How many Rajya Sabha seats represent the State of Sikkim in the Parliament of India?

Introduction / Context:
The composition of the Rajya Sabha reflects the federal nature of the Indian Union. Each State is allocated a certain number of seats based broadly on its population, but some of the smaller States in the North East and hill regions have only one representative. This question asks specifically about Sikkim, one of the smallest States of India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the Rajya Sabha, the Council of States.
• We are asked about the number of seats allotted to Sikkim.
• Options include several numbers, many of which are far too large for a small State.
• The examiner expects knowledge of basic parliamentary seat distribution.

Concept / Approach:
Article 80 of the Constitution lays down the composition of the Rajya Sabha and authorises allocation of seats to States. For small States like Sikkim, which has a small population compared to big States such as Uttar Pradesh or Maharashtra, the number of seats is limited. In standard polity tables, Sikkim is shown with one seat in the Rajya Sabha.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that large States like Uttar Pradesh have more than thirty seats in the Rajya Sabha, whereas very small States often have one seat. Step 2: Sikkim is geographically small and has a low population. Step 3: From standard polity data, the allocation of Rajya Sabha seats to Sikkim is one. Step 4: Among the given options, only the number one matches this information.

Verification / Alternative check:
A good way to verify is to remember that Sikkim also has only one Lok Sabha constituency. This reflects its small size. Most exam guides provide a table summarising each State and its seats in both Houses. Sikkim consistently appears with one seat in the Rajya Sabha, which supports the chosen answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 11: This would be comparable to some medium sized States and is far too high for Sikkim.
• 19: This is close to what some larger States might have and clearly does not match Sikkim.
• 10: Again too large for such a small State.
• 3: Some small States have more than one seat, but in the case of Sikkim the correct allocation is only one.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the numbers for Sikkim with those for other small States such as Himachal Pradesh or Goa. Another error is to assume that every State must have multiple members in the Rajya Sabha. In reality, the Constitution allows some States to be represented by only one member in the Council of States. Memorising the seat distribution for at least the extreme cases, such as the largest and smallest allocations, can help avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
Sikkim has 1 Rajya Sabha seat in the Parliament of India.