How many parliamentary seats, that is Rajya Sabha seats, are allotted to the state of Odisha in the Council of States?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 10

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, is the upper house of the Indian Parliament. Each state is allocated a certain number of seats in the Rajya Sabha based on its population and constitutional provisions. This question asks you specifically about the representation of Odisha in the Rajya Sabha. Knowing such numbers helps you understand the balance of representation between larger and smaller states in the upper house.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The question focuses on Rajya Sabha seats, not Lok Sabha seats.
  • The state under consideration is Odisha.
  • The total strength of the Rajya Sabha is distributed among states and union territories.
  • You are expected to recall the correct number of seats allocated to Odisha.


Concept / Approach:
Seats in the Rajya Sabha are allocated broadly in proportion to state populations, but once fixed, these numbers remain stable unless changed by law. Odisha is a medium sized state on the eastern coast of India. It is allotted ten seats in the Rajya Sabha. These seats are filled by members elected indirectly by the state legislative assembly using a system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Standard tables in polity and general knowledge references list Odisha with ten Rajya Sabha seats.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall from state wise seat distribution that Odisha has ten representatives in the Rajya Sabha.Step 2: Compare this figure with the options given.Step 3: Recognise that eleven and nineteen would be more typical for larger or different states, not for Odisha.Step 4: Note that one seat would be too low for a state of Odisha size and corresponds more to some small union territories.Step 5: Select ten as the correct number of Rajya Sabha seats allotted to Odisha.


Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check this by recalling that states such as Uttar Pradesh have thirty one seats in the Rajya Sabha, while very small states may have one or three seats. Odisha, being neither extremely large nor very small, logically falls into a middle range, and the memorised table confirms the figure of ten. Additionally, recent lists of Rajya Sabha members from Odisha show ten current seats, which matches the correct option.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The figure eleven is not the standard allocation for Odisha and is used here only to distract you. Nineteen would be extremely high for a state of Odisha population and does not match constitutional seat distribution. A single seat would misrepresent the status of Odisha as a full fledged state. Therefore, these alternative numbers are inconsistent with the actual Rajya Sabha seat allocation for Odisha.


Common Pitfalls:
Students often mix up Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seat counts or confuse different states with similar sounding names. Another frequent error is to guess a middle value without anchoring it to any memorised data. A good strategy is to periodically review a state wise table of Rajya Sabha seats and to associate a few anchor states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha with their correct numbers. This makes it easier to recall approximate figures in the exam hall.


Final Answer:
The state of Odisha has 10 seats in the Rajya Sabha.

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