RRB Group D GK GS State Legislature by Akshay Sir

In the RRB Group D exam, the General Knowledge (GK) section plays an important role. One topic that consistently shows up is the State Legislature. In the Indian Constitution, Part VI (Articles 168 to 212) serves as the rulebook for these state-level governments. 

Whether a state has one house (Unicameral) or two (Bicameral), understanding the "who, what, and how" of these houses is essential for the exam. RRB Group D GK GS State Legislature is explained here by Akshay Sir for aspirants.

What is the State Legislature?

Just as the Parliament makes laws for the whole of India, each state has a State Legislature to govern its own territory. This system is detailed in Part VI (Articles 168 to 212) of the Indian Constitution.

In India, we have two types of setups:

1. Unicameral: Only one house—the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly).

2. Bicameral: Two houses—the Vidhan Sabha (Lower House) and the Vidhan Parishad (Upper House).

Currently, there are 31 Legislative Assemblies (28 states + 3 Union Territories: Delhi, Puducherry, and J&K).

Also Read: 

• RRB Group D GK GS Directive Principles of State Policy
• RRB Group D GK GS Prime Minister And Council Of Ministers

What is Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly)?

The Vidhan Sabha is the powerhouse of the state. Its members (MLAs) are directly elected by us.

• Article: 170

• Term: 5 years (can be dissolved earlier by the Governor).

• Minimum Age: 25 years.

• Member Strength: Between 60 and 500.

• Exceptions: Small states like Sikkim (32) and Goa (40) have fewer members.

• Highest Seats: Uttar Pradesh (403), West Bengal (294), and Maharashtra (288).

What is Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council)?

This is a permanent house, meaning it cannot be dissolved. It acts as a "House of Elders."

• Article: 169 (Creation/Abolition) and 171 (Composition).

• Term: Members serve for 6 years; 1/3rd retire every 2 years.

• Minimum Age: 30 years.

• Member Strength: Maximum 1/3rd of the Vidhan Sabha's strength; Minimum 40.

• Current States (Bicameral): Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

How are Members Selected for the State Legislature?

Members are chosen through five different channels:

• 1/3rd elected by MLAs.

• 1/3rd elected by local bodies (Panchayats/Municipalities).

• 1/12th elected by graduates (3 years post-graduation).

• 1/12th elected by teachers (at least 3 years of service).

• 1/6th nominated by the Governor (fields: Art, Science, Literature, Social Service, and Cooperative Movement).

Key Legislative Procedures and Powers

Understanding how laws are passed is important for the GK GS section.

Money Bills (Article 198 and 199)

• Can only be introduced in the Vidhan Sabha.

• The Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha decides if a bill is a Money Bill.

• The Vidhan Parishad can only delay it for 14 days. They cannot reject or change it.

Ordinary Bills

• The Vidhan Parishad can delay an ordinary bill for a maximum of 4 months (3 months in the first instance + 1 month after reconsideration).

• Unlike the Parliament, there is no provision for a Joint Sitting at the state level. If the houses disagree, the will of the Vidhan Sabha eventually prevails.

Important "Extra" Details for RRB Group D

• Quorum: The minimum attendance needed to hold a meeting is 10 members or 1/10th of the total members (whichever is greater).

• Presiding Officers: * Vidhan Sabha has a Speaker and Deputy Speaker (Article 178).

• Vidhan Parishad has a Chairman and Deputy Chairman (Article 182).

• Governor's Role: The Governor addresses the first session of the year (Article 176) and can reserve certain bills for the President's consideration (Article 201).

• Language: Business is done in the state's official language, Hindi, or English. However, members can speak their mother tongue with the Speaker's permission.

Women’s Reservation & New Amendments

The 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, officially known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, is a historic milestone for Indian democracy. For RRB aspirants, knowing the "Article numbers" and "Implementation rules" is vital.

What it does:

• 33% Seat Reservation: It mandates that one-third of all seats in the Lok Sabha, the Legislative Assemblies of all states, and the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi be reserved for women.

• Horizontal Reservation: Within the existing SC/ST quotas, one-third of those seats are also reserved specifically for women of those categories.

New Articles Added:

• Article 332A: Inserts the provision for women’s reservation in State Legislative Assemblies.

• Article 239AA: Amends the special provisions for Delhi to include women's reservation.

• Article 330A: Inserts reservation for women in the Lok Sabha.

• Article 334A (The Sunset Clause): This is a high-yield fact! The reservation is initially for 15 years, but Parliament has the power to extend it

Most Important GK Questions on State Legislature 

Aspirants need to prepare tricks and tips for RRB Group D GK GS. Here are some important questions you should prepare well: 

1. The Small State Exceptions:

While the minimum seat requirement is 60, these states have fewer:

• Sikkim: 32 seats

• Goa & Mizoram: 40 seats

• Puducherry (UT): 30 seats

2. The "Magic Number 89" Memo-Trick

If you struggle to remember articles, remember that most State Legislature articles are exactly 89 numbers ahead of the Union (Parliament) ones.

• Parliamentary Budget (Art. 112) + 89 = State Budget (Art. 201)

• Money Bill Center (Art. 110) + 89 = Money Bill State (Art. 199)

3. Anti-Defection & Disqualification

• Article 191: Deals with disqualification.

• Defection (10th Schedule): The Speaker/Chairman decides the disqualification.

• Other Grounds (Office of Profit): The Governor decides after consulting the Election Commission.

4. Who Can Vote for the President?

Only elected MLAs (Vidhan Sabha) can vote for the President of India. MLCs (Vidhan Parishad) have no role in this election.

Important Articles List for RRB Group D 2026

Here is a short table related to all the articles included, as well as what each article covers:

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