← 5 November 2026's Current Affairs · Polity GA Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆
Legislative Councils in focus after elections in UP, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka
Why in News?
Who can create or abolish a Vidhan Parishad? The Article 169 procedure GS2 State legislature questions test
Council polls highlight the role of the Vidhan Parishad under Article 169.
Why it matters: asked in KPSC 2023
What you need to know
2 min read
Elections to Legislative Council seats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka have drawn attention to the upper house in State legislatures.
Under Article 169, Parliament may create or abolish a Legislative Council by law once the State Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority.
Only some States have a Council.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- Article 169: Parliament may create or abolish a State Legislative Council by law
- The State Assembly must first pass a resolution by a special majority
- Such a law is not treated as a constitutional amendment under Article 368
- Only some States have a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)
- Council elections were held in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- Parliament can create or abolish a Legislative Council in a State by ordinary law under Article 169.
- The process begins with a resolution of the State Legislative Assembly passed by a special majority.
- A law under Article 169 is not deemed an amendment of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368.
- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka are among the States with a Legislative Council.
Mains
GS2 (Polity): The existence of State upper houses is a federal question. Article 169 lets Parliament create or abolish a Council on the Assembly's special-majority resolution, so the decision rests with the State but needs Parliament's law. Debate centres on whether Councils add deliberative value or merely cost and delay; the way forward is to ensure they genuinely improve scrutiny and expert representation.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
Which among the Article empowered the State Assemblies by its resolution may establish or abolish the Legislative Council?
- Article 170
- Article 168
- Article 171
- Article 169
Show answer
Answer: D
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Consider the following statements about State Legislative Councils:
- A Legislative Council can be created only through a constitutional amendment under Article 368.
- Under Article 169, Parliament can create or abolish a Council by law after the State Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: B — Correct: 2 only — Article 169 lets Parliament create or abolish a Council by law after a special-majority resolution of the Assembly. • 1 only — wrong: Statement 1 is wrong because Article 169 itself provides for an ordinary law, not an Article 368 amendment. • Both 1 and 2 — wrong: Statement 1 is wrong, so 'Both' cannot be correct. • Neither 1 nor 2 — wrong: Statement 2 states the Article 169 procedure correctly, so 'Neither' is wrong.
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