President Murmu nominates educationist Satnam Singh Sandhu to Rajya Sabha
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday nominated educationist, agriculturist, and philanthropist Satnam Singh Sandhu to the Rajya Sabha. In a notification, the president's office said that Sandhu's nomination fills a vacancy left by a retiring member. Both Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Sandhu's nomination to the Upper House. Out of the 250 members of the Rajya Sabha, 12 are nominated by the president, while the other 238 are elected.
Why does this story matter?
Sandhu's nomination came a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) said that 56 seats of the Rajya Sabha from 15 states will go to polls on February 27. The term of 50 members from 13 states will conclude on April 2, while six members from two states will retire on April 3.
Sandhu is founder of Chandigarh University
Born into a farming family, Sandhu established the Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC) at Landran in Mohali, Punjab, in 2001. In 2012, he founded the Chandigarh University. Despite facing challenges in his early life, Sandhu became a dedicated philanthropist, often providing financial aid to students. In addition to his educational pursuits, he is an agriculturist and actively participates in community efforts to promote health and wellness.
Vice president welcomes Sandhu's nomination
PM Modi congratulates Sandhu on his nomination
Philanthropist and educationist
Sandhu also actively engages in community initiatives to enhance the health and wellness of the public. Managing two NGOs, the Indian Minorities Foundation and the New India Development (NID) Foundation, he works toward fostering communal harmony in the nation. "His rich work in community service and his passion toward education, innovation, and learning will be big sources of strength for the Rajya Sabha," Dhankhar said.
