Elections to 37 seats of the Rajya Sabha will be conducted on March 16, 2026, across 10 States, according to the Election Commission of India. Polling will take place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., with counting scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. the same day.
The Rajya Sabha, or the Upper House of Parliament, is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution. Instead, one-third of its members retire every two years, with each member serving a six-year term.
Composition of the Rajya Sabha
Under Article 80 of the Constitution of India, the Rajya Sabha can have a maximum strength of 250 members. Of these:
- 238 members are elected representatives of the States and Union Territories with Legislative Assemblies (Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir).
- 12 members are nominated by the President of India for their special knowledge or practical experience in fields such as art, literature, science, and social service.
At present, the Rajya Sabha has 245 members.
How Are Rajya Sabha Members Elected?
Unlike Lok Sabha elections, where citizens vote directly, members of the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly. The electorate consists of elected Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) of the States and members of electoral colleges in eligible Union Territories.
MLAs vote to elect candidates to the Rajya Sabha based on the number of seats allocated to their State.
The 12 nominated members are appointed by the President of India and are not elected.
What Is the Voting System?
Rajya Sabha elections follow the system of Proportional Representation by means of a Single Transferable Vote (STV).
Under this system:
MLAs do not vote for just one candidate.
They are given a ballot paper listing all contesting candidates.
They rank the candidates in order of preference first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on.
A candidate does not need to secure the highest number of votes overall. Instead, they must reach a specified “quota” of votes.
The quota is calculated based on:
- The total number of MLAs voting.
- The number of seats to be filled in that State.
This system ensures representation proportional to the strength of political parties in the State Assembly.
How Are Votes Counted?
The counting process follows multiple rounds:
Round 1:
All first-preference votes are counted. If a candidate meets or exceeds the required quota, they are declared elected.
Transfer of Surplus Votes:
If a candidate secures more votes than the quota, the surplus votes are transferred to other candidates based on the second preference marked on those ballots.
Elimination:
If seats remain unfilled and no candidate reaches the quota, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated. Their votes are redistributed according to the next preference indicated.
This process continues until all seats are filled.
The Open Ballot Rule
Rajya Sabha elections follow an “open ballot” system.
Under this rule:
- MLAs belonging to political parties must show their marked ballot to their party’s authorised agent before casting it.
- Failure to show the ballot, or showing it to an unauthorised person, leads to cancellation of the vote.
- Independent MLAs are exempt from this requirement and may keep their vote secret.
The open ballot system was introduced to reduce cross-voting and ensure party discipline.
States Going to Polls
The 37 seats falling vacant in April 2026 are from the following States:
- Maharashtra – 7 seats
- Tamil Nadu – 6 seats
- West Bengal – 5 seats
- Bihar – 5 seats
- Odisha – 4 seats
- Assam – 3 seats
- Telangana – 2 seats
- Chhattisgarh – 2 seats
- Haryana – 2 seats
- Himachal Pradesh – 1 seat
The seats are scheduled to fall vacant on April 2 and April 9, 2026. The election notifications were issued on February 26, 2026.
Why Rajya Sabha Elections Matter
The Rajya Sabha plays a key role in reviewing legislation passed by the Lok Sabha and represents the interests of States in the federal structure. Because its members are elected by MLAs, the outcome of Rajya Sabha elections often reflects the political composition of State Assemblies.
As polling takes place on March 16, the results will indicate how current political alignments in the States are likely to shape the composition of the Upper House for the next six years.