Representatives of the States in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies through which system?

Explanation

Article 80(4) fixes both the electoral college and the voting method for Rajya Sabha seats representing the States. The voters are not ordinary citizens directly; they are the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies. The method is also not a simple plurality contest. It is proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, which is why option A is the precise constitutional formulation. The Election Commission of India's FAQ states the same point: Rajya Sabha members are elected by elected State Legislative Assembly members through proportional representation by the single transferable vote. This makes STV, not list PR or first-past-the-post, the operative system here.

Why the other options are wrong

• (B) The list system is a form of proportional representation, but Article 80(4) and the ECI FAQ specify proportional representation by the single transferable vote for Rajya Sabha elections.
• (C) First past the post is a simple plurality method associated with direct constituency contests, whereas Rajya Sabha members are chosen through proportional representation by single transferable vote.
• (D) Direct election by citizens is ruled out because the Rajya Sabha electoral college is the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies, not the general electorate.

Concept

This tests the constitutional design of indirect elections and the difference between Lok Sabha-style direct elections and Rajya Sabha representation. RAS repeatedly asks this because Article 80 links federal representation, electoral colleges and voting systems in one compact provision.

Source

• Election Commission of India

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