Date: 17 July 2020 PARLIAMENT OF INDIA RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT (MEDIA, EDUCATION AND AUDIO-VISUAL UNIT) PRESS NOTE New members of Rajya Sabha to take oath on July, 22 Oath taking in the chamber of the House during inter-session, for the first time Only one guest allowed for each member The newly elected members of Rajya Sabha will be administered oath or affirmation on the 22nd of this month. For the first time, administration of oath will be done in the chamber of the House during inter-session. Subscribing to oath or affirmation is usually done either during the session or in the chamber of the Chairman of Rajya Session, if the House is not in session. 2. Rajya Sabha Chairman Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has decided to this effect, keeping in view resumption of meetings by the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha and keen interest expressed by the new members to participate in such meetings. 3. Some newly elected/re-elected members of Rajya Sabha like Dr. K. Keshava Rao and Shri Tiruchi Siva are the Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees, who, without being administered oath or affirmation, cannot convene the meetings of respective Committees. Newly elected members also cannot participate in the Committee meetings without making or subscribing to oath or affirmation. 4. In view of the recent election of 61 members from 20 States to the Rajya Sabha and the requirement of social distancing, the oath or affirmation will be administered by the Chairman in the chamber of Rajya Sabha. Only one family member or guest will be allowed to accompany each member for witnessing oath taking and they will be accommodated in the galleries of Rajya Sabha as per the social distancing norm. The Rajya Sabha gallery accommodates 67 members as per the social distancing norm. 5. Secretary General of Rajya Sabha wrote to all the newly elected members informing them of the oath taking on the 22nd of this month. Those who fail to turn up will be administered oath or affirmation during the ensuing monsoon session. 6. Making/subscribing to oath or affirmation by the new members planned earlier had to be deferred in view of the concerns expressed by some of them over travelling to Delhi. PAWAN KUMAR DIRECTOR (MEDIA) Mob. 9873288216 .