Under the constitutional scheme of India, the elected members of which body constitute the electoral college that elects the members of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States)?

Introduction / Context:
The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament of India and represents the States and certain Union Territories. Its members are not elected directly by the people, unlike the Lok Sabha members. Instead, members of the Rajya Sabha are chosen through an indirect election process. Understanding which body forms the electoral college for this election is a key part of Indian polity.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks who elects the members of the Rajya Sabha.- The options include elected members of the Legislative Council, the people directly, elected members of the Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha.- We focus on the method laid down in the Constitution.

Concept / Approach:
Under Article 80 and related provisions, representatives of each State in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assembly using the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. The general public does not vote directly for Rajya Sabha members. Legislative Councils at the State level and the Lok Sabha do not form the electoral college for this purpose.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Rajya Sabha members representing States are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assembly, not by the people directly.Step 2: The people directly elect members of the Lok Sabha, not members of the Rajya Sabha, which confirms that direct popular vote is not the right answer.Step 3: Legislative Councils, where they exist, are upper houses at the State level and their members do not form the electoral college for Rajya Sabha elections.Step 4: Members of the Lok Sabha represent the people at the Union level but do not elect Rajya Sabha members; they are part of Parliament, not of the State level electoral colleges.Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is that elected members of the State Legislative Assembly elect the members of the Rajya Sabha.

Verification / Alternative check:
One way to verify is to think of the Rajya Sabha as a Council of States. Its members are expected to reflect the composition of the State legislatures, which is why the elected MLAs choose them through proportional representation. This structure ensures that different parties in the State Assembly are represented in the State's Rajya Sabha contingent based on their strength.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (elected members of the Legislative Council) is wrong because Legislative Councils do not elect Rajya Sabha members; they are part of a separate State level chamber.Option B (the people directly) is wrong because the Indian system uses indirect election for Rajya Sabha, distinguishing it from the Lok Sabha.Option D (Lok Sabha) is wrong as Lok Sabha members do not form the electoral college for Rajya Sabha elections.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students mistakenly assume that all legislators, including members of Legislative Councils or the Lok Sabha, participate in Rajya Sabha elections. Others may confuse the direct election process used for Lok Sabha with the indirect process used for Rajya Sabha. Clear understanding of the separate roles of different elected bodies is essential to avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: Elected members of the Legislative Assembly of the State