The President of India has nominated four distinguished individuals to the Rajya Sabha under the powers granted by Article 80(1)(a), read with clause (3) of the Constitution. These nominations have been made to fill vacancies left by the retirement of previously nominated members.
Meet the new Rajya Sabha nominees
- Ujjwal Deorao Nikam: A celebrated public prosecutor known for handling several high-profile criminal cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
- C Sadanandan Master: A respected social worker and educationist from Kerala with decades of grassroots experience.
- Harsh Vardhan Shringla: Former Foreign Secretary of India and a seasoned diplomat who has served in key global postings.
- Dr Meenakshi Jain: A noted historian and academic, widely known for her contributions to Indian historical scholarship.
Advocate and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ujjwal Nikam had acted as a special public prosecutor in some high-profile cases such as the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the 26/11 terror attack.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a veteran diplomat who previously served as India’s Ambassador to the United States and Bangladesh and later as Foreign Secretary from January 2020 to April 2022, has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Alongside him, C Sadanandan Master, a respected social worker and educationist from Kerala with decades of grassroots involvement, and Meenakshi Jain, a renowned historian noted for her work on Indian civilisation and history, have also been nominated.
These nominations have been made under Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution, read with clause (3), which allows the President to nominate individuals with exceptional contributions in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service. The Ministry of Home Affairs formally announced the nominations through an official notification.
The appointments come following the retirement of previously nominated members and are being seen as a recognition of outstanding service to the nation in the domains of diplomacy, historical scholarship, social work, and legal expertise.
PM Modi congratulates newly nominated Rajya Sabha members
As the President of India has nominated him for Rajya Sabha, senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam said, "It is a challenge for me, I was nominated by the President, only four persons were nominated. I think it is the recognition of all the work that I have done."
Constitutional provision for nominations
The nominations have been made under Article 80(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which empowers the President to nominate members with special knowledge or practical experience in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service.
Vacancies prompt fresh appointments
These appointments come in the wake of seats falling vacant due to the retirement of earlier nominated members, ensuring that the Rajya Sabha continues to benefit from the expertise and perspectives of distinguished citizens across various fields.
