In this guide
The graceful Vidhan Sabha building in Patna, completed in the early 1920s, has seen a century of Bihar's politics — from the colonial councils to the first Congress ministry of 1937 and the fiercely contested assemblies of recent decades. Understanding how the Bihar Legislature is constituted and how it works is a steady source of BPSC questions.
A brief history
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1912–13 | A Legislative Council for the new province of Bihar and Orissa |
| 1921 | Council enlarged under the Montagu–Chelmsford reforms (dyarchy) |
| 1937 | Under the Government of India Act, 1935, a bicameral legislature — Assembly and Council; first Congress ministry under Shri Krishna Sinha |
| 1950 onwards | Legislature under the Constitution |
| 2000 | After the creation of Jharkhand, the Vidhan Sabha was reduced to 243 seats |
Bicameral legislature
Bihar has two houses (Article 168):
- the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly);
- the Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council).
Along with Bihar, the states with Legislative Councils are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
The Vidhan Sabha
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Strength | 243 elected members (reduced from 324 after the creation of Jharkhand) |
| Reserved seats | For Scheduled Castes and a small number for Scheduled Tribes, as per the Delimitation Order |
| Term | 5 years, unless dissolved earlier |
| Qualifications | Citizen; at least 25 years of age |
| Presiding officer | Speaker and Deputy Speaker |
The Vidhan Parishad
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Strength | 75 members |
| Nature | Permanent house; one-third of members retire every two years |
| Term | 6 years |
| Qualifications | Citizen; at least 30 years of age |
| Presiding officer | Chairman and Deputy Chairman |
Composition
| Elected / nominated by | Members |
|---|---|
| Members of the Vidhan Sabha | 27 |
| Local authorities | 24 |
| Graduates | 6 |
| Teachers | 6 |
| Nominated by the Governor | 12 |
| Total | 75 |
The distribution is fixed by Parliament through the Representation of the People Act, 1950, following the proportions suggested in Article 171.
Sessions
The Legislature normally meets for:
- the Budget session (February–March), which opens with the Governor's address;
- the Monsoon session (July);
- the Winter session (November–December).
The Constitution requires that no more than six months pass between sessions (Article 174).
Legislative procedure
- Ordinary Bills can be introduced in either house; the Council can delay but not ultimately block a Bill passed by the Assembly (Article 197). There is no joint sitting.
- Money Bills can be introduced only in the Vidhan Sabha; the Council must return them within 14 days (Article 198).
- The Governor may assent, withhold assent, return a Bill (other than a Money Bill), or reserve it for the President (Article 200).
Financial procedure
- Annual Financial Statement (Article 202), presented by the Finance Minister.
- Demands for grants, voted by the Assembly.
- Appropriation Bill and Finance Bill.
- Supplementary demands during the year.
Committees
| Committee | Role |
|---|---|
| Public Accounts Committee | Examines the CAG's audit reports on state accounts |
| Estimates Committee | Examines estimates and suggests economies |
| Committee on Public Undertakings | Oversees state enterprises |
| Committees on SC/ST welfare, Women's empowerment and others | Oversee specific areas |
| Privileges Committee | Breaches of privilege |
| Petitions Committee | Public petitions |
Anti-defection
The Tenth Schedule applies. Disqualification petitions are decided by the Speaker (in the Assembly) or the Chairman (in the Council), subject to judicial review.
The debate over Legislative Councils
| For | Against |
|---|---|
| Brings expertise (teachers, graduates, nominated members) | Adds cost and can be used to accommodate defeated politicians |
| Allows more deliberation | Can delay but not block legislation — limited value |
| Represents local bodies | Graduates' and teachers' constituencies are seen as outdated by some |
Practice
Prelims-style:
- How many members does the Bihar Vidhan Sabha have?
- How many members of the Vidhan Parishad are elected by local authorities?
- When did Bihar first get a bicameral legislature?
- Within how many days must the Council return a Money Bill?
- How many Lok Sabha seats does Bihar have?
Mains-style:
- Examine the role of the Public Accounts Committee in ensuring financial accountability in Bihar.
- "Legislative Councils have outlived their purpose." Critically examine with reference to Bihar.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Bihar Public Service Commission website .
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