1. Government Structure and Local Bodies
Maharashtra has a bicameral legislature, one of the oldest High Courts in India, and a strong Panchayat Raj system. This lesson covers the numbers and names that exams ask about.
Legislature and High Court
- Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha): 288 members. Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad): 78 members.
- Council members: 30 elected by MLAs, 22 by local authorities, 7 by graduates, 7 by teachers and 12 nominated by the Governor.
- Maharashtra sends 48 members to the Lok Sabha (second only to Uttar Pradesh) and 19 to the Rajya Sabha.
- The legislature sits at Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai; the winter session is held at Nagpur, as agreed in the Nagpur Pact (1953).
- The Bombay High Court has benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) and Panaji (Goa). A circuit bench at Kolhapur began sitting on 18 August 2025, after it was inaugurated by Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai.
- The Bombay High Court also serves Goa and the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Renamed cities and districts
- Aurangabad became Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Osmanabad became Dharashiv. The renaming of the districts and divisions was notified in 2023.
- Ahmednagar was renamed Ahilyanagar, after Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar, who was born in the district. The Centre's approval came in 2024.
- Other well-known renamings include Bombay to Mumbai (1995) and Victoria Terminus to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
- Use both old and new names in revision, because questions may use either.
Local self-government
- Maharashtra was a pioneer of Panchayat Raj. The Vasantrao Naik Committee (1960) recommended the system, and Zilla Parishads began on 1 May 1962.
- Laws: the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act, 1958 and the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961.
- Three tiers: Gram Panchayat (village), Panchayat Samiti (block, with a Block Development Officer) and Zilla Parishad (district, headed administratively by a Chief Executive Officer).
- The secretary of a Gram Panchayat has traditionally been the Gram Sevak (a merged post called Gram Panchayat Adhikari has been reported; check current rules). 50% of seats in local bodies are reserved for women.
- Urban bodies: municipal corporations (29, including Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, BMC), municipal councils and nagar panchayats.
- The Maharashtra Lokayukta was set up under the Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1971, making Maharashtra one of the first states with a Lokayukta.
Quick facts
- Vidhan Sabha / Vidhan Parishad
- 288 / 78
- Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha
- 48 / 19
- Winter session
- Nagpur (Nagpur Pact, 1953)
- Bombay High Court benches
- Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Panaji; Kolhapur circuit bench (2025)
- Renamed
- Aurangabad - Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; Osmanabad - Dharashiv; Ahmednagar - Ahilyanagar
- Zilla Parishads began
- 1 May 1962 (Vasantrao Naik Committee)
- Women in local bodies
- 50% reservation
💡 Remember '288 - 78 - 48 - 19' for Assembly, Council, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seats of Maharashtra.
📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.
