In the context of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir, what was the fixed tenure of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislative Assembly before the constitutional changes of 2019?

Introduction / Context:
The State of Jammu and Kashmir, before the constitutional changes of 2019 and its reorganisation as Union Territories, had several special provisions under the Constitution of India. One of these concerned the tenure of its State Legislative Assembly. This question checks whether you know that Jammu and Kashmir did not follow the standard five year term used by most other State Legislative Assemblies in India, which makes it an important polity fact for competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the former State of Jammu and Kashmir, when it had its own State Legislative Assembly.
• We are asked specifically about the tenure that was fixed for this Assembly.
• Options mention four years, five years, six years, seven years, and three years.
• We assume the question refers to the period before the State was reorganised in 2019.

Concept / Approach:
Under the general scheme of the Constitution of India, State Legislative Assemblies normally have a term of five years, unless dissolved sooner. However, Article 370 and the former Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir gave that State a distinct constitutional position. One of the special provisions was that the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir had a tenure of six years instead of five. This longer term was a well known exception in Indian polity and is frequently asked in exams to test awareness of special state arrangements.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the general rule that most State Legislative Assemblies in India have a five year tenure. Step 2: Remember that Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed a special status with its own State Constitution before 2019. Step 3: Connect that special status with the fact that its Legislative Assembly term was six years, not five. Step 4: Compare this with the options and select Six years as the correct tenure.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard Indian polity textbooks clearly highlight Jammu and Kashmir as the only State whose Legislative Assembly had a six year term. They usually list it as an exception in chapters on Parliament and State Legislatures. After the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the area into Union Territories in 2019, that special rule ceased, but exam questions based on the earlier arrangement still expect the answer of six years for the historical State Assembly tenure.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Four years and three years: No Indian State Legislature has this as a normal constitutional tenure. Five years: This is the standard term for most other State Assemblies but specifically not for the former Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Seven years: There is no provision giving a seven year term to any State Legislative Assembly in India, so this is a distractor only.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that all State Assemblies automatically have a five year term and to mark that option without recalling the unique position of Jammu and Kashmir. Another pitfall is to be confused by the later constitutional changes after 2019 and forget that many exam questions still refer to the earlier status. For static polity questions, always check whether the question is about the historical arrangement or the current Union Territory framework.

Final Answer:
Six years