What is the common examiner trap about Polity in UPSC exams?

They might swap the 'two-thirds' rule with the old 'one-third' rule for a split, or confuse the disqualification authority (Speaker for Lok Sabha vs Chairman for Rajya Sabha). Another trap is mixing up the 52nd Amendment (which introduced the law) with the 91st Amendment (which reformed it).

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Polity for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: BJP's new strength (113) and AAP's new strength (3) in Rajya Sabha. 2. Target this Nodal Body: The Rajya Sabha Chairman (currently C P Radhakrishnan) as the adjudicating authority for defection cases in the Upper House. 3. Target this Legal Point: The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, which mandated a two-thirds majority for a valid merger under the Tenth Schedule.

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News 18 of 23

Rajya Sabha Numbers: BJP 113, AAP 3 After Merger of 7 MPs Under 10th Schedule's Two-Thirds Rule

Q: Who is the final authority to decide on matters of disqualification of Rajya Sabha members under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-defection Law)?

The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, As per the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (the Vice-President of India) is the final authority to decide on disqualification matters pertaining to members of the Rajya Sabha, analogous to the Speaker's role for the Lok Sabha.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the anti-defection law: 1. The Tenth Schedule was added to the Constitution by the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act. 2. For a merger of legislators to be valid under the law, it requires the support of at least two-thirds of the members of the original party in that House. 3. The phrase 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' is associated with the frequent defections by legislators in the 1960s and 1970s. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 2 and 3, Statement 1 is incorrect. The Tenth Schedule was added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985. The 91st Amendment (2003) later amended it. Statement 2 is correct as per the current provision introduced by the 91st Amendment. Statement 3 is correct; the phrase refers to rampant floor-crossing, famously by MLA Gaya Lal.

Q: According to the updated Rajya Sabha party position mentioned in the article, what is the new strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the merger?

113 MPs, The article clearly states that after the merger of seven AAP MPs, the BJP's tally in the Rajya Sabha rose to 113. Its earlier strength was 106. The other options are close distractors based on figures mentioned elsewhere in the article.

Q: What was a key objective of the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, in relation to the anti-defection law?

To delete the provision for 'split' and mandate a two-thirds majority for a valid merger., The 91st Amendment Act was enacted to strengthen the anti-defection law. It deleted the provision that recognized a 'split' by one-third of members (which was being misused) and replaced it with a stricter rule that only a merger involving at least two-thirds of the members of a legislature party would be valid and not attract disqualification.

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Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link

27 Apr 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:BJP 113 MPsAAP 3 MPs7 AAP MPs mergedNDA 148 MPsTotal strength 245 MPs

Bodies:Rajya Sabha

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.The Rajya Sabha Chairman accepted the merger of seven AAP MPs with the BJP, increasing BJP's tally to 113 and reducing AAP's to 3, based on the two-thirds rule under the 10th Schedule.

2.This event provides a practical example of the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act (2003), which strengthened the anti-defection law by mandating a two-thirds majority for a valid merger, replacing the earlier one-third provision for a 'split'.

3.For exams, the focus is on the legal provisions (10th Schedule, 91st Amendment), the institutional role of the Rajya Sabha Chairman, and the historical context of defections like the 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' phenomenon.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · Medium

This news highlights a significant shift in the Rajya Sabha composition, with seven AAP MPs merging with the BJP. For exam aspirants, this is a live case study of the anti-defection law (10th Schedule) in action, especially the crucial 'two-thirds' rule for mergers to avoid disqualification. Understanding this mechanism is essential for polity questions on parliamentary procedures.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

BJP's new Rajya Sabha strength113 MPs

AAP's new Rajya Sabha strength3 MPs

Number of AAP MPs who merged7 MPs

NDA's total Rajya Sabha tally148 MPs

Total strength of Rajya Sabha245 MPs

Constitutional Amendment for anti-defection91st Amendment Act, 2003

1-Minute Revision

›BJP's new Rajya Sabha strength: 113 MPs
›AAP's new Rajya Sabha strength: 3 MPs
›Target this Data: BJP's new strength (113) and AAP's new strength (3) in Rajya Sabha.
›Target this Nodal Body: The Rajya Sabha Chairman (currently C P Radhakrishnan) as the adjudicating authority for defection cases in the Upper House.
›Target this Legal Point: The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, which mandated a two-thirds majority for a valid merger under the Tenth Schedule.

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News Snapshot

📊

Parliamentary Arithmetic

Seven AAP MPs merged with BJP, changing Rajya Sabha party positions from BJP 106 & AAP 10 to BJP 113 & AAP 3.

⚖️

10th Schedule in Action

The merger was accepted as it met the two-thirds requirement of the party's strength, a safeguard introduced by the 91st Constitutional Amendment.

📜

Historical Context

The anti-defection law was a response to rampant 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' defections in the 1960s-70s, where legislators frequently changed parties.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

The Tenth Schedule (Anti-defection Law) was inserted by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985, to curb political defections. Initially, it allowed a 'split' if one-third of a party's members defected. This was misused, leading to the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, which deleted the 'split' provision and made mergers valid only if at least two-thirds of a party's members in a House defect together. This news is a direct application of this stricter rule.

Core Analysis & Implications

The Chairman's acceptance of the merger is a procedural validation under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule. It impacts the balance of power in the Rajya Sabha, strengthening the NDA's position (now 148). The event underscores the Speaker/Chairman's critical role as the adjudicating authority under the law. It also highlights how the law binds legislators to the party whip, centralizing power within party leadership and potentially reducing individual member agency, a point of criticism for the law.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

This case may be cited in future discussions on electoral and parliamentary reforms. Debates continue on whether the anti-defection law should apply to all votes or only those critical to the government's stability. The law's effectiveness in preventing 'horse-trading' versus its impact on intra-party democracy remains a key area for potential legislative review and judicial interpretation.

Key Facts at a Glance

BJP's new Rajya Sabha strength113 MPs

AAP's new Rajya Sabha strength3 MPs

Number of AAP MPs who merged7 MPs

NDA's total Rajya Sabha tally148 MPs

Total strength of Rajya Sabha245 MPs

Constitutional Amendment for anti-defection91st Amendment Act, 2003

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC, State PSC

Who is the final authority to decide on matters of disqualification of Rajya Sabha members under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-defection Law)?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, State PSC

Consider the following statements regarding the anti-defection law:

1. The Tenth Schedule was added to the Constitution by the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act.

2. For a merger of legislators to be valid under the law, it requires the support of at least two-thirds of the members of the original party in that House.

3. The phrase 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' is associated with the frequent defections by legislators in the 1960s and 1970s.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumSSC, Banking

According to the updated Rajya Sabha party position mentioned in the article, what is the new strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the merger?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, SSC

What was a key objective of the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, in relation to the anti-defection law?

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Rajya Sabha Numbers: BJP 113, AAP 3 After Merger of 7 MPs Under 10th Schedule's Two-Thirds Rule

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Parliamentary Arithmetic

10th Schedule in Action

Historical Context

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance