The State Legislature (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-I

Total Questions: 50

21. In which of the following States Legislative Council does not exist? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]

Correct Answer: (c) Rajasthan
Solution:The State Legislative Council, also known as the Vidhan Parishad, is the upper house in the bicameral legislature of some states in India. Modelled after the Rajya Sabha at the central level, the Council plays an advisory and reviewing role in the legislative process of the state. Currently, six states are having a legislative council. They are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.
While not all Indian states have a Legislative Council, those that do follow a bicameral system, include both the State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the State Legislative Council. Bicameralism in the states is seen as a way to provide broader representation and allow for more detailed scrutiny of legislative matters.. The constitutional framework governing the State Legislative Council is primarily detailed in Articles 169, 171, and 172 of the Indian Constitution. These articles outline the establishment, composition, and duration of the Council.
  • Article 169: It grants Parliament the authority to create or abolish a State Legislative Council by a simple majority, contingent upon a resolution passed by the state's Legislative Assembly by a special majority. However, the resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly is not binding on Parliament.
  • Article 171: It outlines the composition of the State Legislative Council.
  • Article 172: It addresses the duration of the Council, indicating that its members serve for six years, with one-third of them retiring every two years.

22. Which one of the following States does not have a bicameral legislature? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

Correct Answer: (b) M.P.
Solution:The State Legislative Council, also known as the Vidhan Parishad, is the upper house in the bicameral legislature of some states in India. Modelled after the Rajya Sabha at the central level, the Council plays an advisory and reviewing role in the legislative process of the state. Currently, six states are having a legislative council. They are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.
While not all Indian states have a Legislative Council, those that do follow a bicameral system, include both the State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the State Legislative Council. Bicameralism in the states is seen as a way to provide broader representation and allow for more detailed scrutiny of legislative matters.. The constitutional framework governing the State Legislative Council is primarily detailed in Articles 169, 171, and 172 of the Indian Constitution. These articles outline the establishment, composition, and duration of the Council.
  • Article 169: It grants Parliament the authority to create or abolish a State Legislative Council by a simple majority, contingent upon a resolution passed by the state's Legislative Assembly by a special majority. However, the resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly is not binding on Parliament.
  • Article 171: It outlines the composition of the State Legislative Council.
  • Article 172: It addresses the duration of the Council, indicating that its members serve for six years, with one-third of them retiring every two years.

23. Legislative Council exists in which of the following states? [40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]

(1) Kerala

(2) Himachal Pradesh

(3) Delhi

(4) Bihar

Select your answer from the following codes:

Correct Answer: (d) only 4
Solution:The State Legislative Council, also known as the Vidhan Parishad, is the upper house in the bicameral legislature of some states in India. Modelled after the Rajya Sabha at the central level, the Council plays an advisory and reviewing role in the legislative process of the state. Currently, six states are having a legislative council. They are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.
While not all Indian states have a Legislative Council, those that do follow a bicameral system, include both the State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the State Legislative Council. Bicameralism in the states is seen as a way to provide broader representation and allow for more detailed scrutiny of legislative matters.. The constitutional framework governing the State Legislative Council is primarily detailed in Articles 169, 171, and 172 of the Indian Constitution. These articles outline the establishment, composition, and duration of the Council.
  • Article 169: It grants Parliament the authority to create or abolish a State Legislative Council by a simple majority, contingent upon a resolution passed by the state's Legislative Assembly by a special majority. However, the resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly is not binding on Parliament.
  • Article 171: It outlines the composition of the State Legislative Council.
  • Article 172: It addresses the duration of the Council, indicating that its members serve for six years, with one-third of them retiring every two years.

24. How many re-organised States had Bicameral Legislatures in 1956? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]

Correct Answer: (e) 7
Solution:After the reorganisation in the year 1956, 7 out of the total 14 states had Bicameral Legislature - (1) Uttar Pradesh, (2) Bihar, (3) Bombay (Maharashtra), (4) Madras (Tamil Nadu), (5) Mysore (Karnataka), (6) Punjab (7) West Bengal. of these, the Legislative council was abolished in 1969 in West Bengal, 1970 in Punjab and 1986 in Tamil Nadu. The Legislative council in Jammu and Kashmir was (b) 20 established under the constitution adopted by Jammu and kashmir in 1957. At present six states including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have Legislative Councils. The legislative council of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir has been abolished since 31st October, 2019,

25. According to Article 170 of the Indian Constitution, the minimum and maximum strength of members of Legislative Assembly in a state can be respectively: [U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (d) 60 and 500
Solution:Article 170 relates to "Composition of the Legislative Assemblies." It says that subject to the provisions of Article 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five hundred, and not less than sixty, members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State. The State of Sikkim is an exception to this Law. The Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim consists of 32 members.

26. Which one of the following states is an exception to the provision of Article 170 which says that State Legislative Assembly of a State shall consist of not less than sixty members? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]

Correct Answer: (a) Sikkim
Solution:Article 170 relates to "Composition of the Legislative Assemblies." It says that subject to the provisions of Article 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five hundred, and not less than sixty, members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State. The State of Sikkim is an exception to this Law. The Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim consists of 32 members.

About Sikkim

  • Became an Indian protectorate in 1950, retaining internal autonomy while India managed defence, external affairs, and communications.
  • In 1974, Sikkim's assembly passed a resolution to merge with India, followed by a 1975 referendum in which over 97% of voters voted in favour.
  • On May 16, 1975, Sikkim became inma's 22nd state, marking the end of the monarchy and the establishment of democratic governance.
  • Sikkim Statehood Day is celebrated annually on May 16 to honour this integration and ongoing progress.
  • Article 371F: Special provisions to protect Sikkim's unique cultural identity, land rights, and local laws.

27. Consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2008]

The Constitution of India provides that:

1. The Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 450 members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State.

2. A person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in the Legislative Assembly of a State if he/ she is less than 25 years of age.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:
  • The Legislative Assembly, commonly known as Vidhan Sabha, or the lower House of the State Legislature, is elected directly by people in the State, on the basis of the system of adult franchise, for a period of 5 years.
  • Article 170(1) provides that the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members.
  • For electing the members, the State is divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, same throughout the State. It is required with the object of maintaining uniformity in the scale of representation of the different constituencies.
  • The Constitution provides for the reservation of seats in the Legislative assemblies of the States for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes

28. What can be the maximum number of members in the Legislative Assembly of a State in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]

Correct Answer: (c) 500
Solution:
  • The Legislative Assembly, commonly known as Vidhan Sabha, or the lower House of the State Legislature, is elected directly by people in the State, on the basis of the system of adult franchise, for a period of 5 years.
  • Article 170(1) provides that the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members.
  • For electing the members, the State is divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, same throughout the State. It is required with the object of maintaining uniformity in the scale of representation of the different constituencies.
  • The Constitution provides for the reservation of seats in the Legislative assemblies of the States for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes

29. Which of the following Articles of Indian Constitution consists the provision of the election of Legislative Assemblies of States __________. [40 B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]

Correct Answer: (a) Article 170
Solution:
  • The Legislative Assembly, commonly known as Vidhan Sabha, or the lower House of the State Legislature, is elected directly by people in the State, on the basis of the system of adult franchise, for a period of 5 years.
  • Article 170(1) provides that the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members.
  • For electing the members, the State is divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, same throughout the State. It is required with the object of maintaining uniformity in the scale of representation of the different constituencies.
  • The Constitution provides for the reservation of seats in the Legislative assemblies of the States for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes

30. What is the minimum age limit prescribed for the membership of Legislative Assembly? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (b) 25 years
Solution:According to Article 173(b), not less than 25 years of age is required for the membership of the Legislative Assembly, while the minimum age limit for Legislative Council is 30 years.
  • The Legislative Assembly, commonly known as Vidhan Sabha, or the lower House of the State Legislature, is elected directly by people in the State, on the basis of the system of adult franchise, for a period of 5 years.
  • Article 170(1) provides that the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members.
  • For electing the members, the State is divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, same throughout the State. It is required with the object of maintaining uniformity in the scale of representation of the different constituencies.
  • The Constitution provides for the reservation of seats in the Legislative assemblies of the States for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes