The Union Parliament is the supreme legislative body in the country. With reference to the Indian Parliament answer the following questions:
The Rajya Sabha is called a Permanent House. Explain this statement.
Topic: Rajya Sabha as a permanent House
Answer
The Rajya Sabha is called a permanent House because it is never dissolved. Unlike the Lok Sabha, which is dissolved at the end of its five-year term or earlier, the Rajya Sabha continues without a break.
Its members are elected for six years, and one-third of them retire every two years, fresh members being elected in their place. So the House is renewed in stages and always has two-thirds of its membership continuing.
This gives continuity to the work of the legislature: even when the Lok Sabha stands dissolved and a general election is being held, the Rajya Sabha remains in existence.
Three marks, so give three elements: that it is never dissolved, the mechanism (six-year term with one-third retiring every two years), and the purpose (continuity). The mechanism is what earns the middle mark and is the part candidates most often omit — saying only "it is never dissolved" explains nothing. A useful comparison: the Rajya Sabha is to the Lok Sabha what the House of Lords is to the House of Commons in continuity, though not in composition.