The Election Commission declared on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, that biennial elections will be held on March 16 for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 States. These seats become vacant in April. The States include Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar. Only elected members of State Legislative Assemblies can vote in these elections. Every two years, one third of the Rajya Sabha members from each State retire after their six-year term ends. This is why elections are held biennially to fill those vacancies. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and is not dissolved. Voting uses the single transferable vote system, based on proportional representation. Candidates from political parties need at least 10 proposers from the Assembly or 10% of their party’s strength. Independent candidates need 10 proposer members from the Assembly. These rules ensure a fair and democratic process to select new members for the Upper House.