Prasar Bharati Chairman moderates interaction on Role of Upper House in Indian Parliament.

Rajya Sabha has played a constructive and effective role in our polity. But increasingly it's role has been questioned.

Prasar Bharti Chairman Dr. A. Surya Prakash on Wednesday moderated an interaction on "Bicameralism and the Role of the Upper House in the Indian Parliament". Focus was on Rajya Sabha's role and its impact of law making in Indian context. The general consensus during the interaction was that Rajya Sabha played an important role but it requires major reforms. Rajya Sabha which should ideally represent states no longer does it and membership to the house is limited to party membership. It was also felt that in many cases Rajya Sabha was used a tool for obstructing law making abilities of the parliament. Earlier BJP leader and finance minister Arun Jaitley had also called for reforms in the upper house. He had said how can an unelected Rajya Sabha question elected Lok Sabha. Many MP from Rjaya sabha also pitched for reforms in the upper house during the interaction. Rajya Sabha members are elected by state legislatures rather than directly through the electorate by single transferable vote method. Membership of Rajya Sabha is limited by the Constitution to a maximum of 250 members, and current laws have provision for 245 members. Most of the members of the House are indirectly elected by state and territorial legislatures using single transferable votes, while the President can appoint 12 members for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services.