Indian MLAs declare average income of Rs 24.59 lakh/yr; Karnataka tops the list: Study

A new report by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), reveals that out of 224 Karnataka MLAs 203 have the highest average annual income of Rs 111.4 lakh, preceded by Maharashtra with 256 MLAs having average annual income of Rs 43.4 lakh. The analysis was made by examining the affidavits of 3,145 out of 4086 sitting MLAs by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW).

The study also surprisingly disclosed that the average income of men was more than double that of the women MLAs.

Chhattisgarh MLAs according to the report earn the lowest with their average annual income coming at Rs. 5.4 lakh followed by Jharkhand's 72 MLAs with Rs 7.4 lakh.

Some other facts the study shed lights on are that MLAs who have declared themselves to be illiterate have an average annual self-income of Rs 9.31 lakh. Also, the report added that almost half of the MLAs have declared their profession as business or agriculture.

As per the findings of the report the average annual income of the 3,145 sitting MLAs is Rs 24.59 lakh.

Encompassing all the 3,145 analyzed MLAs, 55 have not given their profession in their affidavit, 758 said they are agriculturist or farmer and 771 declared business as their profession. Ironically, 397 MLAs, who have declared their profession as agriculture and business, possess the highest average annual income of Rs 57.81 lakh.

From the affidavits, it is known that 1,052 MLAs with educational qualification to be between 5th to 12th pass, have an average annual income of Rs 31.03 lakh.

On the other hand 1,997 MLAs, graduate or above, have an average annual income of Rs 20.87 lakh.

The study unveils that MLAs under real estate business, filmmaking profession and category include only 1 per cent of the total MLAs analyzed, whereas teacher, Housewife, lawyer, and pensioner are among the least paid profession categories.

The report further that 11 MLAs have declared their age to be between 81-90 years and have an average annual income of Rs. 87.71 lakh, while 2 MLAs have declared their age to be above 90 years and an average annual income of Rs. 60.91 lakh.