What is the normal term of office of an individual elected member of the Rajya Sabha, the Council of States in the Indian Parliament?

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with the basic structure of the Indian Parliament, specifically the Rajya Sabha, which is also known as the Council of States. Understanding the term of office of its members is important because the Rajya Sabha is a permanent house that is never dissolved, unlike the Lok Sabha. Instead of the whole house going for elections at once, only a fraction of members retire periodically. The individual term of a member and the retirement pattern are fundamental facts tested in many exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question asks for the term of office of a member of the Rajya Sabha.
The options suggest different durations in years: 2, 6, 7, and 4 years.
We assume normal circumstances without disqualification or resignation.

Concept / Approach:
The Rajya Sabha is a permanent chamber, but its members do not hold office for life. The Constitution specifies that the normal term of an elected member is six years. To maintain continuity, one third of the members retire every two years, and elections are held for those seats. This system ensures both stability and partial renewal. Therefore, while the house itself continues indefinitely, an individual member's normal tenure is six years, which is the key concept required to answer this question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution like the Lok Sabha; it is a continuing body.Step 2: Remember that the Constitution provides for staggered retirement, with one third of members retiring every two years.Step 3: From this pattern, understand that the full term for any one member is six years, after which the seat falls vacant.Step 4: Among the options given, identify six years as the correct normal term of office for a Rajya Sabha member.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by checking standard polity books which consistently state that members of the Council of States are elected for a six year term. News reports about Rajya Sabha elections also mention that members are being elected for a six year term and that every two years elections are held for roughly one third of the seats. No authentic source mentions 2, 4, or 7 years as the normal tenure. This repeated pattern in credible references confirms that six years is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Two years corresponds to the interval at which one third of the house retires, not the full term of an individual member, so this option is incorrect as an answer to the question asked.
Seven years is not associated with the tenure of Rajya Sabha members; instead, it is closer to the term of some other offices in different contexts, so this option is wrong here.
Four years is not linked with the tenure of any house of the Indian Parliament under the Constitution, making it an incorrect choice in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
Some aspirants confuse the retirement cycle of one third of the members every two years with the full term and may choose two years, which is a misunderstanding of how a continuing chamber works. Others may mix up the tenure of different constitutional offices and select a random number that sounds reasonable. To avoid this, remember the simple rule that a Rajya Sabha member normally serves for six years and that the two year cycle relates only to staggered retirement, not to the full term.

Final Answer:
An individual elected member of the Rajya Sabha normally holds office for a term of six years.