The Election Commission of India has officially announced biennial elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant across 10 states.

These elections include seats from key states such as Bihar, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, which are set to become vacant in the month of April.

According to the schedule issued by the Commission, polling for these seats will be held on March 16, 2026, and the vote counting process will begin at 5:00 PM on the same day. With this announcement, activity has intensified in the political corridors of the concerned states.

As per the timetable set by the Election Commission, the official notification for the Rajya Sabha elections will be issued on February 26, 2026. Candidates can file their nomination papers until March 5, after which the scrutiny of papers will take place on March 6.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is set as March 9. The voting process will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on March 16. The entire election process is targeted to be completed by March 20, ensuring continuous representation of the states in the House.

The Rajya Sabha is called the ‘Permanent House’ of Indian democracy because it is never dissolved. Its members have a six-year term, but one-third of the members retire every two years, maintaining freshness and continuity in the House.

Through these elections, elected members of the legislative assemblies of various states will send their representatives to the Upper House. The upcoming elections will not only affect the numerical strength of various political parties but will also give new direction to their ability to pass important bills in Parliament.

Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, is the upper house of India’s bicameral Parliament. It was established on 3 April 1952 under the Constitution of India, representing the states and union territories to provide federal balance. Unlike the directly elected Lok Sabha, its members are mostly elected by state legislative assemblies, ensuring regional representation in national legislation.

Sansad Bhavan

Sansad Bhavan, also known as the Parliament House of India, is the seat of the country’s bicameral legislature in New Delhi. It was designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker and opened in 1927 as the home of the Imperial Legislative Council. Following India’s independence in 1947, it became the central forum for the world’s largest democracy.