Understanding the Ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States

The question asks about the individual who serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States, also known as the Rajya Sabha, as per Articles 64 and 89(1) of the Constitution of India. Let's break down what "ex-officio Chairman" means and examine the relevant constitutional provisions.

What is an Ex-officio Position?

An ex-officio position is a position held by a person automatically because they hold another office. For example, if holding Office A automatically makes you the Chairman of Committee B, then you are the ex-officio Chairman of Committee B because of holding Office A.

Constitutional Provisions: Articles 64 and 89(1)

The Constitution of India explicitly defines the role of the Vice-President in relation to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).

• Article 64 states: "The Vice-President shall be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States and shall not hold any other office of profit: Provided that during any period when the Vice-President acts as President or discharges the functions of the President, he shall not perform the duties of the office of Chairman of the Council of States or be entitled to any salary or allowance payable to the Chairman of the Council of States under article 97."
• Article 89(1) states: "The Vice-President of India shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States."

These articles clearly establish that the person holding the office of the Vice-President of India automatically becomes the Chairman of the Council of States.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at the given options:

1. Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the head of the government and the leader of the Lok Sabha (Lower House), but not the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
2. Vice-President: As per Articles 64 and 89(1), the Vice-President is indeed the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States.
3. Speaker of Lower House: The Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha (House of the People or Lower House), not the Rajya Sabha.
4. President: The President is the head of the state and the executive head, but does not preside over either House of Parliament.

Based on the constitutional provisions, the Vice-President is the correct person who serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States.

Role of the Chairman of Rajya Sabha

The Chairman presides over the sittings of the Rajya Sabha. Their duties include:

• Maintaining order and decorum in the House.
• Deciding on the admissibility of questions, resolutions, and motions.
• Putting questions to the vote and announcing results.
• Interpreting the rules of procedure of the House.

The Vice-President, as the Chairman, plays a crucial role in the functioning of the Council of States.

Conclusion

In accordance with Article 64 and Article 89(1) of the Constitution of India, the Vice-President holds the office of the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).

Revision Table: Council of States Chairman

Additional Information on the Vice-President and Rajya Sabha

• The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament (Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha).
• While the Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, they are not a member of the Rajya Sabha itself.
• When the Vice-President acts as President, the duties of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are performed by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• The Council of States (Rajya Sabha) is the upper house of the Parliament of India. It represents the states and union territories.
• Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and by electoral colleges for Union Territories, using the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Some members are also nominated by the President.