Nineteen government bills are currently awaiting consideration in the Rajya Sabha, with some dating back to 1992. The oldest of these is The Constitution (Seventy-ninth Amendment) Bill, which seeks to promote population control by amending the Directive Principles of State Policy.

Unlike the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and is never dissolved. This means that bills introduced and pending in the Rajya Sabha do not lapse, unlike those in the Lok Sabha, which lapse upon the dissolution of the House. This unique characteristic contributes to the accumulation of pending legislation in the Upper House.

Among the pending bills is The Delhi Rent (Amendment) Bill, 1997, which aims to modernize rent control laws but has faced resistance from various groups.

The legislative process involves multiple readings in each House of Parliament. Bills are classified as Government Bills or Private Members' Bills, depending on whether they are introduced by a Minister or a Private Member. Content-wise, bills can be Original Bills, which introduce new proposals, ideas, or policies, or Amending Bills. Procedurally, bills are classified as Ordinary Bills, Money Bills, Financial Bills, or Constitution Amendment Bills.

The accumulation of pending bills in the Rajya Sabha raises questions about legislative efficiency and the timely resolution of important policy matters. The prolonged pendency of bills can hinder the implementation of necessary reforms and delay the enactment of laws that address pressing social and economic issues.