The inaugural session was attended by Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P.C. Mody, Members of Parliament and senior officials of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. A total of 67 members elected in the 2026 biennial elections are entering the Rajya Sabha for the first time.
Congratulating the new members, Radhakrishnan said their presence at the programme on a weekend reflected their commitment to parliamentary responsibilities and democratic institutions. Describing the Rajya Sabha as a cornerstone of India’s federal democracy, he said members may represent diverse regional interests but are united by one document—the Constitution, one vision—Nation First (Rashtra Pratham), and one goal—a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Emphasising the importance of informed debate, the Chairman said disagreement was integral to parliamentary democracy but must ultimately lead to constructive decision-making. “Debates, discussions or even disruptions, it must always lead to a decision,” he said, while stressing that the sanctity of Question Hour and Zero Hour should be protected. He also advised members to invoke Rule 267 only in the rarest of circumstances and with the consensus of the House.
Highlighting the responsibility of legislators, Radhakrishnan said every question raised, law enacted and policy debated had the potential to transform lives. Drawing on his experience as a former Lok Sabha member, he recalled how the recommendations of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Textiles eventually led to the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS), which helped modernise India’s textile sector.
Calling for continuous learning, he said he personally studies the day’s business and procedural rules before every sitting and encouraged members to master legislative procedures, budgetary processes, committee systems and parliamentary ethics.
The Chairman also highlighted Parliament’s growing use of technology, noting that the orientation programme includes a first-of-its-kind hands-on workshop on IT tools. Referring to AI-powered initiatives such as Vani Setu, which provides real-time multilingual interpretation in the Rajya Sabha chamber, he urged members to adopt Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing tools to remain future-ready while serving the nation.
