What is the maximum strength of legislative assembly and legislative council respectively

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Consider the constitutional limits on the size of legislative bodies.

Correct Answer: D) 500 and one-third of total membership of assembly of that state.

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, Banking Exams, State PSC

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

The legislative assembly and legislative council are the two houses of the state legislature in India. The legislative assembly is the lower house, and the legislative council is the upper house. The Constitution of India sets specific limits on the size of these legislative bodies to ensure effective governance and representation.

The legislative assembly, which is the primary legislative body in a state, has a maximum strength of 500 members. This limit is set to ensure that the legislative assembly remains manageable and can function effectively. The legislative assembly is directly elected by the people of the state, and its members represent the interests of their constituents.

The legislative council, if it exists, is an upper house that provides a second level of scrutiny for legislation. The Constitution allows for the creation of a legislative council in states with a population of more than 20 million, but it is not mandatory. If a state chooses to have a legislative council, its maximum strength is one-third of the total membership of the legislative assembly. This ensures that the legislative council does not overshadow the legislative assembly in terms of power and influence.

The legislative council is not directly elected by the people. Instead, its members are elected through indirect elections. One-third of the members are elected by the members of the legislative assembly, one-third are elected by local bodies, one-twelfth are elected by graduates, and one-twelfth are elected by teachers. The remaining members are nominated by the governor of the state for their expertise in various fields.

It is important to note that not all states in India have a legislative council. Only a few states, such as Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, have a legislative council. The rest of the states have a unicameral legislature with only the legislative assembly.

The correct answer to the question is option D, which states that the maximum strength of the legislative assembly is 500 and the legislative council's maximum strength is one-third of the total membership of the legislative assembly. This aligns with the constitutional provisions and ensures that the legislative bodies remain effective and representative of the people's interests.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This option is incorrect because the maximum strength of the legislative assembly is 500, not 600. The legislative council's strength is one-third of the legislative assembly's total membership, not one-fourth.
Option B: This option is incorrect because the maximum strength of the legislative assembly is 500, not 400. The legislative council's strength is one-third of the legislative assembly's total membership, not one-fourth.
Option C: This option is incorrect because the legislative council's maximum strength is one-third of the legislative assembly's total membership, not 400. The legislative assembly's maximum strength is 500, not one-third of its total membership.
Option D: This option is correct because the legislative assembly's maximum strength is 500, and the legislative council's maximum strength is one-third of the legislative assembly's total membership.

Mnemonic: Remember: "500 for Assembly, one-third for Council"

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