What is the minimum number of members of the Legislative Council of States in India?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

Uttarakhand (Patwari/Lekhpal) Official Paper (Held On: 8 Jan 2023)

Answer 1

The correct answer is 40.

Key Points

The minimum number of members in the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) of a state in India is 40.
The maximum number of members allowed in the Legislative Council is one-third of the total membership of the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) of that state.
The Legislative Council is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved, but one-third of its members retire every two years.
Currently, only a few states in India have a Legislative Council, including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
The establishment or abolition of a Legislative Council in a state is governed by Article 169 of the Indian Constitution.

Additional Information

Article 169 of the Constitution:
- Provides the procedure for the creation or abolition of Legislative Councils in states.
- A resolution must be passed by the Legislative Assembly with a special majority to initiate the process.
Composition of Legislative Councils:
- Members are elected through various methods such as elections by the Legislative Assembly, local authorities, graduates, teachers, and nomination by the Governor.
Role of Legislative Council:
- Acts as a revisory body for the Legislative Assembly.
- Can delay legislation but cannot permanently block bills passed by the Legislative Assembly.
States with Legislative Councils:
- As of now, only six states in India have Legislative Councils.
- Efforts to create or abolish Legislative Councils are often influenced by political considerations.