Rajya Sabha, the Council of States, is the upper house of the Parliament of India. As per the Constitution, its membership cannot exceed 250, 12 of whom are nominated by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature, science, and social services. The remaining 238 members are elected by State and Union territories.

Term of office of its members is six years, with one third of the members retiring every two years. It is, thus, a continuous House, not subject to dissolution.

The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha are the two Chambers of Indian Parliament. The Rajya Sabha has coequal powers with the Lok Sabha, except in the financial matters, where the Lok Sabha has overriding powers. It, being a federal House, enjoys some special powers relating to the State matters. In the case of conflicting legislation, a joint sitting of the two Houses is held.

The Rajya Sabha held its first sitting on 13 May 1952.