1. How Bihar Is Governed
Bihar has a parliamentary system like other Indian states, with a Governor, a Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, a two-House legislature and a High Court. Exams often ask about the number of seats and the Panchayati Raj system.
Executive and legislature
- The Governor is the constitutional head and is appointed by the President. The Chief Minister heads the Council of Ministers.
- Bihar has a bicameral legislature. The Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) has 243 elected members; it had 324 before Jharkhand was formed in 2000.
- The Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) has 75 members and is a permanent House.
- Bihar sends 40 members to the Lok Sabha and 16 to the Rajya Sabha.
- Shri Krishna Sinha was the first Chief Minister of Bihar. The Governor's residence in Patna, earlier called Raj Bhavan, is now called Lok Bhavan.
Judiciary and other bodies
- The Patna High Court was established in 1916.
- The Bihar Lokayukta deals with complaints of corruption against public servants.
- The State Election Commission conducts panchayat and urban local body elections. Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are conducted by the Election Commission of India.
- BPSC, BSSC and CSBC are the main recruitment bodies of the state.
Panchayati Raj in Bihar
- Bihar follows a three-tier system under the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 2006: Gram Panchayat (head: Mukhiya), Panchayat Samiti (head: Pramukh) and Zila Parishad (head: Adhyaksh).
- In 2006, Bihar became the first state to give 50% reservation to women in panchayat seats and posts.
- Bihar also has Gram Kachahari, village-level courts headed by a Sarpanch, to settle small local disputes.
- Bihar later extended 50% reservation for women to urban local bodies as well.
- Bihar gives 35% reservation to women in state government jobs (from 2016).
Quick facts
- Legislative Assembly
- 243 members (324 before 2000)
- Legislative Council
- 75 members
- Parliament seats
- Lok Sabha 40, Rajya Sabha 16
- Patna High Court
- Established 1916
- Women in panchayats
- 50% reservation from 2006; Bihar was the first state
- Panchayat heads
- Mukhiya, Pramukh, Zila Parishad Adhyaksh; Sarpanch heads Gram Kachahari
💡 Do not mix up Mukhiya and Sarpanch in Bihar: the Mukhiya heads the Gram Panchayat, and the Sarpanch heads the Gram Kachahari (village court).
📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.
