Article 170 (Composition of the Legislative Assemblies): Regulates State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislative Councils under Part VI.
In Simple Citizen Words
Article 170 ('Composition of the Legislative Assemblies') in Part VI, Chapter III governs the State Legislature (Vidhan Sabha and, where applicable, Vidhan Parishad). It sets the constitutional rules for composition of Assemblies, MLA qualifications/disqualifications, sessions, Speaker/Deputy Speaker duties, passage of State Bills and Budgets, assent to Bills (Arts 200–201), and legislative privileges. Specifically: (1) Subject to the provisions of article 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five hundred, and not less than sixty, members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State. ...
Key Constitutional Provisions
Constitutional Mandate (Art. 170): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Composition of the Legislative Assemblies' under Part VI
Structured across 4 clause(s) and 1 sub-clause(s) with explicit constitutional provisos/safeguards
Requires transparent Parliamentary law-making and democratic accountability rather than arbitrary executive action
Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions
State Legislatures must legislate within the State and Concurrent Lists (Seventh Schedule) and cannot violate Fundamental Rights or constitutional procedures.
Why This Matters in Daily Life
Guarantees democratic law-making and budget scrutiny at the state level through your elected MLAs.
Want deeper legal & historical context? Explore the official Bare Act or Supreme Court Precedents & CAD Debates:
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Dr. B. R. Ambedkar & K. M. Munshi
Drafting Committee Leaders • June 2–3, 1949
🏛️ Constituent Assembly Debates (1946–1949)
Core Constitutional Debate & Dilemma
Framing context for Article 170: Empowering directly elected State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabhas) over state subjects and budgets while allowing States the option to create or abolish a second chamber (Vidhan Parishad).
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"The Legislative Assembly directly elected by adult franchise is the primary sovereign forum of the people in each State, holding the State Cabinet accountable for every rupee of state revenue."
Assembly Resolution & Final Synthesis
Constitutional resolution in Article 170: Codified Articles 168–213 regulating State Legislatures, flexible creation/abolition of Legislative Councils (Art 169), Money Bill procedures, and time-bound assent to State Bills (Art 200).
🏛️ Constitutional Significance:
During the Constituent Assembly deliberations, Article 170 was codified as an integral pillar of India's constitutional governance.
Official Constitutional Text (Gazette Bare Act)
Authoritative statutory text as enacted and amended by Parliament • Clause-by-Clause Statutory Breakdown
India Code • Govt. of India Archive
Clause (1)
Subject to the provisions of article 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five hundred, and not less than sixty, members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State.
Clause (2)
For the purposes of clause (1), each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the State.
Explanation.—In this clause, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2026 have been published, be construed as a reference to the 2001 census.
Clause (3)
Upon the completion of each census, the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine:
Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the Legislative Assembly until the dissolution of the then existing Assembly:
Provided further that such readjustment shall take effect from such date as the President may, by order, specify and until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the Legislative Assembly may be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment:
Provided also that until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2026 have been published, it shall not be necessary to readjust— (i) the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State as readjusted on the basis of the 1971 census; and (ii) the division of such State into territorial constituencies as may be readjusted on the basis of the 2001 census, under this clause.
Public Domain & Statutory Authenticity Notice
Under Section 52(1)(q) of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, the Constitution of India, Bare Acts of Parliament, Gazette Notifications, and Judicial Judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts are in the Public Domain. Text is reproduced from the official Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India (India Code) archives.
Then vs Now: Constitutional Evolution & Visual Diff
Composition of the Legislative Assemblies
🟡 Textually Amended Since 1950
Baseline: Jan 26, 1950 → Today
ORIGINAL BASELINE (1950)
Enacted on 26 January 1950 by the Constituent Assembly as part of the original 395 Articles (Composition of the Legislative Assemblies). Subsequently refined through 2 Constitutional Amendment(s) to meet evolving democratic and governance needs.
CURRENT ENFORCEABLE STATUS (TODAY)
Enforceable Today with Amended Clauses: Article 170 (Composition of the Legislative Assemblies): Regulates State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislative Councils under Part VI.
Key Amendment Milestones & Textual Modifications
84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001 — Kept Lok Sabha Seats Frozen Until 2026 to Reward Family Planning
Year 2001
Why it happened: Extended the freeze on the total number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats per state until after 2026 so states that controlled population growth were not penalized.
Amended (82, 170): Kept Lok Sabha Seats Frozen Until 2026 to Reward Family Planning
87th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 — Redrawing of Constituency Boundaries Based on 2001 Census
Year 2003
Why it happened: Allowed internal redrawing of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies within each state using 2001 Census figures without changing a state’s total seats.
Amended (81, 82, 170, 330): Redrawing of Constituency Boundaries Based on 2001 Census
