What is the minimum age required for a person to become a member of the Rajya Sabha, the Council of States in India?

Introduction / Context:
The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament of India, also called the Council of States. It represents the States and Union Territories and is generally considered a more mature deliberative chamber. The Constitution prescribes different minimum age requirements for membership in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. This question checks whether you know the correct minimum age for becoming a Rajya Sabha member.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on eligibility for membership of the Rajya Sabha.
• We are asked specifically about the minimum age requirement.
• Options include 21, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years.
• We assume awareness that Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have different age limits.

Concept / Approach:
Article 84 of the Constitution of India lays down the qualifications for membership of Parliament. It states that a person must be at least 25 years of age to be a member of the Lok Sabha and at least 30 years of age to be a member of the Rajya Sabha. The higher age requirement for the Rajya Sabha reflects its role as a house of elders and experienced representatives. Therefore, the correct minimum age for a Rajya Sabha member is 30 years.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the minimum age for the Lok Sabha is 25 years. Step 2: Remember that the Rajya Sabha requires a higher minimum age than the Lok Sabha. Step 3: Connect this higher requirement with the figure 30 years as given in Article 84. Step 4: Choose 30 years from the options as the correct minimum age for membership of the Rajya Sabha.

Verification / Alternative check:
Reading Article 84 shows that clause (b) specifies not less than 30 years of age for membership of the Council of States. Polity textbooks consistently highlight this distinction between 25 years for Lok Sabha and 30 years for Rajya Sabha. This is a very common exam fact, reinforcing that 30 years is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
21 years: This is the minimum age for voting in elections but not for becoming a Member of Parliament. 25 years: This is correct for Lok Sabha, not Rajya Sabha. 35 and 40 years: These figures might seem appropriate for an upper house but are not what the Constitution states. They are included to mislead candidates who do not remember the precise age requirement.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the age for voting with the age for contesting elections. Another is to remember only one figure for both houses or to mix up which house has which minimum. To avoid confusion, it helps to memorise the simple pairing that 25 years is for Lok Sabha and 30 years is for Rajya Sabha, along with 21 years as the voting age after the Sixty First Amendment.

Final Answer:
30 years