India’s President on 13 July 2025 nominated senior criminal lawyer Ujjwal Nikam to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament. Nikam is one of four individuals selected under Article 80 of the Constitution, which allows the head of state to appoint people with special contributions to literature, science, art or public service. Nikam gained national prominence for leading the prosecution in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case, commonly referred to as 26/11, and has appeared in several other high-profile trials over a career spanning more than four decades. Speaking to reporters, the 68-year-old advocate said Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned him early in the morning to relay the news, first asking whether he should converse in Marathi or Hindi. Nikam called the appointment a "challenge" and a recognition of his years of work in upholding justice.