ICSE Class 10 · The Union Legislature

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term, Qualifications and Powers (ICSE Class 10 Civics)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Union Parliament has the President and two Houses. The Lok Sabha is the directly elected lower House (maximum 550 elected members, term five years, minimum age 25). The Rajya Sabha is the permanent upper House of at most 250 members (238 representatives and 12 nominated), chosen indirectly, with a six-year term for each member, one-third retiring every two years, and minimum age 30.

Compare the two Houses: Lok Sabha is directly elected for 5 years, age 25+; Rajya Sabha is indirectly elected, 6-year term, age 30+.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term and Powers

Federal setup in one paragraph. In a federation, power is shared between the Centre and the units. India does this through three lists: Union List (only Parliament legislates), State List (state legislatures) and Concurrent List (both, with the Union law winning in a clash). Subjects named in no list are residuary and go to Parliament. The Constitution is written and supreme, the judiciary settles Centre-state disputes, and the Rajya Sabha gives the states a voice at the Centre. Yet India is called a Union of States because the Centre is strong: one citizenship, one constitution and emergency powers.

1. The Lok Sabha (House of the People).

*Composition:* members are elected directly by voters aged 18 and above. The Constitution allows up to 550 elected members, up to 530 from the states and up to 20 from the Union Territories; 543 seats are filled today. Seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
*Term:* five years from its first meeting. The President can dissolve it earlier on the advice of the Prime Minister. In a National Emergency Parliament may extend it by law, one year at a time, but never beyond six months after the emergency ends.
*Qualifications:* citizen of India, at least 25 years old, a registered voter, holding no office of profit, of sound mind, not an undischarged insolvent, and not disqualified by law.

2. The Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

*Composition:* at most 250 members. Up to 238 represent the states and Union Territories; 12 are nominated by the President for knowledge or practical experience of literature, science, art and social service. States do not send equal numbers; the share broadly follows population.
*Election:* state representatives are chosen indirectly by the elected members of the state Legislative Assembly through proportional representation by the single transferable vote.
*Qualifications:* citizen of India, at least 30 years old, no office of profit, and the other conditions in law.
*Term:* the House is never dissolved. A member serves six years and one-third retire every two years. Presiding officer: the Vice-President as ex officio Chairman; the Deputy Chairman presides in his absence.

3. Powers and functions of Parliament.

*Legislative:* laws on the Union and Concurrent Lists and residuary subjects. Parliament may also legislate on a State List subject if the Rajya Sabha passes a two-thirds resolution in the national interest, in a National Emergency, when state legislatures request it, to carry out a treaty, and under President's Rule.
*Financial:* it passes the Budget; no tax or spending without its sanction.
*Judicial:* impeachment of the President; removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges.
*Electoral:* takes part in electing the President and Vice-President.
*Amending:* amends the Constitution (Article 368).
*Control over the executive:* questions, motions and debate; the ministers answer to the Lok Sabha.

4. Exclusive powers.

*Lok Sabha only:* Money Bills begin here; no-confidence motion; Council of Ministers is responsible to it; the last word on Money Bills.
*Rajya Sabha only:* the resolution letting Parliament legislate on a State List subject; the resolution to create a new All-India Service; a resolution to remove the Vice-President must begin here.

Term trap. Lok Sabha: five years. Rajya Sabha: no term as a House; each member six years.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term and Powers: key facts

House strengths: Lok Sabha maximum 550 elected | Rajya Sabha maximum 250 (238 + 12 nominated); Present Lok Sabha: 543 elected seats.
Minimum age: Lok Sabha 25 years
Rajya Sabha 30 years
Voter 18 years; Three ages.
Terms: Lok Sabha: 5 years (can be dissolved earlier; extended in a National Emergency one year at a time, not beyond 6 months after the emergency ends) | Rajya Sabha: permanent House, member 6 years, one-third retire every 2 years; House and member terms differ.
Exclusive powers: Lok Sabha: Money Bill, no-confidence motion, Council of Ministers answerable | Rajya Sabha: State List resolution, All-India Services, start Vice-President removal; Learn three plus three.

How to answer Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term and Powers questions

Questions ask for composition and qualifications (2-3 marks), a comparison of the Houses (4 marks), or powers of Parliament and exclusive powers (up to 10 marks split 3 + 3 + 4).

1Name the House and give numbers first: maximum strength, elected or nominated.
2Give election method (direct or indirect), term and minimum age.
3For powers, list six headings: legislative, financial, judicial, electoral, amending, control over the executive.
4For exclusive powers, always say which House each belongs to.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term and Powers in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Staggered retirement

Suppose a school council has 30 members, each serving six years, and ten retire every two years while new members join.

Why does this council never stop working, and which House does it resemble?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

At any time, two-thirds of members are experienced.
The council as a body is never dissolved.
This is the Rajya Sabha pattern.

Answer: The council always has experienced members and is never dissolved; it resembles the Rajya Sabha, where one-third retire every two years.

Memory hook: One-third out, every two.

Direct and indirect choice

Imagine a class in which monitors are voted by all students, while the school committee is chosen by the monitors alone.

Which House corresponds to each method?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

All students voting directly: Lok Sabha.
Committee chosen by elected monitors: Rajya Sabha.
The second body is chosen by those already elected.

Answer: Direct voting resembles the Lok Sabha; selection by already-elected representatives resembles the Rajya Sabha.

Memory hook: People pick one, representatives pick the other.

Tricks to remember Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term and Powers

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

A-30-six
Twenty-five for the people, thirty for the states; five years and six years.
Use it when: Ages and terms of the two Houses.
Three plus three
Lok Sabha: Money Bill, no-confidence, ministers answerable. Rajya Sabha: State List, All-India Services, start Vice-President removal.
Use it when: Exclusive powers.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term and Powers: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Strength of Houses · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

State the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and how many members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated. [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Lok Sabha: up to 550 elected (530 states + 20 Union Territories) (1 mark).
Rajya Sabha: up to 250, of whom 238 represent states and Union Territories (1 mark).
12 are nominated by the President (1 mark).

Answer: The Lok Sabha may have up to 550 elected members, and the Rajya Sabha up to 250 members, of whom 12 are nominated by the President and up to 238 represent the states and Union Territories.

Example 2: Qualifications · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

State any two qualifications for membership of the Lok Sabha. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Citizen of India (1 mark).
At least 25 years old (1 mark). Others: registered voter, no office of profit.

Answer: A member must be a citizen of India and at least 25 years old (also a registered voter holding no office of profit).

Example 3: Term of the Houses · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Explain the difference between the term of the Lok Sabha and the term of the Rajya Sabha. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Lok Sabha lasts five years and can be dissolved earlier (1 mark).
Emergency extension one year at a time (1 mark).
Rajya Sabha is permanent and never dissolved (1 mark).
Each member serves six years; one-third retire every two years (1 mark).

Answer: The Lok Sabha has a five-year term from its first meeting, can be dissolved earlier by the President on the Prime Minister's advice, and can be extended during a National Emergency one year at a time. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and is never dissolved; each member serves six years, and one-third retire every two years.

Example 4: Powers of Parliament · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain the legislative and financial powers of the Union Parliament. [6]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Legislative: Union List, Concurrent List, residuary (2 marks).
State List in five situations (1 mark).
Financial: passes Budget, no tax without approval (2 marks).
Checks spending through committees and audit reports (1 mark).

Answer: Parliament makes laws on the Union List, the Concurrent List and residuary subjects. It can also legislate on a State List subject if the Rajya Sabha passes a two-thirds resolution in the national interest, during a National Emergency, when states request it, to implement a treaty, or under President's Rule. Financially, it passes the annual Budget and no tax may be levied or money spent without its approval; it checks the spending through its committees and the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Example 5: Case: a State List law · 6 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Case. A Rajya Sabha resolution backed by two-thirds of members present and voting declares that regulation of a State List subject is in the national interest. (i) Which power is this? [1] (ii) What does it allow Parliament to do? [1] (iii) Why is this resolution an exclusive power of the Rajya Sabha? [2] (iv) Does this show the Rajya Sabha is only a weak House? Give a reason. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) An exclusive power of the Rajya Sabha (1 mark).
(ii) Parliament may legislate on a State List subject (1 mark).
(iii) The Rajya Sabha represents the states (2 marks).
(iv) No; the states' House can authorise the Centre to enter state subjects (2 marks).

Answer: (i) It is an exclusive power of the Rajya Sabha. (ii) It allows Parliament to make laws on a State List subject. (iii) The Rajya Sabha represents the states, so it is the House that is asked whether the Centre may legislate on state subjects. (iv) No, because the Centre cannot use this route without the states' House approving it by a two-thirds majority, which shows an important federal role.

Where students lose marks in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term and Powers

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Giving the Rajya Sabha a five-year term
Mixing the House with its members.
Wrong working
Rajya Sabha has a five-year term.
Right working
The House is permanent; each member serves six years, one-third retiring every two years.
Do this: Write House and member separately.
Usually costs: 1-2 marks.
Mistake: Wrong total for the Rajya Sabha
Writing 250 nominated or 12 elected.
Wrong working
250 elected plus 12 nominated.
Right working
At most 250 in all: up to 238 representatives and 12 nominated.
Do this: Think of 238 + 12.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Mixing exclusive powers
Giving the Lok Sabha power to start Vice-President removal.
Wrong working
Lok Sabha removes the Vice-President.
Right working
The resolution to remove the Vice-President begins in the Rajya Sabha.
Do this: Learn one list per House.
Usually costs: 1-2 marks.
Mistake: Omitting the emergency limit
Not stating the six-month ceiling.
Wrong working
The term is extended indefinitely in an Emergency.
Right working
One year at a time, and not beyond six months after the Emergency ends.
Do this: Give both limits.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Begin every composition answer with the numbers: maximum strength, minimum age, term.
Use headings for powers: legislative, financial, judicial, electoral, amending, control over the executive.
For exclusive powers always name the House before the power.

Practice questions on Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term and Powers

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
Who presides over the Rajya Sabha and who presides in that person's absence? [2]
Hint
Ex officio Chairman.
Answer
The Vice-President is the ex officio Chairman; the Deputy Chairman, elected by the members, presides in the Chairman's absence.
Q2 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Distinguish between the method of election of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. [4]
Hint
Direct and indirect.
Answer
Lok Sabha members are elected directly by voters aged 18 and above from territorial constituencies. State representatives in the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly by the elected members of the state Legislative Assembly through proportional representation by the single transferable vote, and 12 are nominated by the President.
Q3 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Why is India called a Union of States although it has federal features? [4]
Hint
Strong Centre.
Answer
Because the Centre is strong: there is one constitution and one citizenship, residuary powers lie with Parliament, Parliament can legislate on State List subjects in special circumstances, and emergency provisions can make the system work like a unitary one.
Q4 · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level
Explain why Money Bills belong to the Lok Sabha while some special powers over state subjects belong to the Rajya Sabha. Give two points for each. [6]
Hint
Two each is enough.
Answer
Money Bills go to the Lok Sabha because it is directly elected by the people and the Council of Ministers answers to it; the people who pay taxes should control taxes and spending, and the House that can remove the government should control its money. The Rajya Sabha represents the states, so a two-thirds resolution lets Parliament legislate on a State List subject only when the states' House agrees that it is in the national interest, and a similar resolution is needed to create new All-India Services shared by the Union and the states.
Q5 · 3 marks · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency
Assertion (A): The Rajya Sabha can never be dissolved. Reason (R): One-third of its members retire every two years. Choose: (a) both true and R explains A; (b) both true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true. Justify. [3]
Hint
Permanent House.
Answer
(a). The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House, and because only one-third of its members retire every two years, the membership is renewed in stages, so there is never a time when the whole House has to be elected and it is not dissolved.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Maximum elected strength of the Lok Sabha?Show answer
550.
2.Minimum age for the Rajya Sabha?Show answer
30 years.
3.Who selects the twelve non-elected members of the Rajya Sabha?Show answer
The President, from experts in literature, science, art and social service.
4.Who is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?Show answer
The Vice-President.
5.How often do Rajya Sabha members retire?Show answer
One-third every two years.
6.Which House can move a no-confidence motion?Show answer
Only the Lok Sabha.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: Composition, Term and Powers: frequently asked questions

Is the Rajya Sabha ever dissolved?

No. It is a permanent House; its members retire in stages.

How are Rajya Sabha members elected?

Indirectly, by the elected members of state Legislative Assemblies through the single transferable vote.

What is the term of the Lok Sabha?

Five years from its first meeting, extendable in a National Emergency.

What are the types of powers of Parliament?

Legislative, financial, judicial, electoral, amending and control over the executive.