The Constitution of India
The word, “Punjab,” omitted by the Punjab Legislative Council (Abolition) Act, 1969 (46 of 1969), s.4
- Jurisdiction
- India
- Provision
- 8
- Source language
- eng+tel
- Recorded status
- in force
More details
- Recorded status
- in force
Provision text
Official source(w.e.f.7.1.1970).
9. Inserted by Tamil Nadu Legislative Council Act, 2010 (16 of 2010), s.3 (date yet to be notified).
10. Substituted by Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (6 of 2014), s.96, for “Tamil Nadu” (w.e.f. 1.6.2014).
11. Substituted by the West Bengal Council (Abolition) Act, 1969 (20 of 1969), s.4, for “Uttar Pradesh and West
Bengal” (w.e.f. 1.8.1969).
82 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
(Part VI. — The States)
(2) Any law referred to in clause (1) shall contain such provisions for the amendment
of this Constitution as may be necessary to give effect to the provisions of the law and may
also contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions as Parliament may
deem necessary.
(3) No such law as aforesaid shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution
for the purposes of article 368.
1
[170. Composition of the Legislative Assemblies:- (1) Subject to the provisions of article
333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five hundred, and
not less than sixty, members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the
State.
(2) For the purposes of clause (1), each State shall be divided into territorial
constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and
the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the
State.
2
[Explanation:- In this clause, the expression “population” means the population as
ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the
relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken
after the year 3[2026] have been published, be construed as a reference to the 4[2001]
census.]
(3) Upon the completion of each census, the total number of seats in the Legislative
Assembly of each State and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be
readjusted by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine:
Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the Legislative
Assembly until the dissolution of the then existing Assembly:
1. Substituted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s.9 (w.e.f. 1.11.1956).
2. Substituted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s.29, for Explanation (w.e.f. 3.1.1977).
3. Substituted by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, s.5 for “2000” (w.e.f. 21.2.2002).
4. Substituted by the Constitution (Eighty-seventh Amendment) Act, 2003, s.4, for “1991” (w.e.f.22.6.2003). The figures
“1991” were substituted for the original figures “1971” by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, s.5
(w.e.f. 21.2.2002).
83 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
(Part VI. — The States)
1
[Provided further that such readjustment shall take effect from such date as the
President may, by order, specify and until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the
Legislative Assembly may be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing
before such readjustment:
Provided also that until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year
2
[2026] have been published, it shall not be necessary to 3[readjust—
(i) the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State as readjusted
on the basis of the 1971 census; and
(ii) the division of such State into territorial constituencies as may be readjusted on the
basis of the 4[2001] census, under this clause.]
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The Constitution of India · legislative.gov.in · Retrieved 17 August 2026.
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