Bhubaneswar, Feb. 18 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced the schedule for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha to fill 37 vacant seats, including four from Odisha. The vacancies arise due to the retirement of sitting members whose terms are set to expire in April 2026.

In an official press note issued on February 18, 2026, the Commission stated that the terms of 37 members elected from 10 states will conclude in April. To fill these vacancies, the ECI has decided to conduct biennial elections in accordance with the established electoral process.

As per the notified schedule, the election notification will be issued on February 26, 2026. The last date for filing nominations is March 5, and scrutiny of no...