More Women, More Older MLAs: A Profile of the 18th Bihar Assembly
Results of the election to the 18th Bihar legislative assembly were announced on November 14, 2025. The assembly comprises 243 elected seats. This note analyses the profiles of the newly elected members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) and compares them with those from previous assemblies.
12% of the newly elected assembly are women; 58% of re-contesting MLAs won
Out of the 250 MLAs who were part of the previous assembly (including those who won by-elections), 192 contested elections in 2025. Of these, 111 MLAs won (58%).
During the term of the 17th assembly, 68 MLAs or MLCs served as ministers. Out of them, 49 contested elections in 2025. Forty-seven of them were members of the legislative assembly, and two were members of the council. Thirty-nine out of these 49 contestants won.
Proportion of older MLAs increasing; 40% of MLAs do not have college degrees
Out of 29 women elected, 13 are aged between 25 and 39 years, and nine between 40 and 54 years.
About half the women elected to the 18th assembly (15 MLAs) do not have college degrees.
Politics/social work and agriculture are the most common professions among MLAs
Note: The sum of values may not add up to 100%, as several MLAs have listed more than one profession.
About 1% of MLAs declared medicine or allied fields as their profession.
Sources: Election Commission (results.eci.gov.in); candidate affidavits uploaded on EC; MyNeta (https://www.myneta.info); PRS.
This article was republished from PRS Legislative Research and edited lightly for style.
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