Part IV — Polity & Administration

Chapter 7: Uttar Pradesh's Administrative & Political Structure

7.1 State Legislature

Uttar Pradesh has a bicameral legislature: the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly, the lower/directly elected house, with 403 seats — the largest state assembly in India) and the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council, the upper house, with members elected/nominated through varied methods rather than direct universal suffrage).

7.2 Executive Structure

The Governor is the constitutional/ceremonial head of state, appointed by the President of India. The Chief Minister, as head of government, is appointed from the party/coalition commanding a majority in the Vidhan Sabha, and governs with the aid of a Council of Ministers, which in UP includes multiple Deputy Chief Ministers. (See Chapter 1 for current office-holders.)

7.3 Judiciary

The Allahabad High Court, established in 1866, seated at Prayagraj (Allahabad) with a permanent bench at Lucknow, is one of India's oldest and largest High Courts by judge sanctioned strength, and is UP's highest judicial body.

7.4 Districts and Divisions

Uttar Pradesh has 75 districts, grouped into 18 administrative divisions, each headed by a Divisional Commissioner, and each district by a District Magistrate/Collector.

7.5 Representation in National Politics

Uttar Pradesh sends the largest number of members to the Lok Sabha of any Indian state — 80 seats — and also has substantial representation in the Rajya Sabha (31 seats), reflecting its status as India's most populous state, a foundational and frequently tested comparative fact.

7.6 Panchayati Raj

Uttar Pradesh follows the standard three-tier Panchayati Raj structure: Gram Panchayat (village level), Kshettra Panchayat (block/intermediate level), and Zila Panchayat (district level), implemented under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment framework.

7.7 Practice Set — Polity & Administration (14 MCQs)

1. Uttar Pradesh's legislature is:
   (a) Unicameral (b) Bicameral (c) Tricameral (d) Non-existent
2. How many seats does the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha have — the largest of any state assembly in India?
   (a) 380 (b) 395 (c) 403 (d) 420
3. The Allahabad High Court, UP's highest judicial body, is seated at:
   (a) Lucknow (b) Prayagraj (Allahabad) (c) Kanpur (d) Varanasi
4. The Allahabad High Court has a permanent bench at:
   (a) Kanpur (b) Lucknow (c) Varanasi (d) Meerut
5. In what year was the Allahabad High Court established?
   (a) 1861 (b) 1866 (c) 1916 (d) 1935
6. Uttar Pradesh has how many districts?
   (a) 71 (b) 75 (c) 80 (d) 84
7. Uttar Pradesh is divided into how many administrative divisions?
   (a) 16 (b) 18 (c) 20 (d) 24
8. How many Lok Sabha seats does Uttar Pradesh have — the highest of any Indian state?
   (a) 68 (b) 74 (c) 80 (d) 88
9. How many Rajya Sabha seats does Uttar Pradesh have?
   (a) 25 (b) 28 (c) 31 (d) 34
10. Uttar Pradesh's three-tier Panchayati Raj structure includes Gram Panchayat, Kshettra Panchayat, and:
    (a) Zila Panchayat (b) Nagar Nigam (c) Vidhan Parishad (d) Cantonment Board
11. The head of a UP district's administration is called the:
    (a) Divisional Commissioner (b) District Magistrate/Collector (c) Chief Secretary (d) Zila Pramukh
12. Members of the UP Vidhan Parishad are:
    (a) All directly elected by universal suffrage (b) Elected/nominated through varied methods (graduates', teachers' constituencies, MLA votes, Governor's nominees) (c) All nominated by the Chief Minister alone (d) All indirectly elected by the Lok Sabha
13. Uttar Pradesh's Panchayati Raj structure was implemented under which constitutional amendment framework?
    (a) 72nd (b) 73rd (c) 74th (d) 75th
14. A UP division is headed by a:
    (a) District Magistrate (b) Divisional Commissioner (c) Chief Secretary (d) Zila Panchayat President

Answer Key

1.(b)

2.(c)

3.(b)

4.(b)

5.(b)

6.(b)

7.(b)

8.(c)

9.(c)

10.(a)

11.(b)

12.(b)

13.(b) 14.(b)