Part VI of the Constitution of India governs the State Legislature under Articles 168 through 212. Article 168 establishes that state legislatures comprise the Governor alongside one or two houses. While most Indian states maintain unicameral legislative assemblies (Vidhan Sabha), six states — Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh — possess bicameral legislatures with a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). Under Article 169, Parliament can create or abolish a Legislative Council if the concerned Legislative Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority under Article 368. Article 170 sets Vidhan Sabha membership limits between 60 and 500 directly elected members, subject to population adjustments and exceptions for smaller states like Sikkim and Goa. Article 171 restricts Vidhan Parishad strength to a maximum of one-third of the Legislative Assembly membership, with a minimum of 40 members. Vidhan Parishad members are chosen through a proportional representation system involving local bodies, graduates, teachers, MLAs, and gubernatorial nominations under Article 171(5). Unlike Parliament, the state legislative process does not feature joint sittings under Article 108; the Vidhan Sabha can override the Vidhan Parishad on ordinary bills through repeated passage.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
Article 168 establishes that the State Legislature consists of the Governor and the Legislative Assembly, plus the Legislative Council in bicameral states.
Currently, only six Indian states have a bicameral legislature: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Under Article 169, Parliament has the authority to abolish or create a Legislative Council if the State Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority.
The resolution under Article 169 requires a majority of the total assembly membership and a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
Article 170 mandates that a Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) shall consist of not more than 500 and not fewer than 60 directly elected members.
Constitutional exceptions allow assemblies with fewer than 60 members in Sikkim (32), Goa (40), Mizoram (40), and Puducherry (30).
Under Article 171, the total strength of a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) cannot exceed one-third of the total members in the Legislative Assembly.
The minimum constitutionally mandated strength for a Legislative Council under Article 171(1) is fixed at 40 members.
One-third of Vidhan Parishad members are elected by local bodies, one-third by MLAs, one-twelfth by graduates, and one-twelfth by teachers.
The Governor nominates one-sixth of Vidhan Parishad members from persons with practical experience in literature, science, art, cooperative movement, and social service.
Under Article 172, the normal tenure of a Vidhan Sabha is five years, while the Vidhan Parishad is a continuing body with one-third retiring every second year.
Article 173 prescribes the minimum qualifying age as 25 years for the Legislative Assembly and 30 years for the Legislative Council.
Unlike the Union Parliament under Article 108, the Indian Constitution provides no mechanism for a joint sitting to resolve legislative deadlocks in states.
A Legislative Council can delay an ordinary bill passed by the Assembly for a maximum of four months across two successive passages.
Under Article 198, Money Bills cannot originate in the Legislative Council, and the Council must return Money Bills within 14 days without rejection powers.
Under Article 371G of the Constitution of India, what is the mandated minimum statutory strength of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram?
Verified Explanation
Article 371G (inserted by 53rd Amendment Act 1986 following the historic Mizo Peace Accord) mandates that the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram shall consist of not less than 40 members.
2ID: GK-STUT-00451
mediumUnion Territories & Administration
Under the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, what is the statutory number of directly elected members in the Legislative Assembly of Puducherry?
Verified Explanation
The Legislative Assembly of Puducherry consists of 30 directly elected members from territorial constituencies, plus up to 3 members nominated by the Central Government.
3ID: GK-POL-00079
easyState Governments
Which is the minimum age prescribed to become a member of the State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha)?
Verified Explanation
Under Article 173(b), an Indian citizen must be at least 25 years of age to contest for the Legislative Assembly.
4ID: GK-POL-00165
easyState Government & Executives
What is the minimum age requirement to be elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of an Indian State?
Verified Explanation
Article 173(b) of the Constitution lays down a minimum age of 25 years for election to the State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and 30 years for the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad).
5ID: GK-POL-00262
easyState Government & Executives
What is the maximum permissible strength of a State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) prescribed by the Constitution under Article 170?
Verified Explanation
Article 170(1) states that the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members chosen by direct election.
6ID: GK-POL-00309
easyState Executive, Governor & State Legislature
Under which Article can the Governor of a State promulgate Ordinances during the recess of the State Legislative Assembly?
Verified Explanation
Article 213 empowers the Governor of a State to promulgate Ordinances when the State Legislative Assembly is not in session.
7ID: GK-POL-00312
easyState Government & Executives
What is the minimum permissible strength of a State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) prescribed under Article 170(1), subject to constitutional exceptions?
Verified Explanation
Article 170(1) prescribes that a State Legislative Assembly shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members chosen by direct election.
8ID: GK-POL-00409
hardState Government & Executives
Under Article 169 of the Indian Constitution, the Parliament can abolish or create a State Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) if the Legislative Assembly of the State passes a resolution by:
Verified Explanation
Article 169(1) requires the State Legislative Assembly to pass a resolution by a majority of the total membership of the Assembly and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
9ID: GK-POL-00482
easyState Government & Executives
What is the maximum permissible strength of members in a State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) under Article 170?
Verified Explanation
Article 170(1) prescribes that the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members chosen by direct election.
10ID: GK-POL-00549
easyState Government & Executives
What is the maximum permissible strength of the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) of any State in India as per Article 170?
Verified Explanation
Article 170(1) prescribes that the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members chosen by direct election.