Vidhan Sabha vs. Vidhan Parishad — What's the Difference?

The Vidhan Sabha, also known as the Legislative Assembly, is the lower house of the bicameral state legislature in India. It is a directly elected body, with members (MLAs) being elected by the citizens of the respective states. The primary function of the Vidhan Sabha is to legislate, although it also has significant financial powers, particularly the power to approve the state budget.

The Vidhan Parishad, or Legislative Council, is the upper house of the state legislature, present only in some states. The members of the Vidhan Parishad are not directly elected by the public but are elected through indirect elections by the members of the Vidhan Sabha, local bodies, teachers, and graduates, or nominated by the Governor of the state. The Vidhan Parishad serves as a revisory body with the power to review and suggest amendments to legislation passed by the Vidhan Sabha.

In terms of power, the Vidhan Sabha holds more significant legislative power and is the primary house for financial legislation and state budgets. The Vidhan Parishad, while it can review and suggest amendments, does not have the final say in financial matters and cannot veto bills indefinitely but can only delay legislation for a specific period.

The tenure of members is also different. In the Vidhan Sabha, members are elected for five years, unless the assembly is dissolved sooner, while in the Vidhan Parishad, members serve for six years, with one-third of the members retiring every two years.

The presence of the Vidhan Parishad is not mandatory for all states, and currently, only a few Indian states have a bicameral legislature, reflecting the Vidhan Parishad's role as a secondary house meant for providing more experienced and mature advice on legislation, as opposed to the more directly accountable Vidhan Sabha.