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Statement I : The Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution and the members enjoy a tenure of six years Statement I : According to Article 83 of the Constitution of India, one third of members of Rajya Sabha retire every two years
Explanation
Statement I is true as the Rajya Sabha is a permanent body not subject to dissolution, with members serving a six-year tenure [1]. Statement II is also true; Article 83(1) of the Constitution of India specifies that the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible, one-third of its members shall retire every second year. Statement II provides the correct explanation for Statement I because the staggered retirement of one-third of the members every two years is the constitutional mechanism that ensures the House remains a 'continuing chamber' and never dissolves entirely. This system allows for the periodic infusion of new members while maintaining institutional memory and continuity in governance, even when the Lok Sabha is dissolved.
Sources
- [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System > Election to the Rajya Sabha > p. 134