Lucknow: After nearly a decade, Uttar Pradesh legislators are getting a raise. The state assembly passed the Uttar Pradesh State Legislature Member and Minister Comfort Law (Amendment) Bill, 2025, on Thursday, boosting salaries and allowances for MLAs, ministers, and Legislative Council members.
The move, which will cost the state Rs 105.21 crore annually, has sparked chatter about how UP’s lawmakers fare compared to their counterparts across India. The numbers reveal a fascinating story about the cost of public service, ranging from Telangana’s substantial pay cheques to Tripura’s modest salaries.
What’s New In UP?
The last time UP’s legislators saw a salary bump was in 2016, when inflation was less of a pinch. Now, with prices soaring, the Yogi Adityanath government has stepped up. MLAs will see their basic salary jump from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 a month, while ministers get a hike from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000. That’s not all — allowances have also been sweetened. The constituency allowance, meant for local work, has risen from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. Daily allowances for assembly sessions are up from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500, and public service allowances have climbed from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000.
Need a new phone plan? The telephone allowance has gone from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000.
Medical Allowances?
The medical allowance has increased from Rs 30,000 to Rs 45,000. Secretarial support now costs Rs 30,000, up from Rs 20,000. Even travel perks have improved, with railway coupons increasing from Rs 4.25 lakh to Rs 5 lakh annually. Former MLAs aren’t left out — pensions are now Rs 35,000 a month, up from Rs 25,000, and family pensions have risen to Rs 30,000. Railway coupons for ex-MLAs are now worth Rs 1.5 lakh, with Rs 50,000 convertible to cash for travel or fuel. The decision, backed by a committee led by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, kicks in from April 1, 2025, and will adjust every five years based on the cost inflation index.
How UP Compares Nationally
So, how does UP’s pay scale stack up against other states? The numbers, based on 2024 data, reveal a stark divide. Telangana tops the list, with its MLAs pocketing a hefty Rs 3 lakh a month, thanks to generous allowances and a high cost of living. States like Kerala and Maharashtra also pay over Rs 2 lakh, putting UP, even with its new hike, in the upper-middle tier. Posts on X have pointed out that most Indian MLAs are already wealthy, with assets often exceeding Rs 3 crore, suggesting these salaries are more about status than necessity.
In the Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh bracket, you’ll find states like Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. These states balance urban and rural constituencies, with allowances reflecting local demands. However, there are also states that fall on the opposite end of the scale. States like Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, and Uttarakhand pay less than Rs 1 lakh. In fact, Tripura is the most impoverished state, with MLAs earning a meagre Rs 50,000 per month, barely sufficient for a decent city apartment.
Why The Hike, And Why Now?
Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, presenting the bill, was clear: inflation has made life tougher, and lawmakers need a raise to keep up. The decision wasn’t rushed. A committee, including heavyweights like Mata Prasad Pandey, Ashish Patel, and Om Prakash Rajbhar, deliberated for months before recommending the increase. Both the ruling and opposition parties backed the bill, a rare moment of unity in UP’s fractious assembly. But it’s not without critics. Some on X argue that with MLAs already flush with wealth, this hike is a “blatant misuse of taxpayers’ money”, especially when public services like healthcare and education cry for funds.
The salary hike isn’t just about money — it’s about the role of legislators in India’s democracy is unique in that it doesn’t require MLAs to have degrees or even basic literacy, a choice rooted in Ambedkar’s vision of inclusive democracy. Yet, with great power comes intense scrutiny. UP’s 403 MLAs and 53 ministers wield significant influence, from local development funds worth Rs 7.5 crore per term to shaping state policy. The hike, adding Rs 67,750 monthly for MLAs and Rs 77,750 for ministers, reflects the growing demands of their roles — but also fuels debate about whether taxpayers are getting value for money.
As UP’s legislators pocket their raises, the contrast with states like Tripura raises questions. Is public service about prestige or sacrifice? And in a country where wealth often defines power, do these salaries even matter to the crore-pati MLAs? For now, UP’s lawmakers can breathe easier, but the public’s watching closely.