In the context of the Indian Parliament, which House is popularly referred to as the "House of Elders" because of its relatively older and more experienced membership?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of the basic structure of the Indian Parliament and the informal titles given to its two Houses. The Indian Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). One of these is sometimes informally called the House of Elders, reflecting the intention that its members should be relatively more mature, experienced and somewhat insulated from frequent electoral pressures. Knowing this helps in building a clear conceptual picture of how the Indian parliamentary system is designed to balance representation, continuity and expertise.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• India has a bicameral Parliament with the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
• The question asks which House is sometimes called the House of Elders.
• Options include Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, both Houses, none of the above, and also a state level alternative in option e.
• We assume standard constitutional descriptions and widely used political science terminology.

Concept / Approach:
In Indian polity, the Rajya Sabha is also known as the Council of States. It is designed as a permanent body that cannot be dissolved, with one third of its members retiring every two years. Members generally tend to be older and often have substantial political or professional experience before entering the House. Because of these features, political scientists and textbooks often refer to the Rajya Sabha as the House of Elders, similar to upper houses in other countries which perform a revising and moderating role. The Lok Sabha, on the other hand, is directly elected by the people and is called the House of the People.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that the Lok Sabha is the popularly elected House and is officially called the House of the People. 2. The Rajya Sabha is the upper chamber and is officially called the Council of States. 3. By design, members of the Rajya Sabha are often experienced leaders, senior politicians or experts chosen by state legislatures or nominated for their contributions. 4. Because of this relatively older and more experienced composition, the Rajya Sabha is popularly described as the House of Elders. 5. Therefore, the correct answer is the Rajya Sabha.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks on Indian polity and official introductions to Parliament frequently mention that, like many upper houses in federal systems, the Rajya Sabha is sometimes referred to as the House of Elders. The name is not a formal constitutional title but a widely accepted descriptive label. The Lok Sabha is associated with direct mass representation and frequent elections and is not described using this phrase. No other body in the Indian system is commonly called the House of Elders, which confirms that Rajya Sabha is the intended answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Lok Sabha: This is called the House of the People and represents direct popular will, not specifically a House of Elders.
• Both Houses of Parliament: Only the Rajya Sabha is given this informal label; the Lok Sabha is not.
• None of the above: Incorrect because the Rajya Sabha clearly fits the description.
• Legislative Assembly of a state: This is a state level lower house and is not part of the Union Parliament, nor is it called the House of Elders.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up the formal names and the informal descriptions of the Houses. Another frequent confusion is between the terms upper house and House of Elders. While many upper houses in different countries tend to have elder statespersons, the phrase in Indian polity questions is specifically associated with the Rajya Sabha. Ensure that you always link House of the People with Lok Sabha and House of Elders with Rajya Sabha in order to avoid errors in simple recall questions.

Final Answer:
The House of Parliament that is popularly called the House of Elders is the Rajya Sabha.