Question

What is the retirement cycle for members of the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)?

• A. All retire every 6 years
• B. One-third members retire every 2 years
• C. Half the members retire every 3 years
• D. Members serve a fixed 6-year term with no mid-term retirement

Answer 1

Answer:

B. One-third members retire every 2 years

Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad):

• Optional Chamber: Exists in only six states as of 2025: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

• Composition: Minimum 40 members, maximum one-third of the Assembly’s strength (Article 171).

• Elected: 5/6 of members, including 1/3 by Assembly members, 1/3 by local bodies (municipalities, district boards), 1/12 by graduates, and 1/12 by teachers, using proportional representation by single transferable vote.

• Nominated: 1/6 by the Governor for expertise in literature, science, art, cooperative movement, or social service.

• Term: Permanent body; one-third members retire every 2 years (6-year term).

• Weak Position: The Council’s mixed composition (partly elected, partly nominated) and limited powers make it a secondary chamber, often criticized as redundant.