Home The Constitution Part VI Article 169

Art. 169 Part VI: The States

Abolition or Creation of Legislative Councils in States

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Notwithstanding anything in article 168, Parliament may by law provide for the abolition of the Legislative Council of a State having such a Council or for the creation of such a Council in a State having no such Council, if the Legislative Assembly of the State passes a resolution to that effect by a majority of the total membership of the Assembly and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Assembly present and voting.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article gives states the power to change their own bicameral structure — but only Parliament can actually implement it, and only after the state's own Legislative Assembly first passes a resolution (with a demanding special majority: both a majority of total membership AND two-thirds of those present and voting) requesting either the creation or abolition of its Legislative Council.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why you occasionally hear about states debating whether to create or abolish their Legislative Council — the process requires genuine state-level political consensus (the demanding Assembly resolution threshold) before Parliament can act on it.

Read alongside this one

Art. 168 — Constitution of Legislatures in States

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 169

Can Parliament abolish a state's Legislative Council without that state's own request?

No — Parliament can only act after the state's own Legislative Assembly has passed the specific special-majority resolution requesting the change; it can't unilaterally impose this structural change on an unwilling state.

← PreviousArticle 168: Constitution of Legislatures in States Next →Article 170: Composition of the Legislative Assemblies

The text above reproduces Article 169 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.