Home The Constitution Part VI Article 172

Art. 172 Part VI: The States

Duration of State Legislatures

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Every Legislative Assembly of every State, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer... Provided that the said period may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time... (2) The Legislative Council of a State shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible one-third of the members thereof shall retire as soon as may be on the expiration of every second year...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article mirrors Article 83's Union-level structure at the state level — the Legislative Assembly has a fixed 5-year term (extendable during a National Emergency, similar to the Lok Sabha), while a Legislative Council (where it exists) is permanent, with roughly one-third of members retiring every two years on a rotating basis, just like the Rajya Sabha.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why a state's Legislative Council (like the Rajya Sabha at the national level) maintains continuous institutional existence even when the Assembly is dissolved for elections, providing the same kind of continuity function at the state level.

Read alongside this one

Art. 83 — Duration of Houses of Parliament

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 172

Can a National Emergency extend a State Assembly's term the same way it can extend the Lok Sabha's?

Yes — this Article specifically provides the same Emergency-based extension mechanism (up to one year at a time) for State Legislative Assemblies as Article 83 provides for the Lok Sabha.

← PreviousArticle 171: Composition of the Legislative Councils Next →Article 173: Qualification for Membership of the State Legislature

The text above reproduces Article 172 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.