Mod 6: August–September 2025: State Legislature, Reservation Laws & Panchayati Raj Questions

📖 Chapter 7 of 8 🧩 Module 7 of 12 ⏱️ ~2 min read 💡 10 MCQs

Topic Part 1 of 2

Polity & Governance Questions in BPSC:

Constitutional structure and landmark reservation enactments form a vital part of BPSC GS Paper II and the Prelims:

65% Caste Reservation Enactment: The Bihar Reservation Amendment Acts (2023) raised backward caste quotas from 50% to 65% (75% with 10% EWS). Its invalidation by the Patna High Court under the Indra Sawhney precedent and subsequent Supreme Court challenges are critical exam themes.
Bicameral Legislature: Bihar is one of six Indian states with a bicameral legislature (Legislative Assembly: 243 seats; Legislative Council: 75 seats).
50% Women Reservation in Panchayats: Bihar was the first state in India to grant 50% reservation to women in Panchayati Raj institutions (enacted under the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 2006).
Article 163 & Governor's Roles: Frequent questions test gubernatorial assent over state bills and cabinet recommendations.

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📌 One-line Q&A

Questions 10 MCQs

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How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) in the Bihar Legislative Assembly (out of 243)?

Out of 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly, 38 are reserved for SCs and 2 for STs.

Which two Assembly constituencies in Bihar are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST)?

Katoria (Banka) and Manihari (Katihar) are the two assembly constituencies reserved for STs in Bihar.

What is the total strength of the Bihar Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)?

The Bihar Legislative Council has a statutory strength of 75 members.

In which year did Bihar become the first state in India to provide 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions?

Bihar enacted 50% reservations for women under the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 2006.

Which landmark Supreme Court judgment had laid down the 50% ceiling on reservations contested in Bihar's 65% quota law?

Indra Sawhney vs Union of India (1992) fixed the constitutional ceiling of 50% on reservations.

How many members from Bihar are elected to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively?

Bihar sends 40 MPs to the Lok Sabha and 16 members to the Rajya Sabha.

How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) in Bihar among its 40 Lok Sabha seats?

Six Lok Sabha seats are reserved for SCs in Bihar: Gopalganj, Hajipur, Samastipur, Sasaram, Gaya, and Jamui.

Under which constitutional article does the Governor of Bihar appoint the Advocate General for the State?

Article 165 provides for the Advocate General for each state, appointed by the Governor.

In which year was the Patna High Court established?

Patna High Court was formally inaugurated on 3 February 1916.

Which committee recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj system adopted in Bihar?

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad structure.

Question 1 of 10

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Assembly Seats: ______

243 (SC: 38, ST: 2).

Legislative Council Seats: ______

75.

Panchayat Women Quota: ______

50% (enacted 2006).