It also highlights the recognized need for experts and thinkers to contribute to the process of policymaking.