The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution deals with allocation of seats in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). Which principle underlies its composition?

The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) represents the federal principle in India’s parliamentary system. Its composition is governed by Article 80 and detailed in the Fourth Schedule, which allocates seats to States largely based on population. This reflects a model of weighted federalism, where larger States have greater representation, but all States participate in national legislation. Unlike the U.S. Senate’s equal representation model, India adopts proportionality to balance democracy and federalism. The Rajya Sabha also plays a crucial role in federal matters, such as enabling Parliament to legislate on State List subjects under Article 249, reinforcing its federal character.