Under which of the following articles of the Indian constitution 'the legislature in states' was constituted?

The correct answer is Article 168.

Key Points

• Article 168 of the Indian Constitution provides for the constitution of legislatures in states, specifying that every state shall have a Legislature which includes the Governor and one or two houses as applicable.
• States with a bicameral legislature have two houses: the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad), while unicameral states only have the Legislative Assembly.
• This article is part of Part VI of the Indian Constitution, which deals with the structure, composition, and functioning of state legislatures.
• The Legislative Assembly is the lower house in bicameral states and the sole house in unicameral states, while the Legislative Council is the upper house in states with bicameral legislatures.
• As of now, six Indian states have a bicameral legislature: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Additional Information

• Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha):
  • It is the directly elected house of the state legislature in both unicameral and bicameral states.
  • Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are elected by the people through general elections.
  • The term of the Legislative Assembly is five years, unless dissolved sooner.
  • The Assembly has the power to pass laws, approve budgets, and hold the executive accountable.
• Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad):
  • It is the upper house in states with a bicameral legislature.
  • Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) are elected by various groups, including members of the Legislative Assembly, graduates, teachers, and local authorities.
  • The Legislative Council is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution, but one-third of its members retire every two years.
• Governor's Role in State Legislature:
  • The Governor is an integral part of the state legislature and has the authority to summon, prorogue, and dissolve the Legislative Assembly.
  • The Governor's assent is required for bills passed by the legislature to become laws.
• Bicameral vs. Unicameral Legislature:
  • A bicameral legislature consists of two houses, ensuring better representation and thorough scrutiny of laws.
  • A unicameral legislature is simpler and more cost-effective, with a single house to legislate.