In the Indian Parliament, who serves as the ex officio Chairman (presiding officer) of the Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States?

Introduction / Context:
The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, is the upper House of the Indian Parliament. To understand how the Indian parliamentary system works, it is important to know who presides over each House. This question tests knowledge of a basic but very important constitutional fact about the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and how this role is connected to the office of the Vice President of India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the Indian Parliament.
• The specific body mentioned is the Rajya Sabha, also called the Council of States.
• The focus is on the ex officio Chairman, that is, a person who is Chairman by virtue of holding another constitutional office.
• The options list various high constitutional authorities.

Concept / Approach:
The Constitution of India clearly states that the Vice President of India is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Ex officio means that holding one office automatically gives the person another role without separate election or appointment. The President is the head of state, the Prime Minister is the head of government, and the Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha. Therefore, understanding the division of presiding roles between different offices is the key to answering this question correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Indian Parliament consists of the President, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha. Step 2: The Lok Sabha is presided over by the Speaker, who is elected from among its members. Step 3: The Constitution provides that the Vice President of India shall be the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Step 4: The President of India does not preside over daily proceedings of either House; the President mainly gives assent to Bills and performs other constitutional functions. Step 5: The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers and is primarily responsible to the Lok Sabha but does not preside as a regular Chair over any House. Step 6: Therefore, among the given options, the only correct answer is the Vice President of India.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to remember that the Vice President is not a member of either House in the usual sense but still has a presiding role. This is different from the Speaker, who is elected member of the Lok Sabha. Also, whenever there is a tie in the Rajya Sabha, the Chairman (the Vice President) has a casting vote, which further confirms the presiding function of the Vice President in that House.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The President of India is part of Parliament but does not chair the day to day proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. The Prime Minister of India leads the government and the Council of Ministers but does not serve as the regular presiding officer of any House. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse the general importance of the President or Prime Minister with presiding roles in the Houses. Another common confusion is between the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, as both are presiding officers but for different Houses. Remembering that the Vice President is the ex officio Chairman helps to avoid this mistake and clarifies how constitutional roles are distributed to balance power and responsibilities.

Final Answer:
The ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the Vice President of India.