Home The Constitution Part VI Article 196

Art. 196 Part VI: The States

Provisions as to Introduction and Passing of Bills

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Subject to the provisions of articles 198 and 207 with respect to Money Bills and other financial Bills, a Bill may originate in either House of the Legislature of a State having a Legislative Council. (2) Subject to the provisions of articles 197 and 198, a Bill shall not be deemed to have been passed by the Houses of the Legislature of a State having a Legislative Council unless it has been agreed to by both Houses...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

The state-level mirror of Article 107 — in states with a Legislative Council, an ordinary Bill can originate in either House and generally needs both Houses' agreement (subject to Money Bill exceptions); in single-House states, this is naturally simpler since there's only one House to pass through.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This establishes the basic bicameral (or unicameral, depending on the state) legislative process for state-level lawmaking, mirroring Parliament's own two-House framework where a state has chosen to maintain a Legislative Council.

Read alongside this one

Art. 197 — Restriction on Powers of Legislative Council Art. 198 — Special Procedure in Respect of Money Bills

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 196

Does a state without a Legislative Council need to worry about this two-House process?

No — in single-House states, a Bill simply needs the one Legislative Assembly's approval, without any of this Article's two-House coordination requirements applying.

← PreviousArticle 195: Salaries and Allowances of Members Next →Article 197: Restriction on Powers of Legislative Council as to Bills Other Than Money Bills

The text above reproduces Article 196 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.