The State Legislature is the principal law-making institution at the State level.
Under:
Article 168
the State Legislature consists of:
The State Legislature performs functions relating to:
For UPSC Prelims, the State Legislature is important because questions often test:
Article 168 deals with:
Constitution of Legislatures in States
The State Legislature consists of:
Governor + Legislative Assembly + Legislative Council, where applicable
"Governor is a member of the Legislative Assembly."
False
The Governor is a:
Component of the State Legislature
but is not a member of either House.
A State Legislature may have:
Only Legislative Assembly
or:
Legislative Assembly + Legislative Council
A State with a Legislative Council has a:
Bicameral Legislature
A State with only an Assembly has a:
Unicameral Legislature
"Every State has a Legislative Council."
False
The Legislative Council exists only in some States.
Article 169 deals with:
Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils
Parliament may create or abolish a Legislative Council if the State Legislative Assembly passes a resolution by:
Special Majority
The resolution requires:
"State Assembly itself creates the Legislative Council."
False
The Assembly passes the required resolution, but:
Parliament makes the law
The Assembly's resolution is:
Necessary
but:
Not Sufficient by itself
The final law is made by:
Parliament
Assembly Resolution
↓
Parliament
↓
Create / Abolish Council
Legislative Assembly
5. Article 170
Article 170 deals with:
Composition of Legislative Assemblies
Members are generally:
Directly elected by the people
6. Maximum and Minimum Strength
The Legislative Assembly normally consists of:
Not more than 500
and:
Not less than 60
members.
The Constitution allows exceptions for certain smaller States through Parliamentary law.
Trap
"Every State Assembly must have at least 60 members."
False
There are constitutional exceptions for certain smaller States.
7. Direct Election
Members of the Legislative Assembly are:
Directly elected
by the people.
Trap
"All State legislators are directly elected."
False
Legislative Council members are elected or nominated through different methods.
8. Term of Legislative Assembly
Under:
Article 172
the normal term of a Legislative Assembly is:
Five Years
from the date appointed for its first meeting.
It may be dissolved earlier.
9. Extension During National Emergency
During a:
National Emergency
Parliament may extend the term of a Legislative Assembly by:
One year at a time
However, such extension cannot continue beyond:
Six months after the Emergency ceases
Trap
"Assembly can be extended indefinitely during Emergency."
False
There are constitutional limits.
Legislative Council
10. Article 171
Article 171 deals with:
Composition of Legislative Councils
The total number of members of a Legislative Council shall not exceed:
One-third of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly
and shall not be less than:
40
11. Legislative Council — Composition
Members are elected or nominated through different categories.
Broadly:
About one-third by elected members of local authorities
About one-twelfth by graduates
About one-twelfth by teachers
About one-third by members of the Legislative Assembly
Remaining members nominated by the Governor
Trap
"All Legislative Council members are elected."
False
The Governor nominates:
One-sixth
of the total members.
12. Governor's Nomination to Council
The Governor nominates members having special knowledge or practical experience in:
Literature
Science
Art
Cooperative movement
Social service
Trap
"Governor nominates one-third of Legislative Council members."
False
The Governor nominates:
One-sixth
13. Permanent House
The Legislative Council is:
A Permanent House
It is not subject to dissolution.
14. Retirement of Council Members
One-third of Legislative Council members retire:
Every Two Years
Therefore:
Council → Permanent
1/3 → Retires Every 2 Years
15. Assembly vs Council — Term
Feature Assembly Council
Nature Temporary House Permanent House
Normal term 5 years Permanent
Dissolution Can be dissolved Cannot be dissolved
Retirement Entire House may end 1/3 members retire every 2 years
Qualifications and Disqualifications
16. Article 173
Article 173 provides qualifications for membership of State Legislature.
A person must:
Be a citizen of India
Take the prescribed oath/affirmation
Satisfy age requirements
Meet statutory qualifications where applicable
Age:
25 years → Legislative Assembly
30 years → Legislative Council
Trap
"Minimum age for Assembly and Council is the same."
False
Assembly → 25
Council → 30
17. Article 191
Article 191 deals with:
Disqualification for membership of State Legislature
Disqualification may arise from:
Office of profit
Unsound mind as declared by competent court
Undischarged insolvent status
Loss of citizenship / foreign allegiance
Disqualification under Parliamentary law
Defection under the Tenth Schedule
Sessions and Proceedings
18. Article 174
Article 174 deals with:
Summoning
Prorogation
Dissolution
The Governor summons the Legislature.
There cannot ordinarily be more than:
Six months
between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next session.
Trap
"Governor must summon the Legislature every six months."
Not precise
The constitutional requirement concerns the:
Maximum gap between sessions
19. Prorogation
Prorogation means:
End of a Session
It does not end the life of the Legislative Assembly.
Memory
Prorogation → Session Ends
20. Dissolution
Dissolution means:
End of the Legislative Assembly
It does not apply to the Legislative Council because the Council is permanent.
Memory
Dissolution → Assembly Ends
Governor and Legislature
21. Article 175
The Governor may:
Address the Legislative Assembly
Address both Houses together
Send messages to either House
22. Article 176
Article 176 provides for the Governor's:
Special Address
It occurs:
At the first session after each general election to the Assembly
At the first session of each year
Trap
"Governor addresses the Legislature at the beginning of every session."
False
The special address under Article 176 occurs in the specified circumstances.
23. Motion of Thanks
The Motion of Thanks is associated with:
Governor's Address
It provides an opportunity for broad discussion of:
Government policy
Legislative programme
Administrative performance
Legislative Procedure
24. Ordinary Bills
An ordinary Bill may originate in:
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council, where the State has one
A Bill must eventually complete the constitutionally prescribed legislative process and receive the Governor's assent or be dealt with under Article 200.
25. Money Bills
A Money Bill can be introduced only in the:
Legislative Assembly
and not in the Legislative Council.
26. Speaker and Money Bill
The:
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
decides whether a Bill is a:
Money Bill
Trap
"Governor decides whether a State Bill is a Money Bill."
False
The Speaker decides.
27. Legislative Council and Money Bill
The Legislative Council:
Cannot introduce a Money Bill
Cannot reject a Money Bill
Can make recommendations
Must return it within 14 days
The Assembly may accept or reject the recommendations.
Memory
Council → Recommend
Assembly → Final Authority
28. No Joint Sitting
There is:
No provision for Joint Sitting of State Legislature
to resolve disagreement between Assembly and Council.
This is an important difference from Parliament.
Trap
"State Legislature has a Joint Sitting like Parliament."
False
Governor's Assent
29. Article 200
After a Bill is passed, it is presented to the:
Governor
The constitutional options include:
Assent
Withholding assent
Returning a non-Money Bill for reconsideration
Reserving the Bill for the President
30. Returning a Bill
The Governor can return:
A Bill other than a Money Bill
for reconsideration.
Trap
"Governor can return a Money Bill."
False
31. Repassed Bill
If a non-Money Bill is returned and the Legislature passes it again:
Governor cannot withhold assent
under the constitutional scheme.
32. Reservation for President
The Governor may reserve a Bill for:
President's consideration
under Article 200.
Article 201 deals with:
Bills reserved for the President
Financial Procedure
33. Article 202
Article 202 deals with:
Annual Financial Statement
It is commonly referred to as:
State Budget
34. Demands for Grants
Article 203 deals with:
Demands for Grants
Only the:
Legislative Assembly
votes on Demands for Grants.
Trap
"Legislative Council votes on Demands for Grants."
False
35. Charged Expenditure
Charged expenditure:
Is charged on the Consolidated Fund
Is not submitted to vote
Can be discussed
Memory:
Charged → Discussed, Not Voted
36. Appropriation Bill
Article 204 deals with:
Appropriation Bills
It provides for appropriation from the:
Consolidated Fund of the State
It covers:
Grants voted by the Assembly
Charged expenditure
37. Article 205
Article 205 deals with:
Supplementary Grants
Additional Grants
Excess Grants
Memory:
205 → S-A-E
38. Article 206
Article 206 deals with:
Vote on Account
Vote of Credit
Exceptional Grant
Memory:
206 → Account + Credit + Exceptional
39. Article 207
Article 207 deals with:
Financial Bills
Cut Motions
40. Policy Cut
Policy Cut proposes reduction of a Demand to:
Re. 1
It expresses:
Disapproval of Policy
41. Economy Cut
Economy Cut proposes reduction by:
A Specified Amount
It seeks:
Economy in Expenditure
42. Token Cut
Token Cut proposes reduction by:
₹100
It seeks to:
Ventilate a Specific Grievance
Memory
Policy → Re. 1
Economy → Specified
Token → ₹100
Parliamentary Devices
43. Question Hour
Question Hour is primarily used to:
Seek Information from Ministers
Starred Question
Oral Answer
and supplementary questions may follow.
Unstarred Question
Written Answer
Short Notice Question
Urgent Matter
44. Zero Hour
Zero Hour:
Is not mentioned in the Constitution
Developed through parliamentary practice
Generally follows Question Hour
Is used to raise urgent matters
Trap
"Zero Hour is a constitutional provision."
False
45. Calling Attention
Calling Attention allows a member to draw the attention of a:
Minister
to an:
Urgent matter of public importance
46. Adjournment Motion
An Adjournment Motion seeks to interrupt normal business to discuss a:
Definite matter of urgent public importance
Memory:
Adjournment → Interrupt + Discuss
47. No-Confidence Motion
A No-Confidence Motion tests whether the:
Council of Ministers enjoys the confidence of the Legislative Assembly
It is relevant to:
Legislative Assembly
not Legislative Council.
48. Confidence Motion
A Confidence Motion demonstrates:
Government's Majority Support
49. Censure Motion
A Censure Motion criticises a:
Specific policy, action or failure
Memory
Censure → Specific
No-Confidence → Government
Legislative Privileges
50. Article 194
Article 194 deals with:
Powers, privileges and immunities of State Legislatures
The corresponding Parliamentary provision is:
Article 105
Trap
"Article 105 deals with State Legislature privileges."
False
105 → Parliament
194 → States
51. Legislative Speech
Members enjoy:
Freedom of Speech in the Legislature
and protection concerning certain legislative speech and votes.
However:
Legislative Privilege is not Absolute
52. Judicial Review of Privilege
Courts can examine the constitutional limits of legislative privilege in appropriate cases.
Important cases include:
Keshav Singh
M.S.M. Sharma
Raja Ram Pal
Amarinder Singh
Anti-Defection
53. Tenth Schedule
The Anti-Defection Law is contained in:
Tenth Schedule
It was introduced by:
52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985
54. Main Grounds
A member may face disqualification for:
Voluntarily giving up party membership
Voting or abstaining contrary to party direction without required permission
Independent member joining a political party after election
Nominated member joining a party after six months
55. Merger Exception
The current merger exception requires:
At least Two-Thirds
of the legislature party.
Trap
"One-third split is still an exception."
False
The split exception was removed by:
91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003
56. Decision-Maker
For the Legislative Assembly:
Speaker
For the Legislative Council:
Chairman
Decision is subject to:
Judicial Review
Legislative Committees
57. Public Accounts Committee
PAC examines:
CAG reports
Appropriation Accounts
Finance Accounts
Financial irregularities
Memory:
PAC → Past Spending
58. Estimates Committee
Estimates Committee examines:
Budget estimates
Economy
Efficiency
Administrative improvements
Memory:
Estimates → Future Spending
59. Committee on Public Undertakings
Examines:
Public Undertakings
and their financial and administrative performance according to applicable legislative rules.
State Legislature and Judiciary
60. Judicial Review
State laws may be challenged when they:
Violate Fundamental Rights
Exceed legislative competence
Violate constitutional provisions
Therefore:
State Legislature → Subject to Judicial Review
61. Article 226
High Courts can issue writs for:
Fundamental Rights
Other purposes
Trap
"Article 226 is limited only to Fundamental Rights."
False
It is:
Wider than Article 32
62. Article 211
Article 211 restricts discussion in a State Legislature regarding the conduct of:
Supreme Court judges
High Court judges
in the discharge of their duties, except as provided in the constitutional removal process.
Centre-State Relations
63. Article 245
Deals with:
Extent of Laws
64. Article 246
Deals with:
Distribution of Legislative Powers
65. Article 248
Residuary legislative powers belong to:
Parliament
Trap
"Residuary powers belong to States."
False
66. Article 249
Parliament can legislate on State List matters in:
National Interest
after the required Rajya Sabha resolution.
Memory:
249 → National Interest
67. Article 250
Parliament can legislate on State List matters during:
National Emergency
Memory:
250 → Emergency
68. Article 252
Parliament can legislate on State List matters when:
Two or more State Legislatures request Parliament
Memory:
252 → State Request
69. Article 253
Parliament can legislate to implement:
Treaties and International Agreements
Memory:
253 → International
70. Article 254
Deals with:
Repugnancy between Parliamentary and State laws
in the:
Concurrent List
Normally:
Parliamentary Law Prevails
subject to the constitutional scheme of Article 254(2).
71. Article 356
During President's Rule:
Parliament may exercise the legislative powers of the State Legislature
Women's Representation
72. 106th Constitutional Amendment
The 106th Amendment, 2023 introduced:
Article 332A
providing a framework for reservation of approximately:
One-Third
of directly elected seats in State Legislative Assemblies for women.
73. Article 334A
Article 334A links implementation to:
Census + Delimitation
The reservation is not immediately applied merely by the passage of the 106th Amendment.
74. Legislative Council and Women's Reservation
The Article 332A reservation applies to:
Legislative Assemblies
not Legislative Councils.
Trap
"One-third of Legislative Council seats are constitutionally reserved for women."
False
Governor and Legislature
75. Article 168
Governor is:
A Component of State Legislature
but:
Not a Member of Either House
76. Governor's Legislative Functions
Governor may:
Summon
Prorogue
Dissolve Assembly
Address Legislature
Send messages
Give assent
Return non-Money Bill
Reserve Bill for President
77. Article 171
Governor nominates:
One-Sixth
of Legislative Council members.
Important Supreme Court Cases
78. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India
Article 356 + Floor Test + Federalism + Judicial Review
79. Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu
Anti-Defection + Speaker + Judicial Review
80. Nabam Rebia v. Deputy Speaker
Governor + Legislative Assembly
81. Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India
Bihar Assembly Dissolution + Article 356
82. Keisham Meghachandra Singh
Delay in Anti-Defection Decisions
83. Subhash Desai
Maharashtra Political Crisis + Governor + Speaker + Tenth Schedule
84. M. Karunanidhi
Article 254 + Repugnancy
85. Keshav Singh
Legislative Privilege + Judiciary
86. Amarinder Singh
State Legislative Privilege + Judicial Review
High-Yield Article Map
87. Articles 168–177
168 → State Legislature
169 → Creation / Abolition of Legislative Council
170 → Legislative Assembly
171 → Legislative Council
172 → Duration
173 → Qualifications
174 → Sessions / Prorogation / Dissolution
175 → Governor's Address / Messages
176 → Special Address
177 → Ministers and Advocate General
88. Articles 178–187
178 → Speaker / Deputy Speaker
179 → Vacation / Resignation / Removal
180 → Deputy Speaker's functions
181 → Speaker not to preside in certain cases
182 → Chairman / Deputy Chairman
183 → Vacation / Resignation / Removal
184 → Deputy Chairman's functions
185 → Chairman not to preside in certain cases
186 → Salaries and allowances
187 → Secretariat of Legislature
89. Articles 188–195
188 → Oath / Affirmation
189 → Voting / Quorum
190 → Vacation of Seats
191 → Disqualification
192 → Decision on Disqualification
193 → Penalty for sitting / voting when not qualified
194 → Legislative Privileges
195 → Salaries and allowances
90. Articles 196–207
196 → Introduction and passing of Bills
197 → Legislative Council's limitation on ordinary Bills
198 → Money Bills
199 → Definition of Money Bill
200 → Governor's assent
201 → Bills reserved for President
202 → Annual Financial Statement
203 → Demands for Grants
204 → Appropriation Bills
205 → Supplementary / Additional / Excess Grants
206 → Vote on Account / Credit / Exceptional Grant
207 → Financial Bills
UPSC Prelims Mega Traps
91. Trap — Governor
"Governor is a member of the Legislative Assembly."
False
Governor is a component of the State Legislature.
92. Trap — Legislative Council
"Legislative Council can be dissolved."
False
It is a permanent House.
93. Trap — Legislative Assembly
"Assembly is always permanent."
False
It is subject to dissolution.
94. Trap — Money Bill
"Money Bill can originate in Legislative Council."
False
Only Legislative Assembly.
95. Trap — Joint Sitting
"Joint sitting resolves disagreement between Assembly and Council."
False
No Joint Sitting provision exists for State Legislature.
96. Trap — Demands for Grants
"Council votes on Demands for Grants."
False
Only Assembly votes.
97. Trap — Charged Expenditure
"Charged expenditure is neither voted nor discussed."
False
It is:
Not Voted
but:
Can Be Discussed
98. Trap — Anti-Defection
"Speaker's decision is final and cannot be challenged."
False
It is subject to:
Judicial Review
99. Trap — Governor's Assent
"Governor can return Money Bill."
False
A Money Bill cannot be returned for reconsideration.
100. Trap — Residuary Powers
"Residuary powers belong to States."
False
They belong to:
Parliament
101. Trap — State List
"Parliament can never legislate on State List."
False
Articles:
249, 250, 252, 253, 356
provide exceptions.
102. Trap — Women's Reservation
"Article 332A immediately reserves one-third seats in all State Assemblies."
False
Implementation is linked to:
Census + Delimitation
under Article 334A.
103. Trap — Legislative Privilege
"Legislative privilege is absolute."
False
It is subject to constitutional limits and judicial review in appropriate cases.
104. Trap — Council Composition
"Governor nominates one-third of Legislative Council."
False
Governor nominates:
One-Sixth
105. Trap — Minimum Age
"Minimum age is 25 for both Assembly and Council."
False
Assembly → 25
Council → 30
Final Prelims Revision Sheet
106. One-Line Article Revision
168 → Legislature
169 → Council Creation/Abolition
170 → Assembly
171 → Council
172 → Duration
173 → Qualifications
174 → Sessions
175 → Address/Messages
176 → Special Address
178 → Speaker
182 → Chairman
188 → Oath
189 → Voting/Quorum
190 → Seats
191 → Disqualification
194 → Privileges
196 → Bills
197 → Council limitation
198 → Money Bills
199 → Money Bill definition
200 → Governor
201 → President
202 → Budget
203 → Demands
204 → Appropriation
205 → SAE Grants
206 → ACE Grants
207 → Financial Bills
107. Three Most Important Numbers
60 / 500
→ Normal Assembly strength range, subject to constitutional exceptions.
1/3 / 40
→ Legislative Council maximum relative strength and minimum strength.
25 / 30
→ Minimum age for Assembly / Council.
108. Three Most Important Financial Numbers
Re. 1
→ Policy Cut
₹100
→ Token Cut
14 Days
→ Legislative Council's time for a Money Bill
109. Three Most Important Anti-Defection Numbers
15 Days
→ Condonation of voting/abstention violation
2/3
→ Merger Exception
6 Months
→ Nominated Member's party-joining window
110. Three Most Important Women's Reservation Points
106th Amendment, 2023
→ Constitutional framework
Article 332A
→ 1/3 reservation in State Legislative Assemblies
Article 334A
→ Census + Delimitation + implementation framework
111. Ultimate UPSC Formula
STATE LEGISLATURE
168 → Structure
169 → Council
170–171 → Composition
172–173 → Term + Qualifications
174–177 → Governor + Sessions
178–187 → Presiding Officers
188–195 → Members + Privileges
196–201 → Bills
202–207 → Finance
191 + Tenth Schedule → Disqualification
226 → Judicial Review
245–254 → Centre-State Legislative Relations
332A + 334A → Women's Reservation
Final Memory Chain
Structure → Membership → Sessions → Officers → Bills → Finance → Privileges → Defection → Judiciary → Federalism → Representation