According to the Constitution of India, what is the maximum total strength (sanctioned membership) of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha)?

Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India specifies the composition and maximum strength of both Houses of Parliament. For the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), there is a defined upper limit on the total number of members. This question tests your knowledge of that maximum strength, which is an important basic fact in Indian polity.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question refers to the maximum total strength, not the current actual membership.
- The House in question is the Council of States, also called the Rajya Sabha.
- The options provided are 250, 260, 270 and 280.
- It is assumed that the learner knows that a portion of the Rajya Sabha members are nominated and the rest are elected by State legislatures and certain Union Territories.

Concept / Approach:
Article 80 of the Constitution of India lays down the composition of the Rajya Sabha. It specifies that the total number of members in the Rajya Sabha shall not exceed 250, of which up to 238 are to represent the States and Union Territories and up to 12 may be nominated by the President from persons having special knowledge or practical experience in fields such as literature, science, art and social service. The approach is to recall this constitutional cap of 250 and identify it among the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of Parliament and is a permanent body, with one third of its members retiring every two years. Step 2: Article 80 specifies the maximum number of members, dividing them into elected and nominated categories. Step 3: The maximum total strength is given as 250 members, comprising up to 238 elected and up to 12 nominated members. Step 4: This maximum is a constitutional limit; the actual working strength may be slightly lower if certain seats are vacant or not fully allocated. Step 5: Among the options 250, 260, 270 and 280, only 250 matches the constitutional maximum. Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is 250.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting Article 80 in the Constitution or checking standard polity references, which clearly state that the Rajya Sabha shall not consist of more than 250 members. These sources also explain the breakdown between nominated and elected members. No reputable reference mentions higher figures like 260, 270 or 280 as the maximum strength, which confirms that 250 is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, 260, is wrong because the Constitution does not authorise such a high maximum; 260 exceeds the specified cap.

Option C, 270, is wrong for the same reason; it is higher than the constitutional maximum of 250 members.

Option D, 280, is also wrong because it significantly overshoots the maximum strength set by Article 80 and has no basis in law.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to confuse the maximum strength with the actual current membership or to mix up the figures for the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Students may also assume that because India's population has grown, the maximum strength might have been increased, even though the constitutional text has not been amended in this respect. To avoid such errors, it is important to memorise the basic numbers: maximum 250 for the Rajya Sabha and a higher separate figure for the Lok Sabha.

Final Answer:
The maximum total strength of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) under the Constitution of India is 250 members.