President nominates Shringla, Nikam, Sadanandan, Meenakshi Jain to Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Jul 13: President of India has nominated four distinguished individuals — former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, Kerala teacher and BJP leader C. Sadanandan Master, and historian Dr. Meenakshi Jain — to the Rajya Sabha, as per a Gazette notification issued on Saturday.

These nominations fill the existing four vacancies among the 12 nominated seats in the Rajya Sabha, reserved for individuals with notable contributions to literature, arts, science, and public service.

Shringla, a seasoned diplomat, has served as India’s Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to the U.S., Bangladesh, and Thailand. Most recently, he was Chief Coordinator for India’s G20 Presidency in 2023.

Ujjwal Nikam gained national recognition for his role as Special Public Prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case. A prominent legal figure, Nikam also contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as the BJP candidate from Mumbai North Central.

1. Sadanandan Master, a teacher from Kerala and a BJP member, is known both for his political activism and personal resilience. He survived a brutal political attack in 1994 in which CPI(M) cadre allegedly severed both his legs. He later contested the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections.

Dr. Meenakshi Jain is a historian and former Associate Professor at Gargi College, University of Delhi. She is known for her scholarly work on Indian history and cultural studies.

The nominations are in line with the constitutional provision allowing the President to nominate individuals with distinguished contributions in their respective fields to the Rajya Sabha. (AGENCIES)