President Murmu’s New Rajya Sabha Nominations

President Droupadi Murmu has nominated four distinguished individuals to the Rajya Sabha, India’s Upper House of Parliament. This decision follows the retirement of previously nominated members, filling four vacant seats. The nominees include renowned lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, social worker C Sadanandan Master, and historian Meenakshi Jain. The President’s nominations are in line with the constitutional provision allowing up to 12 members to be nominated from fields such as literature, science, art, and social service.

Ujjwal Nikam: A Legal Luminary

Ujjwal Nikam, aged 72, is a celebrated lawyer known for his role as a special public prosecutor in high-profile terrorism cases, including the 1993 Mumbai blasts and the 26/11 attacks. He has also been involved in notable murder cases such as those of music mogul Gulshan Kumar and BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. Despite his unsuccessful bid in the Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North Central last year, Mr. Nikam’s contributions to law have been recognized with a Padma Shri award in 2016.

Harsh Vardhan Shringla: Diplomatic Expertise

Harsh Vardhan Shringla served as India’s Foreign Secretary from January 2020 to April 2022. His diplomatic career includes roles as India’s Ambassador to the United States and High Commissioner to Bangladesh. Notably, he was the Chief Coordinator for the G20 Summit hosted by India in 2023.

C Sadanandan Master: A Resilient Activist

C Sadanandan Master is an educator and activist from Kerala who overcame a brutal attack three decades ago that left him disabled. Despite this adversity, he remains active in social work and contested the 2016 Kerala elections from Kuthuparamba.

Meenakshi Jain: A Scholar’s Contribution

Meenakshi Jain is a respected political scientist and historian awarded the Padma Shri in 2020 for her contributions to education. Her academic work includes serving on the Indian Council of Historical Research.

These nominations highlight the diverse expertise and contributions of each individual, enriching the legislative process with their varied backgrounds.