In the Rajya Sabha, or Council of States of India, what fraction of its members are elected every two years as part of the biennial retirement process?

Introduction / Context:
The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament of India and is often called a permanent house because it is never subject to dissolution like the Lok Sabha. However, the composition of the Rajya Sabha changes regularly through a system of periodic retirements and fresh elections. This question checks whether you know the fraction of members who retire and are replaced every two years as part of this design.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the Rajya Sabha, not the Lok Sabha.
• We are focusing on the fraction of members elected every two years.
• Options include all, one fourth, half, one third, and two thirds of the total members.
• We assume knowledge of the concept of a permanent house and staggered terms.

Concept / Approach:
The Rajya Sabha is a continuing chamber where members are elected for six year terms. To prevent complete dissolution, the Constitution provides that approximately one third of the members retire every second year. At the same time, elections are held to fill those one third of seats. This system maintains continuity while allowing for regular democratic renewal. Therefore, the correct fraction of members elected every two years is one third of the total strength.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that each Rajya Sabha member normally has a six year term. Step 2: Remember that the house is never dissolved but is renewed by partial retirements. Step 3: Note that about one third of the members retire every two years, triggering elections to the vacant seats. Step 4: Match this with the listed options and choose One third of the total members as the correct fraction.

Verification / Alternative check:
Constitutional provisions and standard polity books uniformly explain that the Rajya Sabha follows a system of biennial retirement of one third of its members. This is a fundamental feature that differentiates it from fully dissolvable lower houses like the Lok Sabha and many state assemblies. Exam oriented summaries of Parliament almost always mention this one third rule, confirming that it is the accepted answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
All members: If all members were elected every two years, the Rajya Sabha would not be a permanent house. One fourth or half or two thirds: None of these fractions match the constitutional design. They are provided as distractors and do not appear in any legal provision for Rajya Sabha composition or retirement.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is mixing up term length with the fraction of members elected. Some learners know the six year term but incorrectly assume that half the members are elected every three years. Others may guess one fourth or two thirds because they sound plausible. The key is to remember that the combination is six year term plus one third retirement every second year, which produces the desired stagger and continuity.

Final Answer:
One third of the total members