{"id":131297,"date":"2026-10-31T11:57:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T06:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=131297"},"modified":"2026-10-31T11:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T06:27:14","slug":"state-legislative-councils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/state-legislative-councils\/","title":{"rendered":"State Legislative Councils: Composition, Elections and Relevance"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>State Legislative Councils Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, elections were held for 28 Legislative Council seats in four states. These polls have drawn attention to the unusual and complex system used to elect Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs). Unlike Assembly elections, not every adult citizen can vote in them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>A Second Chamber for States<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has two types of legislatures. <\/span><b>Unicameral<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> legislatures have one House. <\/span><b>Bicameral<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> legislatures have two Houses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constitution makes Parliament bicameral, with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For states, however, a second chamber is <\/span><b>optional<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This chamber is called the <\/span><b>Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Debate in the Constituent Assembly<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The framers disagreed on whether states needed a second chamber.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Arguments in favour:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would bring diverse viewpoints into lawmaking.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would act as a voice of reason.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would check hasty decisions of the directly elected House.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Arguments against:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would be expensive.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would slow down government action.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parties could use its seats to reward loyalists.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The framers reached a middle path. They <\/span><b>let states decide<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> whether they want a Council.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also capped its size and limited its powers. This created a unique institution.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Present Status<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, <\/span><b>six states have Legislative Councils<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uttar Pradesh has the largest Council (100 seats). <\/span><b>Telangana has the smallest<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (40 seats).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Representation of the People Act, 1950 also provides seats for Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, but their Councils are not operational.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Composition of the Council<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 171 governs the size and structure of Councils.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Minimum size<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 40 members.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Maximum size<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: One-third of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Members are chosen as follows:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One-third elected by MLAs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One-third elected by members of local bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One-twelfth elected by graduates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One-twelfth elected by teachers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The remaining nominated by the Governor.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Representation of the People Act, 1950 lays down the exact seat break-up for each Council.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Key Features of MLC Membership<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Term:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Six years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Continuity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> One-third of members retire every two years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Eligibility:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A candidate must be at least 30 years old and a voter in the state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nominations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Governor nominates residents with expertise in literature, science, art, the co-operative movement and social service.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Who Votes in MLC Elections?<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>MLA Constituency &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the simplest category. Only sitting MLAs vote.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Territorial Constituencies &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other three categories are territorial. Eligible voters within a specific area elect their representative.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Local authorities:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Only sitting members of local bodies can vote.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Graduates:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The voter must be a citizen, ordinarily resident in the constituency, and must have held a graduate degree from any Indian university for <\/span><b>at least three years<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Teachers:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The voter must have taught for <\/span><b>at least three years in the last six years<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in an institution not lower than secondary school.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Special Electoral Rolls &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rolls for graduate and teacher constituencies are <\/span><b>prepared afresh before every election<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Even existing voters must re-apply. Eligibility is counted from the qualifying date of <\/span><b>November 1<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> each year.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Rationale for Graduate and Teacher Seats<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Representation of specific groups began before Independence. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/government-of-india-act-1935\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Government of India Act, 1935<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provided seats on religious, economic and social grounds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Constituent Assembly, arguments were made that the Council should represent a province\u2019s intelligentsia.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It suggested that subsets of voters, such as graduates, trade unions, local body members and professionals, should elect some members. This idea was adopted in the Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How Voting Works<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Single Transferable Vote<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: General elections are simple: one voter, one vote, one candidate. This allows the use of EVMs. MLC elections, however, use <\/span><b>proportional representation through the Single Transferable Vote<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (STV), as in Rajya Sabha elections.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is why they still use ballot papers.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ballot lists all candidates, along with NOTA.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Voters rank candidates by writing 1, 2, 3 and so on.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A candidate needs a fixed quota of votes to win.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quota formula: (Total valid votes \u00f7 (Seats + 1)) + 1.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surplus votes of winners pass to the next preferences. The lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated, and their votes are transferred. This continues until all seats are filled.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Secret Ballot vs Open Ballot<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Rajya Sabha elections, MLAs must show their ballot to their party\u2019s agent. Parliament introduced this open ballot system in 2003 to curb cross-voting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In MLC elections, the MLAs\u2019 vote remains secret. They need not show it to anyone.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How Councils Differ from Rajya Sabha<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legislative Councils are much weaker than the Rajya Sabha.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Permanence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Rajya Sabha is a continuous body. <\/span><b>A Council\u2019s existence depends on the Assembly<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Under Article 169, Parliament can create or abolish a Council if the Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Legislative power<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Councils cannot shape laws passed by the Assembly. They can only delay ordinary bills; the Assembly has the final say.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Concern over Stability<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>2013<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a Parliamentary Committee examining a proposed Council for Rajasthan called for a <\/span><b>national policy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on creating and abolishing Councils.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It warned that a second chamber should not depend on the mood of the government of the day.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legislative Councils give a voice to the educated, teachers and local governments in state lawmaking. Yet their limited powers and dependence on ruling majorities weaken their role.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A clear national policy on their creation and abolition can make Councils stable, credible and truly deliberative institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-politics\/mlc-polls-unusual-voting-system-legislative-council-10943716\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>State Legislative Councils provide a second chamber in some states. Explore their composition, MLC elections, electoral system, constitutional provisions and relevance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":131328,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,11244,22,59],"class_list":["post-131297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","tag-mains-articles","tag-state-legislative-councils","tag-upsc-current-affairs","tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131297"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":131333,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131297\/revisions\/131333"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/131328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}