Bihar Legislative Assembly: Composition & Powers
๐ณ๏ธ Composition of Bihar Legislature
-
Bihar has a bicameral legislature:
๐ธ Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) โ Lower House
๐ธ Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) โ Upper House -
Bihar is one of only 6 Indian states with a bicameral legislature
-
The other 5 are: Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
๐งพ Bihar Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha)
๐น Key Features
- Total Seats: 243
- Directly elected by the people through universal adult franchise
- Tenure: 5 years (unless dissolved earlier)
- First Assembly formed: 1952
- Current Speaker (as of 2024): Awadh Bihari Choudhary
๐น Reservation
- Seats reserved for:
๐ธ SCs: 38
๐ธ STs: 2
(Based on population as per Delimitation)
๐ PYQ (BPSC): What is the total number of seats in Bihar Vidhan Sabha? โ 243
๐งพ Bihar Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)
๐น Key Features
- Total Seats: 75
- Partially elected, partially nominated
- Tenure: 6 years (1/3rd members retire every 2 years)
๐น Composition:
- Elected by:
๐ธ MLA โ 27 members
๐ธ Graduates โ 6 members
๐ธ Teachers โ 6 members
๐ธ Local bodies โ 24 members
๐ธ Governor-nominated โ 12 members
๐งโโ๏ธ Powers of Bihar Legislative Assembly
๐ธ Legislative Powers
- Can make laws on State List and Concurrent List (under Article 246)
- Money Bills can only be introduced in Vidhan Sabha
๐ธ Financial Powers
- Controls the state budget and passes Appropriation Bills
- Approves or rejects Tax proposals
- Legislative Council has only advisory role in financial matters
๐ PYQ (DPSC): Which House has the final say on Money Bills? โ Vidhan Sabha
๐ธ Executive Powers
- Assembly exercises control over the Executive (State Government)
- Can pass:
๐น No-Confidence Motion
๐น Adjournment Motion
๐น Calling Attention Motion - Chief Minister and Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Assembly
๐ธ Electoral Powers
- Participates in:
๐น Election of President of India
๐น Election of Rajya Sabha members from Bihar
๐น Elects members to Legislative Council
๐ธ Constitutional & Miscellaneous Powers
- Approval of ordinances, constitutional amendments (if required)
- Creation or abolition of Legislative Council (under Article 169)
- Disqualification petitions under 10th Schedule (Anti-defection)
๐ Quick Revision Points
- Bihar has a bicameral legislature
- 243 MLAs, 75 MLCs
- Money Bill โ only introduced in Vidhan Sabha
- Council is permanent, Assembly has 5-year term
- Speaker: Awadh Bihari Choudhary (2024)
- First Assembly: 1952
๐ Sources Used
- Constitution of India โ Articles 168 to 212
- Bihar Legislative Assembly Portal (vidhansabha.bih.nic.in)
- Lucent GK โ Polity & Bihar Special
- Drishti Bihar Special
- Ghatna Chakra PYQs