How healthy are India’s State legislatures?

India is a union of states — a structure enshrined in the Constitution that gives States a central role in legislating critical areas like health, agriculture, and public order. But how well are India’s State Assemblies functioning?

A new report by PRS Legislative Research that examines how 31 State Assemblies performed in 2024 has found that States passed over 500 Bills, yet most Assemblies met for just 20 days and spent around 100 hours in session. Many laws were cleared on the very day they were introduced, and States issued 100 ordinances in total.

What does this say about legislative scrutiny, accountability, and the democratic process at the state level? 

Guest: Niranjana S Menon, a Senior Analyst at PRS Legislative Research. 

Host: Nivedita V.

Edited by Jude Francis Weston

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