Prime Minister Modi honored 59 retiring Rajya Sabha members on March 18, 2026, praising their service and urging continued public contribution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi bid farewell to 59 retiring Rajya Sabha members during a biennial session on March 18, 2026, emphasizing that political service has no "full stop" and urging continued public engagement. He honored veteran leaders H. D. Deve Gowda, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sharad Pawar for their decades of dedication, praised outgoing Deputy Chairman Harivansh for youth outreach, and humorously acknowledged Union Minister Ramdas Athawale’s enduring presence. Modi described Parliament as an "open university" and highlighted the value of the bicameral system in strengthening democratic decision-making. The session followed biennial elections that filled 37 seats across 10 states, with 26 candidates elected unopposed.