Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

Polity & Governance glossary

Also called: Article 64, Article 89 · Topic: Parliamentary Procedure, Committees and Privileges · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 5 "Universal Franchise and India's Electoral System"; Class 8, Ch 6 "The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive"; Class 11, Ch 4 "Executive"

Meaning

The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is its presiding officer. The Vice-President holds this post ex officio, which means automatically, because of being Vice-President (Articles 64 and 89). The Chairman is not a member of the Rajya Sabha, so they have no ordinary vote. They have only a casting vote, used to break a tie. The Chairman keeps order and runs the business of the House. While a resolution to remove the Vice-President is pending, the Chairman cannot preside (Article 92).

Example

When the Rajya Sabha meets, the Vice-President presides as its Chairman. The Chairman decides, for instance, whether to admit a suspension of business motion under Rule 267, which is rarely allowed.

Don't confuse with

  • Speaker of the Lok Sabha: the Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its own members. The Chairman is not a member of the Rajya Sabha.
  • Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha: elected by the Rajya Sabha from its own members.

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