Part VI · The States · General
Article 173: Qualification for membership of the State Legislature
Text of Article 173
A person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in the Legislature of a State unless he—
[(a) is a citizen of India, and makes and subscribes before some person authorised in that behalf by the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule;]
(b) is, in the case of a seat in the Legislative Assembly, not less than twenty-five years of age and, in the case of a seat in the Legislative Council, not less than thirty years of age; and
(c) possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.
Words in [square brackets] were inserted or substituted by later amendments (see below). Source: Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India
A plain-English explanation of Article 173, landmark judgments and exam facts are being added to this page.
Amendment history
Changed by: 16th Amendment Act, 1963
- Subs. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 4, for cl. (a) (w.e.f. 5-10-1963).
More in Part VI: The States · Constitution quiz