Points to Remember:
- The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of the Indian Parliament.
- Its establishment was a gradual process, evolving through several significant Acts.
- Understanding the historical context of each Act is crucial to identifying the correct answer.
Introduction:
The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, is one of the two houses of the Parliament of India. It’s a permanent body, unlike the Lok Sabha (House of the People), which is subject to dissolution. The question asks which Act formally established the Rajya Sabha. This requires a factual approach, focusing on the historical legislative acts that shaped the Indian parliamentary system.
Body:
Analyzing the Acts:
To determine which Act established the Rajya Sabha, we need to examine the key features of each option:
(A) Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms): This Act introduced a limited form of Indian participation in the legislative councils. While it expanded the councils, it did not establish a bicameral legislature with a body resembling the modern Rajya Sabha. It primarily focused on increasing Indian representation in the existing legislative councils, which were still largely under British control.
(B) Government of India Act, 1919 (Montague-Chelmsford Reforms): This Act further expanded the legislative councils, introducing bicameral legislatures in some provinces. However, it still didn’t establish a Rajya Sabha at the national level. The bicameralism introduced was at the provincial level, not the central level.
(C) Government of India Act, 1935: This Act is the most significant in the context of the question. It established a federal structure for India, including a bicameral legislature at the national level. This Act created the Council of State, which is the precursor to the modern Rajya Sabha. It defined its composition, powers, and functions, laying the groundwork for the Upper House as we know it today.
(D) Indian Independence Act, 1947: This Act dealt with the partition of India and the transfer of power from British rule to independent India. While it made provisions for the continuation of the existing legislative bodies, it didn’t establish the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha’s structure and functions were already established by the 1935 Act.
Conclusion:
The Government of India Act, 1935, is the correct answer (C). While the Rajya Sabha’s composition and powers have undergone some modifications since independence, its fundamental structure was established by this Act. The earlier Acts laid the groundwork for increased Indian participation in governance, but it was the 1935 Act that finally established the bicameral structure at the central level, creating the Council of State, the direct predecessor to the Rajya Sabha. The Indian Independence Act, 1947, simply ensured the continuity of this existing structure within the newly independent nation. Therefore, understanding the evolution of the Indian legislative system through these Acts is crucial to answering this question correctly. The establishment of the Rajya Sabha, as part of a federal structure, reflects a significant step towards self-governance and democratic principles in India.
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