Difference between Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha

Q: What is the main difference between Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha?

Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Indian Parliament at the national level, whereas Vidhan Sabha is the lower house at the state level.

Q: How are members elected to Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha?

Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly by the elected MLAs of State Legislative Assemblies. Vidhan Sabha members are elected directly by the public through general elections.

Q: Can Rajya Sabha be dissolved like Vidhan Sabha?

No, Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved. However, one-third of its members retire every two years. In contrast, Vidhan Sabha has a fixed term of 5 years, subject to dissolution.

Q: Who presides over the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha?

The Vice President of India is the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, while the Speaker presides over the Vidhan Sabha.

Q: Does every state have a Vidhan Sabha?

Yes, every state in India has a Vidhan Sabha. Union territories like Delhi and Puducherry also have Legislative Assemblies.

Table of Contents☰

India is a democratic country which has the legislature, divided at the Centre and State levels. The Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha are two important legislative bodies serving at different levels of governance. While both perform legislative functions, their composition, powers, and functioning vary significantly. Both of them share a common goal of serving the nation, but are assigned with varied responsibilities.

Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of the Parliament of India. It represents the states and union territories at the national level. Members are elected indirectly and serve overlapping terms, making it a permanent body that is not subject to dissolution.

Key Features of Rajya Sabha

Also known as the Council of States.
Maximum strength is 250 members (currently 245).
Members are elected by State Legislative Assemblies through proportional representation.
The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman.
Serves as a permanent body with one-third members retiring every 2 years.

Vidhan Sabha

The Vidhan Sabha, or Legislative Assembly, is the Lower House of the State Legislature in India. It plays a crucial role in law-making at the state level and holds the executive accountable within the state.

Key Features of Vidhan Sabha

It exists in all states and certain union territories (like Delhi, Puducherry).
Members are directly elected by the public.
Maximum strength varies by state; for example, Uttar Pradesh has 403 members.
The Governor of the state summons and prorogues the sessions.
Subject to dissolution every 5 years or earlier in special cases

Difference between Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha

The President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha (Upper House) forms the Parliament of India. The State Legislature includes the lower house which is known as the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha). Difference between Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha is discussed in the table below:

Difference between Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha
Aspect	Rajya Sabha	Vidhan Sabha
Level of Government	National (Central Government)	State (State Government)
Type of House	Upper House of Parliament	Lower House of State Legislature
Total Strength	Maximum 250 members	Varies by state; maximum 500 members
Current Strength	245 members	Depends on state; e.g., 403 in Uttar Pradesh
Election Process	Indirect election by MLAs (Proportional system)	Direct election by people (First-past-the-post)
Chairperson	Vice President of India	Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha
Tenure	Permanent body; 1/3 members retire every 2 years	5 years (unless dissolved earlier)
Representation	States and Union Territories	People of the respective state
Powers	Limited financial powers	Full authority over state subjects and finances
Existence in Union Territories	Not applicable	Exists in some UTs like Delhi, Puducherry

Difference Between Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha Key Points

Rajya Sabha ensures representation of states at the Centre, while Vidhan Sabha works on issues specific to a state.
Rajya Sabha can recommend laws, but cannot initiate or amend money bills, this is the sole prerogative of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha.
Members of Rajya Sabha are elected by MLAs, while Vidhan Sabha members are elected directly by the citizens.
Vidhan Sabha plays a crucial role in forming and controlling the state government, including passing the state budget.

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