- The presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha is the Chairman, who is the Vice-President of India as an ex-officio position.
- If the Vice-President acts as President, he does not perform the duties of the Rajya Sabha Chairman during that time.
Removal
- The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha can only be removed from office if he is removed from the position of Vice-President.
Powers and Functions
- The Chairman's powers and functions in the Rajya Sabha are similar to the Speaker's in the Lok Sabha.
- Unlike the Speaker, the Chairman does not decide if a bill is a money bill or preside over joint sittings of the two Houses.
- The Chairman is not a member of the Rajya Sabha, unlike the Speaker, who is a member of the Lok Sabha.
- Both the Speaker and the Chairman cannot vote initially, but they can cast a vote if there is a tie.
- The Vice-President cannot preside over the Rajya Sabha when a resolution for his removal is under consideration, but he can participate in the proceedings.
Salaries and Allowances
- The salaries and allowances of the Chairman are fixed by Parliament and charged to the Consolidated Fund of India.
- If the Vice-President acts as President, he receives the President's salary and allowance, not the salary of the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
48-52nd BPSC
Q. In which House is the presiding officer not a member of that House?
A. Rajya Sabha
B. Lok Sabha
C. Vidhan Sabha
D. None of the above