New Delhi (13.07.2025): Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla (Retd IFS: 1984), whose name did round for contesting 2024 Lok Sabah elections from Darjeeling, has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Renowned criminal lawyer Ujjwal Deorao Nikam who contested LS Poll from Mumbai, Historian Meenakshi Jain and veteran social worker and educationist from Kerala C Sadanandan Maste too have made it to the list of RS nominations. 

These nominations are made by the President of India under Article 80 of the Constitution, which provides for the appointment of individuals with exceptional expertise or experience in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service.

Harsh Vardhan Shringla served as India's Foreign Secretary from January 2020 to April 2022. He played a key role in managing India's external affairs during the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meenakshi Jain’s book on Ayodhya, Mathura, Sati and Hindu temples brought accolade to her. She was honoured with Padma Sri. Ujjwal Nikam’s fearless fight against terrorist cases including of Ajmal Kasab made him household name. On the night of January 24, 1994, at the age of 30, in a shocking act of political violence both the legs of C Sadanandan Maste were chopped off.