President Droupadi Murmu has nominated four distinguished individuals to the Rajya Sabha, as per the Gazette notification issued on Saturday, July 12, 2025. These appointments were made under Article 80(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which empowers the President to nominate members with special knowledge or experience in literature, science, art, and social service. The nominations fill the vacancies left by the retirement of earlier nominated members.
The Four Nominees:
1. Ujjwal Nikam – Legal Luminary & Public Prosecutor
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Known for his role as Special Public Prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and other major criminal trials.
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Contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North Central on a BJP ticket but lost to Congress’s Varsha Gaikwad.
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PM Narendra Modi praised Nikam’s commitment to constitutional values, calling his legal work “exemplary” and focused on justice for common citizens.
🗨️ “He has always worked to strengthen constitutional values and ensure common citizens are treated with dignity.” — PM Modi
2. Harsh Vardhan Shringla – Diplomat & Strategic Thinker
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Former Foreign Secretary of India and India’s Ambassador to the United States, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
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Played a key role as Chief Coordinator of India’s G20 Presidency in 2023.
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Recognised for bringing a strategic and intellectual edge to India's foreign policy.
🗨️ “His unique perspectives will greatly enrich Parliamentary proceedings.” — PM Modi
3. C. Sadanandan Master – Teacher, Social Worker, and Survivor
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A respected teacher and grassroots social worker from Kerala.
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Survived a brutal political attack in 1994 by alleged CPI(M) cadres that left him severely injured and both legs amputated.
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Contested the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections as a BJP candidate.
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Symbol of resilience and grassroots activism.
🗨️ “His life is the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice.” — PM Modi
4. Dr. Meenakshi Jain – Historian & Academic
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Former Associate Professor of History at Gargi College, University of Delhi.
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Renowned for her scholarly work on Indian history, particularly ancient India and civilisational studies.
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Seen as a conservative voice in academic circles, she has contributed extensively to history and political thought.
🗨️ “She has distinguished herself as a scholar, researcher and historian.” — PM Modi
Broader Implications:
These nominations appear to reflect a careful balancing of merit, ideology, and symbolism:
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Nikam and Shringla bring legal and diplomatic gravitas.
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Sadanandan Master represents resilience in the face of political violence and grassroots social work.
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Dr. Meenakshi Jain strengthens the BJP’s intellectual and cultural narrative in the academic domain.
This also signals the ruling establishment’s continued emphasis on rewarding loyalists and technocrats, while also acknowledging those who embody personal sacrifice and ideological alignment. With these additions, the Rajya Sabha gains voices from law, diplomacy, history, and grassroots service—each poised to influence upcoming legislative debates.
