<P> The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India . Membership of Rajya Sabha is limited by the Constitution to a maximum of 250 members, and current laws have provision for 245 members . Most of the members of the House are indirectly elected by state and territorial legislatures using single transferable votes, while the President can appoint 12 members for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services . Members sit for staggered six - year terms, with one third of the members retiring every two years . </P> <P> The Rajya Sabha meets in continuous sessions, and unlike the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, is not subject to dissolution . However, the Rajya Sabha, like the Lok Sabha can be prorogued by the President . The Rajya Sabha has equal footing in all areas of legislation with Lok Sabha, except in the area of supply, where the Lok Sabha has overriding powers . In the case of conflicting legislation, a joint sitting of the two houses can be held . However, since the Lok Sabha has twice as many members as the Rajya Sabha, the former would normally hold the greater power . Joint sittings of the Houses of Parliament of India are rare, and in the history of the Republic, only three such joint - sessions have been held; the latest one for the passage of the 2002 Prevention of Terrorism Act . </P> <P> The Vice President of India (currently, Venkaiah Naidu) is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who presides over its sessions . The Deputy Chairman, who is elected from amongst the house's members, takes care of the day - to - day matters of the house in the absence of the Chairman . The Rajya Sabha held its first sitting on 13 May 1952 . The salary and other benefits for a member of Rajya Sabha are same as for a member of Lok Sabha . </P> <P> Rajya Sabha members are elected by state legislatures rather than directly through the electorate by single transferable vote method . From 18 July 2018, Rajya Sabha MPs can speak in 22 Indian languages in House as the Upper House has facility for simultaneous interpretation in all 22 Indian languages . </P>

Who was the ex-officio chairman of the rajya sabha