Jharkhand Assembly: Record Women and Businessman Legislators, Rise in Postgraduates and Average Age

The results of Jharkhand's sixth assembly elections have been announced, with the INDIA alliance securing a majority. This assembly will feature several notable aspects, such as an increase in the number of women legislators, which is now the highest ever. The proportion of well-educated legislators has also risen, as has the proportion of legislators who are businessmen. Another notable point is that the average age of legislators has increased.

According to an analysis by PRS Legislative Research, 15% of the representatives in Jharkhand's sixth assembly will be women. In 2005, there were only three women legislators, which increased to eight in 2009. In 2014, nine women were elected, and in 2019, the number rose to 10. This time, the number of women legislators has reached 12.

In terms of educational profiles, 41% of the legislators in the 2024 assembly have studied up to higher secondary, followed by 37% who are graduates and 22% who are postgraduates. In the 2019 assembly, 40% had studied up to higher secondary, 40% were graduates, and 21% were postgraduates. Ten years ago, in 2014, the proportions were 40% for higher secondary, 42% for graduates, and 19% for postgraduates.

In the new assembly, 70% of legislators are involved in politics or social work. The proportion of legislators who are businessmen is 37%, while 31% are farmers, and 2% are retired officials. In 2014, 54% of legislators were engaged in politics or social work, 26% were businessmen, 36% were farmers, and 5% were retired officials.

The average age of legislators this time is 53 years, compared to 43 years in 2009, indicating that the assembly in Jharkhand is gradually aging. In the new assembly, 16% of legislators are aged 25 to 40 years, 47% are aged 41 to 55 years, 31% are aged 56 to 70 years, and 6% are over 70 years old. The proportion of legislators above 70 years has never been this high. Last term, 5% of legislators were over 70. In 2009, no legislator over 70 was elected. That year, 32% of legislators were up to 40 years old, 53% were between 41 and 55, and 15% were between 56 and 70 years old.