SSC
The Rajya Sabha held its first sitting on:
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Answer: Option B — 13 May 1952
Detailed Solution
The Rajya Sabha, then called the Council of States, was first constituted on 3 April 1952 and held its first sitting on 13 May 1952.
Background:
- After the Constitution came into force in 1950, the Provisional Parliament worked until the first general elections.
- The first general elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies were held between October 1951 and February 1952.
- After the state assemblies were elected, their members elected the members of the Council of States.
- The Council of States was then constituted, and its first session began in May 1952.
Name change:
- On 23 August 1954, the Chairman announced in the House that the Council of States would be called the Rajya Sabha in Hindi.
- Similarly, the House of the People came to be called the Lok Sabha.
Nature of the Rajya Sabha:
- It is a permanent House and is not subject to dissolution.
- One-third of its members retire every second year, and each member has a term of six years.
- It represents the states and the Union territories.
Composition:
- The maximum strength is 250, of which 238 can be representatives of states and Union territories, and 12 are nominated by the President for their special knowledge in literature, science, art and social service.
- The present strength is 245.
Special powers of the Rajya Sabha:
- It can authorise Parliament to make a law on a subject in the State List in the national interest.
- It can approve emergency proclamations when the Lok Sabha has been dissolved.
Presiding officer:
The Vice-President of India is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Why not the other options?
- ✗26 November 1949 is the date the Constitution was adopted.
- ✗3 April 1952 is the date on which the Council of States was first constituted.
- ✗15 August 1952 is not linked with the Rajya Sabha.
Quick tip
Remember: Rajya Sabha constituted on 3 April 1952; first sitting on 13 May 1952; Hindi name adopted in 1954.
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Parliament — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Parliament, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the Parliament of India: the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, their composition, powers and officers, sessions, the law-making process, money bills, joint sittings, parliamentary committees, and devices such as question hour, zero hour and the various motions. Typical questions ask about the maximum strength of each house, the minimum age for members, who certifies a money bill (the Speaker), who presides over a joint sitting, and which committee is chaired by a member of the opposition (the Public Accounts Committee, by convention). Note the special powers of the Rajya Sabha under Articles 249 and 312. Practise the Parliament questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.