Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
In India, most states have a unicameral legislature with only a Legislative Assembly. However, a few states have a bicameral legislature, consisting of both a Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). These upper houses exist only in selected states and can be created or abolished by Parliament on the recommendation of the concerned state. This question asks you to identify, from the options given, which state has had a bicameral legislature.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Not all states in India have a Legislative Council. At different points in time, only a few states have had bicameral legislatures. Among the options provided, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Sikkim are known for having unicameral legislatures for long periods. The former state of Jammu and Kashmir, before its reorganisation, had a bicameral legislature that included a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council. Therefore, when this question refers to a state with a bicameral legislature from the given options, the correct choice is Jammu and Kashmir.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the list of Indian states that have had Legislative Councils, such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir.
Step 2: Compare these with the given options: Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Sikkim and Jammu and Kashmir.
Step 3: Tamil Nadu and Punjab have operated with unicameral legislatures for much of their recent constitutional history.
Step 4: Sikkim, a small northeastern state, has a single house legislature and is not known for having a Legislative Council.
Step 5: Jammu and Kashmir, before its reorganisation, had both a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council, making it bicameral.
Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is Jammu and Kashmir.
Verification / Alternative check:
Standard polity books and exam guides often contain a separate table listing all states with Legislative Councils. Jammu and Kashmir appears in such lists alongside states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In contrast, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Sikkim are not in these tables. Newspaper reports about the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir have also mentioned the status of its legislature, confirming its bicameral nature before changes in its constitutional position. These sources support the conclusion that Jammu and Kashmir is the correct answer in the context of bicameral legislatures among the given options.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because Tamil Nadu has a unicameral legislature with only a Legislative Assembly, and its earlier council was abolished.
Option B is wrong because Punjab functions with a unicameral Legislative Assembly and does not currently have a Legislative Council.
Option C is wrong because Sikkim is a small state with only a single house legislature, the Legislative Assembly, and no Legislative Council.
Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to assume that larger or politically important states must have two houses by default. In reality, the presence of a Legislative Council is a special arrangement that only a few states maintain. Another mistake is to confuse recent debates on creating councils in some states with states where councils already exist. To avoid such errors, memorise the short list of states that have or have had bicameral legislatures and remember that most states are unicameral. This will help you quickly eliminate incorrect options in exam questions on this topic.
Final Answer:
Jammu and Kashmir
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