According to the Constitution of India, what is the minimum age required for a person to become a member of a State Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)?

Introduction / Context:
The Indian Constitution lays down specific age qualifications for different elected offices. These age limits ensure that people who hold important positions have reached a certain level of maturity and experience. For the lower house in states, known as the Legislative Assembly, and the upper house, known as the Legislative Council or Vidhan Parishad, the minimum age limits are different. This question focuses on the minimum age required to become a member of a State Legislative Council in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the minimum age for membership of the Vidhan Parishad.
• Vidhan Parishad refers to the State Legislative Council, the upper house in some states.
• The options include 21, 25, 30 and 35 years.
• We assume the constitutional provisions of Article 173 apply.

Concept / Approach:
Article 173 of the Constitution of India specifies the qualification for membership of the state legislature. For a State Legislative Assembly, a person must be at least 25 years old. For a State Legislative Council, the required minimum age is higher, set at 30 years. This mirrors the higher age requirement for membership of the Rajya Sabha at the Union level. The idea is that members of the upper house represent a more experienced group. Therefore, among the given options, the minimum age for membership of a Vidhan Parishad is 30 years.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that different offices in India have different minimum age requirements; for example, 18 years to vote and 25 years to be an MLA or MP in the lower house. Step 2: For State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha), Article 173 requires a minimum age of 25 years. Step 3: For State Legislative Councils (Vidhan Parishad), Article 173 sets a higher minimum age of 30 years. Step 4: This pattern is similar to the Parliament, where Lok Sabha members must be at least 25 years old and Rajya Sabha members must be at least 30 years old. Step 5: Compare the available options: 21, 25, 30 and 35 years. Step 6: The only option that matches the constitutional requirement for Vidhan Parishad membership is 30 years.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can compare standard tables of age qualifications that are often printed in polity handbooks. These tables list: 18 years as the voting age, 25 years for Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly, 30 years for Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Council, and higher ages for certain posts such as President or Vice President. The fact that Vidhan Parishad is an upper house supports the logic of having a minimum age of 30 years. This consistent pattern across multiple reference books confirms that 30 years is the correct minimum age for membership of a State Legislative Council.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because 21 years is below the constitutional minimum for membership of any state legislature house; it was the old voting age before it was reduced to 18 years.

Option B is wrong because 25 years is the minimum age for the State Legislative Assembly, not for the Legislative Council.

Option D is wrong because 35 years is higher than the required minimum; it may apply to some other constitutional offices but not to Vidhan Parishad membership.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that the same age qualification applies to both houses of the legislature. Many candidates remember only the 25 year requirement and incorrectly extend it to the upper house. Others may confuse the ages for state and union legislatures. To avoid such errors, remember the simple rule that lower houses such as Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha require 25 years, while upper houses such as Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad require 30 years. Keeping this rule in mind will help you quickly answer related questions in exams.

Final Answer:
30 years