Constitution of India Summary

1 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

PREAMBLE

W E , T HE P EO P LE OF I ND I A, h avin g sol emnl y r esolved to
const itut e Indi a into a S OVERE IGN S O CI ALIST S E CULAR
D E M O C R AT I C R E P UB LI C an d t o s e cu r e t o all i t s ci t i z en s :

J US TI C E, so ci al , econo mi c and polit i cal;

LI BERT Y of thought , expr ession , b eli ef , f aith and worship;

E Q U A LI T Y o f s t atu s an d o f o p p o r t u n it y;

and to pro mot e amo ng th em al l

F R ATERNI TY assur ing th e dignit y of th e individu al and th e unit y
and int egri t y o f th e Nation;

I N OU R C O NS TI T UE N T ASS E MB L Y t h i s t w en t y- s i x t h d ay of
N o v e mb e r , 1 9 4 9 , d o H E REB Y A D OP T , E N A C T AN D G I V E TO
O U RS E L V ES TH I S CO NS TI T UT I O N.


PART I
THE UNION AND ITS TERRITORY
1 . Na me a nd t errito ry of th e Union .—(1 ) Indi a, th at is Bh ar at , sh all b e
a Un ion o f S t at es .
(2 ) Th e St at e s a n d th e t er rito ri es th er eo f sh all b e as sp e c ifi ed in th e
Fir st Sch edu l e.
(3) Th e t errito ry of Indi a sh all co mpris e —
(a ) t h e t err itori es of th e St at es ;
(b ) t h e Union t erri tori es sp ecif ied in th e First Sch edul e; and
(c ) s u ch oth er t erri tori es as may b e acquir ed .
2 . Ad mi ssion or es tablish men t of n ew Stat es .—Parli ament may b y l aw
ad mit in to th e Union , or est ab lish , n ew S t at es on su ch t er ms and condit ions
as it th inks fit .
2 A . [S i kki m to b e asso ciat ed with th e Union .] Rep . b y th e Const itution
(T h i rt y- si xth Am e n d men t ) A c t, 1 9 7 5 , s . 5 ( w.e. f. 2 6 - 4 - 1 9 7 5 ) .
3 . Fo rma tion of n ew S tat es and a lt eration of a rea s, bounda ri es o r
na me s of ex isting Stat es .—P arli ament may b y l aw—
(a ) f o r m a n ew St at e b y s ep ar ation of t errito r y fro m an y St at e or b y
unit ing t wo o r mo r e St at es or p arts of S t at es or b y unit ing any t err itor y
to a p art o f an y St at e ;
(b ) i n cr e as e t h e a r e a o f an y S t ate ;
(c ) d i mini sh th e ar ea of an y St at e;
(d ) al t er the bound ari es of an y St at e;
(e ) al t er th e n ame o f an y St at e:
Provid ed th at no Bill for th e purpos e sh al l be introdu ced in ei th er Hous e
of P arli a me nt ex cept on th e r eco mme nd ation of th e Pr esid en t and un l ess ,
wh er e th e propos al cont ain ed in th e Bi ll aff ects th e ar ea, bound ari es or
n a me of an y of th e St at es , th e Bil l h as b e en r e ferr ed b y th e Pr esid ent to th e
Legisl atur e of th at S t at e for expr ess ing its vi ews th er eo n within su ch
p eriod as ma y be sp ecifi ed in the r e f er en ce or with in su ch further p e riod as
th e Pr esid en t may allo w and th e p eriod so sp ecifi ed or allo wed h as expir ed .
Explanation I .— In this arti cl e, in cl aus es (a ) to (e), “ St at e’ ’ in clud es a
Union t erritor y, bu t in th e proviso , “St at e’’ do es not in clud e a Union
t err itor y.
Explanation II .— Th e p o w e r co n f err ed o n P ar l i a men t b y cla u s e (a )
in clud es th e power to for m a new St at e or Union t erritor y b y unit ing a p ar t
of an y St at e or Union t erri tor y to an y oth er St at e or Union t erritor y.
4 . Law s ma d e und er a rti cl es 2 and 3 to p rovide f o r th e a mend men t of
th e Fi rst and th e Fou rth S chedul es and suppl emen tal , in cid ental and
cons equ entia l ma t t e rs . —(1 ) An y l a w r ef err ed to in arti cl e 2 or ar ti cl e 3
sh al l co n t ain such provision s for th e amend men t of th e Firs t S ch edul e an d
th e Fou rth S ch edul e as ma y b e n ecess ar y to give eff e ct to th e provis ions of

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th e l aw and may al so cont ain su ch suppl ement al , in cid ent al and
cons eq u ent ial provis ions (in cluding prov isions as to r epr es en t a tion in
P arl i ament and in th e Legis l atur e or Legisl atur es o f th e S tat e o r St at es
a ff e ct ed b y su ch l a w) as P a rli a me n t ma y d e e m n e c e ss ar y .
(2 ) N o s u ch l a w a s a f o r es aid s h a l l b e d e e me d t o b e an a me n d me n t o f t h i s
Consti tution for th e purpos es of arti cle 368 .


PART II
CITIZENSHIP
5 . Citiz enship at th e co mmen cemen t of th e Co nstitu tion .— At th e
co mmen cement of this Constitution , ev er y p erson who h as hi s do mi cil e in
th e t err itor y of Indi a and —
(a ) wh o was born in th e t erri tory of Indi a; or
(b ) ei th er of whos e p ar ents was born in th e t erritor y of Indi a; or
(c ) wh o h as b e en ordin ar il y r esid ent in th e t erritor y of Indi a for not
l ess th an f iv e years i mmed i at el y pr eceding su ch co mmen cement ,
sh al l b e a citi zen of Indi a.
6 . Rights of cit iz enship of certain p e rson s w ho hav e mig rat ed to
India f ro m P aki s tan. —Not withst and ing an ything in arti cl e 5 , a p erson
who h as migr ated to th e t e rritor y of Indi a from t h e t er ritor y no w in clud ed
in P ak ist an sh all b e d eemed to b e a cit i z en of Indi a at th e comme n cemen t
of this Const itution if —
(a ) h e o r eith er of hi s p ar ents or an y of his gr andp ar ents was born in
Indi a as d ef in ed in th e Gov ern me nt of Indi a Act , 1935 ( as orig in all y
en act ed); and
(b )(i ) i n th e c as e wh er e su ch p erson h as so mi gr at ed b efor e th e
nin et e en th d a y of Ju l y, 1948, h e h as b e en ordin ar il y r esid ent in th e
t err itor y of India sin ce th e d at e of his migr ation, o r
(i i ) i n th e cas e wh er e su ch p erson h as so migr at ed on or aft er th e
nin et een th d ay of Jul y, 1948 , he h as b een r egist er ed as a ci ti zen of Ind i a
b y an offi cer appoint ed in th at b eh alf b y th e Go v ern me nt of th e
Do minion of Indi a on an appli cation ma d e b y h i m th er efor to su ch
offi cer b efo r e th e co mmen cement of thi s Const itution in th e for m and
ma n n er pr es cribe d b y th at Gov ern me nt:

Provid ed th at no p erson sh all b e so r eg ist er ed unl ess h e h as b e en
r esid en t in th e t er ritor y of Indi a fo r at l e ast six months i mme d i at el y
pr eceding th e dat e of his appli cation .

7 . Rights of cit iz enship of certain mig rants to Pa kis tan.—
Not withs t anding an ything in arti cl es 5 and 6, a p er son who h as aft er th e
fir st d a y of Ma r ch , 1947, migr at ed fro m the t err itor y of Indi a to th e
t err itor y no w includ ed in P ak ist an sh al l not b e d eemed to b e a cit i z en o f
Indi a:
Provid ed th at nothing in this art i cl e sh al l apply t o a p erson who , aft er
h aving so migr at ed to th e t e rritor y no w in clud ed in P akis tan , has r eturn ed
to th e t erri tor y of Ind i a und er a p er mit for r es ettl ement or p er man en t r e turn
is su ed b y o r u n d er th e au th o r ity o f an y l a w an d ev er y su ch p erso n sh al l fo r

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th e purpos es of cl aus e ( b) o f art i cl e 6 b e d e eme d to h av e mig r at ed to th e
t err itor y of India aft er th e nin eteenth d ay of July, 1948 .
8 . Rights of citiz ensh ip of certain p ersons of Indian origin resid ing
outs id e India .— No twithst anding an yth ing in art i cl e 5 , an y person who or
eith er o f whos e p ar ents or an y of whos e gr andpar ents was born in Indi a as
d efin ed in th e Gov ern ment o f Indi a Act , 1935 ( as origin al l y en act ed) , and
who is ord in arily r esiding in any countr y ou tsid e Indi a as so defin ed sh all
b e d e e me d to b e a c i t i z en o f In d i a if h e h as b ee n r eg ist er ed a s a c i t i z en o f
Indi a b y the d iplo mati c or consul ar r epr es ent ativ e o f Indi a in th e countr y
wh er e h e is for th e ti me b eing r esiding on an appli c at ion ma d e b y h i m
th er efo r to su ch diplo mati c or consul ar r epr es en t a tiv e, wh eth er b efor e or
aft er th e co mm en cement of this Const itution , in th e for m and mann er
pr es cr ib ed b y the Gov e rn men t of th e Do minion of Indi a or th e Gov ern me nt
of India.
9 . Persons volunta ri ly a cqu i ring citiz en ship of a fo reign Stat e not to
b e ci tiz ens .— N o p erson sh all b e a citi zen of Ind i a b y vi rtu e of arti cl e 5,
o r b e d e e me d to b e a c i ti z en o f I n d i a b y v irtu e o f art i cl e 6 o r a rt i cl e 8 , if
h e h as volunt aril y acquir ed th e cit i z enship of an y for eign St at e.
10 . Continuan ce of th e rights of cit iz enship .— Ev er y p erson w ho is or
is d eemed to b e a citi zen of Indi a und er an y of th e for egoing provis ions of
thi s P ar t sh all , subj ect to th e provis ions of any l a w th at ma y b e mad e b y
P arl i ament , continu e to b e su ch cit i zen.
11 . Pa rlia me n t to regu lat e the righ t of cit izenship by law .— No t h in g
in th e for egoing provis ions of thi s P art sh all d erog at e f ro m th e po wer of
P arl i ament to mak e an y provis ion with r espect to th e acquis ition and
t er min at ion o f cit i z en ship and all oth e r matt ers r el a ting to citi ze nship .


PART III
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
G e n er a l
1 2 . D ef i n i t io n .—In this P art , unl ess th e cont ext o th er wis e r equir es , “ th e
St at e’’ in clud es th e Gov ernmen t and P arli ament of Indi a and th e
Gov ern ment and th e Legisl atur e of each of th e St at es and all local or oth er
author iti es within th e t erri tor y of Indi a or und er th e contro l of th e
G o v er n me n t o f I n d i a .
13 . Law s in consi st ent w ith o r in deroga tion of th e funda me n tal
rights . —(1) All l a ws in for ce in th e t errito r y of Ind i a i mmed iat el y b efor e
th e co mmen cement of this Const itution , in so f ar as th ey ar e in cons ist ent
with th e prov isions of thi s Part , sh all , to th e ext ent of su ch in consi st en cy,
b e void .
(2) Th e S t at e sh all not mak e an y l aw whi ch t ak es aw ay or abridg es th e
righ ts conf err ed b y this P ar t an d an y l a w mad e in contr av ention of this
cl au s e sh al l, to th e ex t ent of th e contr av ention , b e void .
(3) In this ar ti cle, un l ess th e cont ext oth er wi s e r equir es,—
(a ) “ l aw” in clud es an y Ordin an ce, ord er , b ye-l aw, rul e, r egulation ,
noti fi c ation , cu sto m or us ag e having in th e t erri tor y o f Ind i a th e for ce
of l aw;
(b ) “ l aw s in force” in clud es l aws p ass ed or mad e b y a Legisl atur e o r
oth er co mp et ent autho rit y in th e t erritory of Indi a befor e th e
co mmen cement of this Consti tution and not pr evious l y r ep eal ed ,
not with st anding t h at an y su ch law or an y p art th er eof may n ot b e th en in
op er at ion ei th er a t all or in p arti cul a r ar e as .
(4) No thing in t his ar ti cl e shall appl y to any amen d ment of this
Consti tution mad e und er arti cl e 368 .
Right to Equali ty
14 . Equal ity befo re law .—The S t at e shall not d en y to an y p erson
equ ali t y b efor e th e l aw or the equ al pro t ection of th e l aws within th e
t err itor y of India.
15 . Prohib ition of dis cri mi nation on g rounds of relig ion, ra ce, ca st e,
s ex o r pla ce o f bi rth .—(1 ) The S t at e sh all not dis cr i min at e ag ainst an y
cit i zen on g rounds onl y of r eligion , r ace, caste, s ex , p l ace of bir th o r an y
o f t h e m.
( 2 ) N o cit i z en s h all , o n g r o u n d s o n l y o f r el ig i o n , r a c e , c a s t e , s ex , p l a c e
of birth or an y of th em, b e subject to an y dis abil it y, l i abilit y, restr i ction or
condit ion wi th reg ard to —
(a ) acces s to shops , publi c r es taur ants , hot els and pl aces of publi c
e nt er t ain men t; or

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(b ) t h e us e of well s, t anks , b athing gh ats , ro ads and pl aces of publi c
r esor t ma int ain ed wholl y or p artl y ou t of St at e funds or d edi cated to th e
us e of th e g en eral publi c.
(3) Noth ing in thi s arti cl e shall p r ev ent th e St at e fro m making an y
sp eci a l prov ision for wo men an d ch ildr en .
(4) Noth ing in this arti cl e or in cl au s e (2) of arti cl e 29 sh al l prev en t th e
St at e fro m ma king an y sp ecial provision for th e ad v an c emen t o f an y
so ci all y and edu c ation a ll y back ward cl ass es of ci ti zens or for th e
S ch ed u l ed C ast es an d th e S ch ed u l ed Trib es .
16 . Equa lity of oppo rtunity in ma tt ers o f publ ic emp loymen t.—(1)
Th er e sh all b e eq u ali t y of opportuni t y for all citi zens in ma tt ers r el ating to
emp lo yment or appoint ment to an y offi ce und er th e St at e.
(2) No citi zen sh all , on grounds onl y of relig ion, r ace, cast e, s ex ,
d es cent , pl ace of bir th, r esid en ce or an y of th em, b e in eligibl e for, or
dis cr i min at ed ag ains t in r esp ect of , an y emplo yment or off i ce und er th e
S t at e .
(3) No thing in this arti cl e sh all pr ev en t P arl i amen t f ro m making an y l a w
pr es cr ibing , in r eg ard to a cl ass or cl as s es of emp lo yme nt or appoint me nt
to an off i ce und er th e Gov ernme n t of , or any lo cal or o th er author it y
within , a St at e or Union t err itor y , an y r equir emen t as to r es id en ce within
th at St at e or Union t err itor y prior to su ch emp lo yment or appoint ment .
(4) Noth ing in thi s arti cl e shall p r ev ent th e St at e fro m making an y
provis ion for th e r es erv ation of appoin t men ts or po sts in favour of an y
b a ck ward cl ass of ci ti zens whi ch , in th e opinion of th e St at e, is not
ad equ at el y r epres ent ed in th e servi ces und er the St at e.
(4 A) No thing in this art i cl e sh all pr ev en t the St at e fro m making an y
provis ion fo r res erv at ion in ma t t ers of promo tion , with cons equ ent i al
s enior it y, to any cl ass or cl asses o f posts in the s e rvi c es und er t h e St at e in
f avour of th e Sch edul ed Cast es and th e S ch edul ed Trib es whi ch , in th e
opinion of th e St at e, ar e not ad equ at el y r epr es ent ed in th e s ervi ces und er
th e St at e.
(4 B) Nothing in this art i cl e sh all pr ev ent th e Stat e fro m considering an y
u n fi ll ed v a c an cie s o f a y e ar wh i ch ar e r es erv ed fo r b ein g fi ll ed u p in th at
year in accord an ce wi th an y provis ion for r es erv at ion mad e und er cl aus e
(4 ) o r cl au s e (4 A ) as a s ep a ra te c l ass o f v a c an ci es to b e fil le d u p in an y
su cceeding year or years and su ch cl ass of v acan ci es sh all not b e
consid er ed tog eth er with th e v acan ci es of th e year in whi ch th ey ar e b eing
fi ll ed up fo r d et er min ing th e ce il ing of f ift y per cen t. r es erv ation on tot a l
n u mb er o f v a c an ci es o f t h at y ea r .
(5) No thing in thi s art i cl e sh all aff ect th e op er at ion of an y l aw w hi ch
provid es th at the in cu mb ent of an off i ce in conn ection wi th the aff ai rs of
an y r el igious or d eno min ation a l in stitut ion or an y memb er of the gov erning


bod y th er eof shall b e a p erson prof es sing a p arti cu l ar r el igion or b e longing
to a p arti cul ar deno min ation .
17 . Abolition of Untou chabi lity .—“ Un to u ch ab il it y’’ i s ab o lish ed an d
it s pr acti ce in an y for m i s forbidd en . Th e en for cement of an y di sab ilit y
aris ing out of “ Untou ch ab ilit y’’ shall b e an off en c e punish ab l e in
accord an ce with l aw.
18 . Abo lition of tit l es .—(1) No ti tl e, no t b eing a milit ar y or acad emi c
dis tin ction , sh all b e conf err ed by th e St at e.
(2) No citi zen of Indi a sh al l accept an y tit l e f rom an y for eign St at e.
(3) No p erson who is no t a citi zen of Indi a sh all , whil e h e holds an y
offi ce of profi t or trust und er th e St at e, accep t withou t th e cons ent of th e
Pr esid en t an y t itl e fro m an y foreign St at e.
(4) No p erson holding an y of fi ce of profi t or trust und er th e S tat e sh al l,
without th e cons ent of th e Pr esid en t, accept an y p res ent , emolu ment , or
offi ce of an y kind fro m o r und er an y for eign Stat e.
Right to Fr eedom
19 . Prot ection of certain rights rega rding f reedo m o f sp eech , et c.—
(1) All cit i zens sh al l h av e th e right —
(a ) t o fr eedo m of sp eech and expr ess ion;
(b ) t o ass embl e p eaceabl y and withou t ar ms ;
(c ) t o for m associ at ions or un ions;
(d ) t o mov e fr eel y throughou t the t erri tor y of Indi a;
(e ) t o r esid e and s ett l e in an y p art of th e t err itory of Indi a; and
* * * * *
(g ) t o pr actis e an y prof ess ion, or to carr y on an y o c cup ation , tr ad e
or busin ess .
(2) Nothing in sub- cl au s e (a) of cl aus e (1) sh all aff e ct th e oper at ion of
an y ex isting l aw , or p r ev ent th e S t at e fro m mak ing an y l aw, in so f ar as
su ch l a w i mpos es r e ason ab l e r est ri ctions on th e ex er cis e of th e righ t
conf err ed b y the s aid sub - cl au s e in th e int er est s o f th e sov er eign t y and
int eg rit y of Ind ia, th e s e cu ri t y of th e S t at e, fr iendl y r el ation s with for eign
St at es, publi c ord er , decen cy or mo r alit y, o r in r el ation to cont empt of
court , d ef a ma tion or in cit e me nt to an off en ce.
(3) Noth ing in sub- cl aus e (b ) o f th e s aid cl au s e sh al l aff e ct th e o p er at io n
of an y exist ing l aw in so f ar as it i mpos es , or pr ev ent th e S t at e fro m
ma k ing an y l aw i mpos ing, in the in t er ests o f the sov er e ignt y an d in t egrit y
of Indi a or publi c ord er , r e asonabl e r estr i ctions on th e ex er cis e of th e right
conf err ed b y th e s aid sub- cl aus e.
(4) Nothing in sub- cl au s e (c) o f th e s aid cl au s e sh al l af f e ct th e o p er at io n
of an y exist ing l aw in so f ar as it i mpos es , or pr ev ent t h e S t at e f r o m
ma k ing an y l aw i mpos ing, in the in t er ests o f the sov er e ignt y an d in t egrit y


of Indi a or publi c ord er or mor ali t y, r eason ab l e r est ri ctions on th e ex er cis e
of th e right conferr ed b y th e s aid sub- cl aus e.
(5) Nothing in sub- cl aus es (d ) and ( e) o f th e s aid cl au s e sh al l a ff e ct th e
op er at ion of any ex isting l aw in so f ar as it imp os es , or pr event th e S t ate
fro m mak ing any l aw i mposing , r eason abl e r es tri ctions on th e ex er cis e of
an y of th e rights conf err ed b y th e s aid sub- cl au s es eith er in th e int er est s of
th e g en er al publi c o r for th e prot ection of th e int e r ests of any S ch edul ed
Trib e.
(6) Noth ing in sub- cl aus e (g ) o f th e s aid cl au s e sh al l aff e ct th e o p er at io n
of an y exist ing l a w in so f ar as it i mpos es , or pr ev ent th e S t at e fro m
mak ing an y l aw i mposing , in the int er es ts o f the g en er al publi c, r eason abl e
r est ri ctions on th e ex er cis e of th e r ight conf er red b y th e s a id sub- cl au s e,
and , in p arti cu lar , noth ing in th e s aid sub- cl au s e sh all aff e ct th e op er ation
of an y ex isting l a w in so f ar as it r el at e s to , or p r ev en t th e St at e fro m
mak ing an y l aw r el ating to,—
(i) th e prof ession al or t e chni cal qu al ifi c ation s n eces s ary for
pr act ising an y prof es sion or carr ying on an y o c cup ation, tr ad e or
busin es s, or
(i i) th e carr ying on b y th e S tat e, o r b y a corpor at ion o wned or
contro ll ed b y th e S t at e, of any t r ad e, busin ess , industr y or s e rvi c e,
wh eth er to th e ex clus ion, co mplet e or p arti al, of citi zen s or oth er wis e.
20 . Prot ection in resp ect of convi ct ion fo r off en ces .—(1) No p e rson
sh al l b e convi cted of an y off ence ex cept for viol at ion o f a l aw in for ce at
th e ti me of the co mmi ss ion of th e Act ch arg ed as an offen ce, nor b e
subj ect ed to a p en alt y gr eat er th an th at wh i ch mi ght h av e b een infl i ct ed
und er th e l aw in for ce at th e ti me of th e co mmission of th e off en ce.
(2 ) No p erso n sh al l b e p ro s e cu t ed an d p u n ish ed fo r th e s ame o ff en c e
mo r e th an once.
(3) No p erson accus ed of an y off en ce sh all b e co mp ell ed to b e a wi tn ess
ag ains t h i ms elf.
21 . Prot ection of lif e and p ersonal lib erty .— No p er so n sh al l b e
d epriv ed of his l if e or p er sonal lib ert y ex cept accord ing to pro c edur e
e st ab lish ed b y la w .
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22 . Prot ection agains t a rrest and d et ention in certain cas es . — ( 1 ) No
p erson wh o is arr est ed sh al l b e d e t ain ed in cu stod y without b eing
infor med , as soon as may b e, of th e grounds for su ch arr est nor sh all h e b e
d eni ed th e r ight to consu lt, and to b e d ef end ed b y, a l eg al pr ac ti tion er of
h i s ch o i c e .
(2) Ev er y p e rson who is a rr est ed and d et ain ed in cu stod y sh al l be
produ ced b efore th e n e ar est ma g istr a t e within a p er iod of t w ent y- four
hours of su ch arr es t ex cluding th e t i me n ecessar y for th e jou rn e y fro m th e
pl ace of arr est to th e court of th e ma gis tr at e an d no su ch p erson sh al l b e

_______________________________________________
1.On the commencement of s. 3 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, art. 22 shall stand amended
as directed in s. 3 of that Act. For the text of s. 3 of that Act, see Appendix III.


d et ain ed in cu stod y b eyond the s a id p eriod without th e au thori t y of a
ma g istr a t e.
(3) Nothing in cl aus es (1) and (2) sh all appl y—
(a) to an y p erson who for th e t ime b eing is an en emy ali en; or
(b) to an y p erson wh o is arr est ed or d e t ain ed und er an y l a w
provid ing fo r prev en tiv e d et en tion .
(4) No l a w providing for prev en tiv e d e t ention sh all au thoris e th e
d et ent ion of a person for a longer p eriod th an thr ee months unless —
(a) an Adv isor y B o ard con sisting of p ersons who ar e, or h av e b een ,
or ar e qu al ifi ed to b e appoint ed as , Judg es of a High Court h as r eport ed
b efor e th e exp iration o f th e s aid p eriod o f thr ee mo nths th at th er e is in
it s op inion suffici en t caus e for su ch d et ention :
Provid ed th at nothing in this sub- cl au s e sh all au thor is e th e d etention
of an y p er son beyond th e maximu m p eriod pr es crib ed b y an y l aw mad e
b y P arli a me nt und er sub- cl aus e (b) of cl aus e (7); or
(b) su ch p e rson is d e t ain ed in accord an ce with th e prov isions of an y
l aw mad e b y P arl i ament und er sub- cl aus es ( a ) and (b ) o f cl au s e (7 ) .
(5) Wh en an y person is d et ain ed in pur su an ce of an ord er ma d e und er
an y l aw providing fo r pr ev ent ive d e t ention , th e au thorit y ma king th e ord er
s h al l , as s o o n as ma y b e , co mmu n i c at e t o s u ch p e r s o n t h e g r o u n d s o n wh i ch
th e o rd er h as been ma d e and sh all afford hi m th e earli es t opportun it y of
ma k ing a rep r esent at ion ag ainst th e ord er .
(6) Nothing in cl aus e (5) sh al l r equir e th e author it y mak ing an y su ch
ord er as is r ef err ed to in th at claus e to dis clo se f acts whi ch su ch autho rit y
consid er s to b e ag ains t the publi c int e rest to disclos e .
( 7 ) P ar l i a men t ma y b y l a w p r esc r i b e —
(a) th e cir cu ms tan ces und er which , and th e cl ass or cl as s es of cas es
in wh i ch, a p erson ma y b e det ain ed for a period long er than thr e e
mo nths und er an y l aw providing for pr ev entiv e d et ent ion without
obt ain ing th e opinion of an Advisor y Bo ard in accord an ce with th e
provis ions of sub- cl aus e (a) of cl aus e (4) ;
(b) th e ma xi mum p e riod for whi ch an y p erson ma y in an y cl ass or
cl ass es of cas es b e det ain ed und er an y l aw provid ing for pr ev ent iv e
d et ent ion; and
( c) th e pro cedure t o b e fol lowed b y an Advisor y Bo ard in an inquir y
und er sub- cl ause (a) of cl aus e (4) .
Right agains t Ex ploi tation
23 . Proh ibition of t raffi c in hu ma n b eings and fo rced labou r .—(1)
T r affi c in h u man b ein g s an d b egar and oth er s imi l ar for ms of for ced l abour
ar e prohibit ed and an y contr av ention of this provis ion sh al l b e an off en c e
punish ab l e in accord an ce with law.


(2) Nothing in this arti cl e sh all pr ev ent the S t at e fro m imp osing
co mpulsor y s ervi ce for publ i c purpos es , and in i mpos ing su ch s ervi ce th e
St at e sh all no t mak e an y dis cr imi n ation on grounds on l y of r eligion , r ace,
c a s t e o r cl ass o r a n y o f t h e m.
24 . Prohibition of emp loy ment of chi ld ren in fa cto ri es, et c. — No
child b e low th e ag e of four t e en years sh all be emp lo y ed to work in an y
f actor y or min e or eng ag ed in an y oth er h azardous emplo yment.

Right to Fr eedom of Religion
2 5 . F re ed o m o f co n s ci en c e a n d f r e e p ro f ess io n , p ra ct i c e a n d
p ropagation of relig ion. —(1) Subj ect to pub li c ord er , mo r alit y and h e alth
and to th e oth er provi sions of this P art , all p ersons ar e eq u ally ent itl ed to
fr eedo m o f cons ci en ce and th e right fr eel y to prof ess, pr act is e and
p r o p ag at e r el ig i o n .
(2) Nothing in this art i cl e sh all aff e ct th e op eration of an y ex ist ing l aw
or pr ev ent th e St at e fro m mak ing an y l aw —
(a) r egul ating or r est ri cting an y econo mi c, fin an ci a l, pol iti ca l or
oth er s e cul ar activ it y wh i ch ma y b e asso ci at ed with r el igious pr act i ce;
(b) providing for so ci al wel far e and r efor m or th e throwing op en of
Hindu r e ligious i n stitu tions of a p ubli c ch aract er to al l cl ass es and
s e ct i o n s o f Hin d u s .
Explanation I .—Th e wearing and carr ying of kirpans sh all b e deemed to
b e in clud ed in th e prof ession of th e Sikh r eligion .
Explanation II .— In sub- cl aus e (b) o f cl aus e (2) , th e ref er en ce to Hindu s
sh al l b e con strued as in clud ing a r e f er en ce to persons prof ess ing th e Sikh ,
J ain a or Buddh ist r elig ion, and th e r ef er en c e to Hindu r eligious ins titution s
sh al l b e const rued accordingl y.
2 6 . F r e ed o m t o ma n a g e r el ig i o u s a f f a i rs .— Subj ect to publi c ord er ,
mo r ali t y and h ealth , ev er y r el igious d eno min ation or an y s e ction ther eof
sh al l h av e th e right —
(a) to est abli sh and maint ain inst itutions for r elig ious and ch arit ab l e
purpos es ;
(b) to man ag e its o wn aff airs in mat t ers of r el igion;
( c) to o wn and ac quir e mov abl e a nd i mmov ab l e prop ert y; and
(d) to ad minist er su ch prop ert y in accord an ce with l a w.
27 . F r e edo m a s to pay me n t of tax e s fo r p romo t ion of any pa rti cu la r
relig ion.— No person sh all b e co mp ell ed to p a y an y t axes, th e pro ceeds of
w hi ch ar e sp ec if i c all y appropri a t ed in p a yme n t of exp ens es for th e
pro motion o r ma i n t en an c e of an y p arti cul ar r eligion or r eligious
d eno min ation .


28 . Freedo m a s to att endan ce at religiou s ins truction o r relig ious
w orship in certain edu cational i nstitut ions .— (1) No r elig ious i nstru ct ion
sh al l b e provided in an y edu cation al ins titution wholl y mai ntain ed ou t of
S t at e f u n d s .
(2) Nothing in cl aus e (1) sh all appl y to an edu cation al in stitu tion wh i ch
is ad min ist er ed b y th e S t at e but h as b e en e st ablish ed und e r an y e ndo w me nt
or t rust whi ch requir es th at r eligious instru ct ion sh al l b e i mp art ed in su ch
ins titution .
(3) No p erson att end ing an y ed u c ation a l institut ion r e cognised b y th e
St at e or r eceiv ing aid out of St at e funds sh all b e r equir ed to t ak e p art in
an y r elig ious instru ction th at may b e i mp ar t ed in su ch inst itution or to
att end an y r e ligious worship that ma y b e condu ct ed in su ch inst itution or
in an y pr emis es at t a ch ed th er eto un l ess su ch person or, if su ch p er son is a
mi nor , his gu ardi an h as giv en his cons ent th er eto .
Cultura l and Edu cationa l Righ ts
29 . Prot ection of in t erests of mi no rit i es.— (1) An y s e ction of th e
cit i z en s r esiding in th e t erritor y of Indi a or an y p art th er eo f h aving a
dis tin ct l angu ag e, s c ript or cu ltu r e of its own shall h av e th e right to
c o n s erv e t h e s ame .
(2) No citi zen sh all b e d eni ed ad mission into an y edu cation al inst itution
mai nt ain ed b y th e St at e or r eceiving aid out of St at e funds on grounds onl y
o f r el i g i o n , r a c e, c a s t e , l an g u ag e o r an y o f t h e m.
30 . Right o f mi n o riti es to establ ish and ad mi nist er edu cationa l
ins titutions . — (1) Al l minoriti es , wh eth er b ased on r el igion or l angu ag e,
sh al l h av e th e right to est abl ish and ad mini st er edu cat ion al inst itutions of
th ei r ch o ic e .
(1 A) In making an y l a w providing for th e co mpulsor y acqu isition of an y
prop ert y of an edu cation al institu tion est abl ish ed and ad minist er ed b y a
mi nori t y, r ef e rred to in cl au s e (1) , th e St ate sh all en su r e th at th e amount
fix ed b y o r d et er min ed und er such l a w for th e ac quis ition of such prop ert y
is su ch as would no t r es tri ct or abrog at e th e right gu ar ant e ed und er th at
c l au s e .
(2) Th e St at e sh al l no t, in gr ant ing aid to edu cation al insti tutions ,
dis cr i min at e ag ains t an y ed u c ation a l inst itution on th e g round th at it is
und er th e manag ement of a mi nori t y, wh eth er b as ed on r el igion or
l an g u ag e .


* * *
31 . [ Co mpul sory a cquisit ion of prop ert y .] Re p . b y th e Const itution
(F o rt y- fo u rth Am e n d men t ) A c t, 1 9 7 8 , s . 6 ( w.e. f. 2 0 - 6 - 1 9 7 9 ) .
Sa ving of Certain La ws
31 A. Saving of law s p roviding fo r a cqu isition of estat es, et c.—
(1) Not wi thst anding an yth ing cont ain ed in arti cl e 13, no l aw providing
for —
(a) th e acquisi tion b y th e St at e of an y est at e or of an y rights ther ein
or th e extingui sh me nt or modi fication of an y such rights , or
(b) th e t aking ov er of th e man ag e me nt of an y prop ert y b y th e St at e
for a l i mit ed p eriod eith er in the pub li c int er est o r in ord er to secur e th e
prop er man ag ement of th e prop ert y, or
(c) the amalgamation of two or more corporations either in the public interest or in order to secure the proper
management of any of the corporations, or
(d) th e ex tinguish me nt or modifi cation of an y righ ts of man aging
ag ents , s ecr et ari es and tr easur ers , man aging di r ectors , directors or
man ag ers of corpor at ions , or o f an y vo ting rights of shar ehold er s
th er eof , or
( e) th e ext inguish me nt or modif i cation o f any r ights accruing b y
vir tu e of an y agr eement , l eas e or li cen ce for th e pu rpos e of s ear ching
for , or winning , an y mi n er al or mi n er al oil , or th e pr ematur e t ermi n ation
o r c an c ell at io n o f an y s u ch ag r ee me n t , l e as e o r l i c en c e ,
sh al l b e d eemed to b e void on th e ground th at it i s in consis tent wi th, or
t ak es away or abridg es an y of th e right s conf err ed b y arti cl e 14 or arti cl e
19:
P rovid ed th at w h er e su ch l a w is a l a w mad e b y th e Leg isl atur e of a
St at e, th e provision s of this arti cl e sh all not appl y th er eto unl ess such l a w,
h aving b e en r eserv ed for th e consid er ation of th e Pr esid en t , has r eceiv ed
his ass en t:
Provid ed furth er th at wh ere an y l aw mak es an y provision for th e
acquis ition b y th e S t at e of an y est a t e and wh ere an y l and co mpris ed th er ein
is h eld b y a p erson under his p erson al cult ivation , i t sh al l not be l a wfu l for
th e St at e to acquir e an y port ion of su ch l and as i s with in th e ceil ing li mi t
appli c ab l e to him u nd er an y l aw for th e t i me being in for ce or an y bu ilding
or stru ctur e st anding th er eon or appurt en ant th ereto , unl ess th e law r el ating
to th e acquisit ion of su ch l and, build ing or structur e, provid e s for p a yment
of co mpen s ation at a r at e which sh all not b e l ess th an th e mar k et v alu e
th er eo f .
(2) In this articl e ,—
(a) th e expr ession ‘‘ es t at e’’ sh all , in r el ation to an y lo cal ar ea, h av e
th e s ame mean ing as th at expression or its local equiv al en t h as in th e


exis ting l a w r elating to l and t enur es in for ce in th at ar ea an d sh al l also
in clud e—
(i) an y jagir , ina m o r muafi or oth er si mil ar gr ant and in the
S t at e s o f T a mil N a d u and K er al a , an y jan ma m rig h t ;
(i i ) an y l and h eld und er r yot wari s et tl emen t;
(i i i ) an y l and h eld or l et for purpos es of agri cu ltur e or for
purpos es an cillar y th er eto, in cluding was t e l and , for est l and, l and
for p astur e o r sit e s of bu ildings and oth er stru ctur es o c cupi ed b y
cult iv ators of l and , ag ri cu ltur a l l abour er s an d vill ag e art is ans;
(b) th e expr ession ‘‘right s’’ , in r el ation to an est a t e, sh all in clud e
an y rights v esting in a propri eto r, sub-propri e tor, und er-propri e tor,
t enur e-ho ld er, r a i ya t , u n d er- ra i y a t o r o th er in te r me d i ar y an d an y rig h ts
or privi l eg es in r esp ect of l and rev enu e.
31 B. Va lidation of certain Ac ts and Regulation s. —Wi thout pr ejud ice
to th e g en er al ity of th e prov isions cont ain ed in arti cl e 31A, non e of th e
Acts and Regul at ions sp eci fi ed in th e Ninth S ch edu l e nor an y of th e
provis ions th ereof sh al l b e d eemed to b e void , or ev er to hav e b e co me
void , on th e ground th at su ch Act , Regul at ion o r provis ion is i n consist en t
w ith , o r t ak es a w a y o r ab rid g es a n y o f th e r ig h ts co n f err ed b y, a n y
provis ions of this P art , and notwiths t anding any j udg men t, d ecr ee o r ord er
of an y court or Tribun al to th e cont r ar y, each of th e said Acts and
Regul at ions sh all , subj ect to th e po wer of any co mp et ent Legis l atur e to
r ep eal or amend it , continu e in for ce.
31 C. Saving of law s giving eff e ct to certain di rectiv e p rincipl es.—
Not withs t anding an ything cont ain ed in ar ti cl e 13 , no l aw giving eff ect to
1
th e poli c y o f the S t at e to wards s e cu ring [ a ll or an y of th e prin cip l es l a id
do wn in P a rt IV] sh all b e d eemed to b e void on th e g round th at it is
in cons ist ent with , or t ak es away or abridg es any of th e r ights conf err ed b y
2
a rt i cl e 1 4 o r arti cl e 1 9 ; and no la w contain ing a d e clarat ion that i t is for
gi ving eff e ct to su ch po li cy sha ll b e ca ll ed in qu est ion in an y court on th e
ground that i t do es not gi ve eff ect to su ch poli cy:
Provid ed th at wh er e su ch l a w is ma d e b y th e Legisl atur e of a S t at e, th e
provis ions of this arti cl e sh all no t appl y th ereto un l ess su ch l a w, h av ing
b e en r es erv ed for th e consid er at ion of th e Pr esid en t, h as receiv ed his
a s s en t .
3 1 D. [Sa ving of la ws in r esp ect of anti-na tional a cti viti es .] Rep . b y th e
Consti tution (F ort y- third Amen d m en t ) Act ,1977, s .2 (w . e . f .13-4-1978 ).
Right to Consti tutiona l Remedi es
32 . Remedi es fo r enfo rcemen t of rights con ferred by thi s Pa rt .—(1)
Th e righ t to mov e th e Sup r eme Court b y appropri at e pro ceedings for th e
enfor cement of th e righ ts con ferr ed b y this P art is gu ar ant eed .

____________________________________________
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 4, for “the principles specified in
clause (b) or clause (c) of article 39” (w.e.f. 3.1.1977). Section 4 has been declared invalid by the
Supreme Court in Minerva Mills Ltd. and others vs. Union of India and others (1980) s. 2, S.C.C. 591.
2. In Kesavananda Bharati vs. the State of Kerala (1973),Supp. S.C.R.1., the Supreme Court held the
provisions in italics to be invalid.


(2) Th e Sup r eme Court sh all h av e power to is su e dir e ction s or ord ers or
writs , in clud ing writs in the n atur e of hab eas corpus , mandamus ,
prohib ition , quo warranto a n d cert iorari , which ev er may b e appropri at e,
for th e enfor c emen t of an y of th e rights conf err ed b y this P art .
(3) Without pr ejudi ce to th e powers conf err ed on th e Supr eme Court b y
c l au s es (1 ) an d (2 ), P arli a me n t ma y b y l a w emp o w e r an y o th er co u rt to
ex er cis e wi thin th e lo cal li mits of it s jurisdi ction all or an y of th e po wers
e x er cis ab l e b y th e Supr e me Court und er cl aus e (2) .
(4) Th e right guar ant eed b y this ar ti cl e sh al l not b e susp end ed ex cept as
oth er wis e prov id ed for b y this Consti tution .
3 2 A . [ Consti tutional validi t y of S tat e la ws not to b e consid er ed in
pro ceedings und er arti cl e 32 .] Rep. b y th e Con stitut ion (F o rt y- third
A m e n d m en t ) A ct , 1977 , s . 3 (w . e . f . 1 3 - 4 - 1 9 7 8 ) .
33 . Pow er of Pa rlia men t to modify th e rights conf erred by thi s Pa rt
in th ei r appli cation to Fo rces , et c.—P ar li a me n t ma y , b y l a w, d e t er min e to
wh at ex t en t any of th e rights conf err ed b y th is P art sh all , in th eir
appli cation to ,—
(a ) t h e me mb ers o f th e A r med F o r c es; o r
(b ) t h e memb ers of th e For ces ch arg ed with th e maint en ance o f
publi c ord er ; or
(c ) p e rsons emp lo yed in an y bur eau o r oth er org anis at ion
est ab lish ed b y th e S t at e for purpos es of int e llig en ce or count er
int e llig en ce; or
(d ) p e rsons emp lo y ed in , or in conn ection with , th e
t el eco mmu ni cation s yst ems s et up for th e purpos es of an y For ce, bur eau
or org anis a tion r ef err ed to in claus es (a ) to ( c) ,
b e r e stri ct ed o r a b ro g a t ed so as to en su r e th e p ro p e r d is ch arg e o f th eir
duti es and th e maint en an ce of dis cip lin e among th em
34 . Rest ri ction o n rights conf erred by thi s Pa rt w hil e ma rtia l law is
in fo rce i n any a r ea . —Not with st anding an ything in the f o r egoing
provis ions of this P ar t, P ar li ament may b y l aw ind emnif y an y person in the
s ervi ce of th e Union or of a St at e o r an y oth er p erson in r esp ect of an y act
don e b y hi m in conn ection wi th th e ma int en an ce or r esto ration of ord er in
an y ar ea within th e t erri tor y of Indi a wh er e mar ti al l aw was in for ce or
v alid at e an y s ent en ce p ass ed , punish me nt in fli ct ed , forf eitur e ord er ed or
oth er act don e und er marti al l aw in su ch ar ea.
35 . Legislat ion to giv e ef fect to th e p rovis ions of this Pa rt . —
Not withs t anding an ything in this Constitu tion ,—
(a) P ar li ament sh al l h av e, and th e Legis l atur e of a St at e sh all not
h av e, po w er to mak e l aw s—


(i) with r esp ect to an y of th e matt ers whi ch und er cl aus e (3) of
art i cl e 16, cl ause (3) of art i cl e 32 , arti cl e 33 and arti cl e 34 may b e
provid ed for b y l a w mad e b y P arl i a ment ; and
(i i) for pr es cribing punish me nt for thos e acts wh i ch are
d ecl ar ed to b e off en ces und er this P art ;
and P arli ament sh al l, as soon as may b e af t er th e co mmen cement of thi s
Consti tution , mak e l aws fo r pr es crib ing pun ishmen t for th e acts r ef err ed
to in sub- cl au s e ( ii) ;
(b) an y l a w in for ce i mme d i at el y b efor e th e co mme n cement of this
Consti tution in th e t err itor y of Indi a with r espect to an y o f the mat t ers
r ef err ed to in su b - cl au s e ( i) of cl aus e (a) or provid ing fo r punish me nt
fo r an y a c t r ef err ed to in su b - cl au s e (ii ) o f th at cl au s e sh all , su b j e ct to
th e t er ms th er eof and to an y a d apt at ions and mo difi c at ions th at ma y b e
ma d e th er ein und er arti cl e 372 , cont inu e in f or ce unt il alt er ed or
r ep e al ed or a me nd ed b y P a rli a me nt .
Explanation . —In this ar ti cl e, the expr es sion "l aw in for ce'' h as th e s ame
mean ing as in arti cl e 372 .


PART IV
DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY
3 6 . D ef in i t i o n .—In this P art , unl ess th e cont ext oth er wis e r equir es , ‘‘th e
St at e’’ h a s the same mean ing as in P art III .
3 7 . App li ca tio n o f th e p rin cipl e s co n ta in ed in thi s P a rt .— Th e
provis ions contain ed in th is P art sh all not b e enfor ceabl e b y an y cour t, but
th e p rin cip l es th er e in l aid d o w n ar e n ev er th el ess fu n d a me n t al in th e
gov ern an ce o f th e coun tr y and i t sh all b e th e du t y of th e Stat e to appl y
th es e prin cipl es in mak ing l aws.
38 . Sta t e to s e cu re a so cia l o rd er fo r th e p romo t ion of w elfa re of th e
p eopl e .—(1) The St at e sh all s triv e to pro mo t e th e welf ar e of the p eopl e b y
s e curing and prot ect ing as eff ectiv el y as it ma y a so ci al order in whi ch
jus ti ce, so ci al , econo mi c and poli ti c al , sh all infor m all th e inst itutions of
th e n ation al lif e.
(2) Th e St at e sh all , in p art i cular , s triv e to mi ni mis e th e in equ ali ti es in
in co me, an d en d e avour to elimi n at e in eq u aliti es in st atu s, facil iti es and
opportun iti es , not onl y amongst indiv idu als but also amongst groups of
p eopl e r esid ing in diff er ent ar eas or eng ag ed in diff er ent vocations .
39 . C ertain p rin cip l es of poli cy to b e follow ed by th e Stat e.— Th e
St at e sh all, in part i cul ar , d ir e ct it s po li cy to wards s e cu ring —
(a ) t h at th e citizens , men and w o men equ all y, h av e th e right to an
ad equ at e me ans of liv elihood;
(b ) t h at th e o wn ership an d contro l of th e ma t eri al r esour ces of th e
co mmun it y ar e so distr ibut ed as b est to subs erv e th e co mmon good;
(c ) t h at th e op er at ion of th e econo mi c s ys t em do es no t r esult in th e
con c en tr at ion of wealth an d mean s of produ ction to th e co mmon
d etr i ment ;
(d ) t h at th er e i s e q u al p a y fo r eq u al wo rk fo r b o th men an d wo me n ;
(e ) t h a t th e h ea lth and str eng th of work ers , men a nd wo men , and th e
t en d er ag e o f ch ild r en ar e n o t ab u s ed an d th at cit i z en s a r e n o t fo r c ed b y
econo mi c n ecessi t y to en ter avocation s unsu it ed to th eir ag e or str eng th;
(f ) t h at ch ildr en ar e giv en opportun iti es an d f acil iti es to d ev e lop in
a h e al th y ma nner and in condit ions of fr eedo m and d ignit y and th at
childhood and youth ar e protect ed ag ainst exploi t ation and ag ainst
mo r al an d mat e r i al ab an d o n me n t .
39 A. Equal ju sti ce and f ree l egal aid .— Th e S t at e sh all s e cu re t h at th e
o p er at io n o f th e l eg a l s yst em p ro mo t es ju st i c e, o n a b asi s o f eq u al
opportun it y, and sh al l, in p ar ti cul ar, prov id e fr ee l eg al aid, b y sui t abl e
l egi sl ation or s ch e me s or in an y oth er way, to en sur e th at opportuni ti es for

17


s ecuring justi ce ar e not d eni ed to an y cit i zen b y r eason of econo mi c or
oth er dis ab ilit i es .
40 . Organisation of vi llag e pan chayats .—Th e St ate sh all t ake st ep s to
org anis e vill age p an ch ayat s and endo w th em wi th su ch po wers and
author it y as ma y b e n ecess ar y to en ab l e th em to fun ction as unit s of s e lf-
gov ern ment .
41 . Right to wo rk, to edu cation and to publi c assis tan ce in certain
cas es .— Th e St at e sh all , within th e l i mits of it s econo mi c cap acit y and
d ev elop ment , ma k e ef fectiv e provis ion for s e curing th e r ight to work , to
edu cation and to publ i c assis tan ce in cas es of un emplo yment , old age,
s i ck n es s an d d i s a b l e me n t , an d i n o t h er c as es o f u n d es erv ed w an t .
42 . Provis ion fo r ju st and huma n e condit ions of w ork and ma t ernity
reli e f. —Th e S tat e sh al l mak e provision for s ecuring jus t and hu man e
condit ions of work and for materni t y r eli ef .
4 3 . Liv i n g w ag e, et c. , f o r w or ke r s .— Th e S t at e s h a l l en d e av o u r t o
s e cur e , b y suitabl e l eg isl ation or econo mi c org anis a tion or in an y oth er
way, to all work ers , agr i cultural , industri a l or o th erwis e, work , a living
wag e, condi tions of work ensuring a d ecent st and ard of lif e and ful l
enjo yment of l ei sur e an d soci al an d cu ltur al oppor tunities an d , in
p art i cul ar , th e St at e sh al l endeavour to pro mot e cott ag e industr i es on an
in d iv id u al o r co -o p er at iv e b as is in ru r al ar e as .
43 A. Pa rt i cipation of w orkers in ma nag emen t of indust ri es . — Th e
S t at e sh all t ak e st ep s , b y su it ab le l eg i sl atio n o r in an y o th e r w ay , to s e cu r e
th e p arti cip a tio n o f wo rk ers in th e ma n ag e me n t o f u n d ert ak in g s,
est ab lish ments or oth er org anisation s en g ag ed in an y industr y.
44 . Uni fo rm civil cod e fo r the citiz ens . —The St at e sh all en d e avour to
s e cu r e for th e cit i z en s a un ifor m civil co d e throughout th e t erri tor y of
India.
45 . Provision fo r f ree and comp u lso ry edu cation fo r chi ldren .— Th e
St at e sh all endeavour to provid e , within a p eriod of ten years fro m th e
co mmen cement of this Const itution , fo r fr ee and co mpulsor y edu cation for
all chi ldr en un til th ey co mpl et e th e ag e of fourteen years .
46 . Pro mo tion of edu cational and econo mi c int erest s of S ch edul ed
C a st es , S ch ed u l ed T rib es a n d o th e r w ea ke r s e ctio n s.— Th e S t at e s h a l l
pro mot e with sp eci al car e th e edu c ation a l and econo mi c inter est s of th e
weak er s ections o f th e p eopl e, and , in p arti cu lar , of th e S ch edul ed Cast es
a nd th e S ch edule d Trib es , and sh all p rot e ct th em f ro m so ci al injus ti c e and
all for ms of exploi t ation .
47 . Duty of th e Stat e to ra is e th e l ev el of nutrit ion and th e standa rd
of liv ing and to i mp r ov e publi c h eal th.— Th e S t at e sh all r eg ard th e
r ais ing of th e l ev el of nutrit ion and th e st an d ard of living of its p eopl e and
th e i mprov ement of pub li c health as among i ts pri mar y duti e s and , in
p art i cul ar , th e St at e sh all endeavour to bring about prohibit ion of th e


consu mption except for me di cin al pu rpos es of i ntoxi cating drinks and of
drugs whi ch ar e injur ious to h e alth .
48 . Organisation of ag ri cultu re and an i mal hu sband ry.—T h e St at e
sh al l en d e avour to org anis e ag ri cu ltur e an d an i mal husb and ry on mo d ern
a nd s ci en tifi c lin es and sh a ll , in p art i cul ar , t ak e st ep s for pr es erving a nd
i mproving th e br eeds , and prohibi ting th e s l aught er , of co ws and calv es
and oth er mil ch and dr aught cattl e.
4 8 A . P ro t e ct io n a n d i mp r o v eme n t o f en v i ro n me n t a n d s a f e g u a rd i ng
of fo rests and w ild lif e. —Th e St at e sh al l end eavour to prot ect and
i mprov e th e environ ment and to s af egu ard th e f o r ests an d wild lif e of th e
country.
49 . Prot ection of mo nu men ts and p la ces and obj ects of nationa l
i mp o rta n c e .—I t s h all b e th e oblig ation of th e S t at e to prot ect ev er y
mo nu men t or place or obj ect of ar tist i c or h istori c int er es t, d ecl ar ed b y or
u n d er l aw ma d e b y P a rli a me n t to b e o f n atio n a l i mp o rta n c e , fro m
spol i ation , disfigur ement , d estru ction , r e mo v al, dispos al o r export , as th e
c a s e ma y b e .
50 . S epa ration of judi cia ry f rom ex ecutiv e.—Th e St at e sh all t ak e st ep s
to s ep ar at e th e judi ci ar y fro m th e ex ecutiv e in th e publi c s ervi c es of th e
S t at e .
5 1 . P ro mo ti o n o f i n t e rn a t i o n a l p ea c e a n d s ec u rit y . —Th e Stat e sh al l
e n d e av o u r t o —
(a ) p ro mot e int ern at ion al peace and s ecurit y;
(b ) ma i nt ain just and honor abl e r el a tions b et w een n ations ;
(c ) f o s t er r esp ec t for int ern ation al l a w an d t rea t y obl ig ations in th e
d ealing s of org ani zed p eopl es with on e anoth er; and
(d ) en cour ag e sett l emen t of in tern at ion al d isput es b y arbit ration .

PART IVA


PART IVA
FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
51 A. Funda me ntal du ti es .—I t sh al l b e th e dut y of ev er y cit i z en of
India—
(a ) t o ab ide b y th e Consti tution an d r esp ect i ts id eals and
ins titution s, th e Nation al Fl ag an d th e Nation al Anth em;
(b ) t o ch erish and fol low th e nobl e id ea ls whi ch in spired our
n ation a l struggle for fr eedo m;
(c ) t o uphold and prot ect th e sov er eign t y, unit y and int egrity of
Indi a;
(d ) t o def end th e coun tr y and r end er n at ion al s ervi ce wh en call ed
upon to do so;
(e ) t o pro mot e h ar mon y and t h e spir it of co mmon broth erhood
amo ngst all th e p eop l e of India t r ans cending r el igious , l inguis ti c and
r egion al or s ection al div ersi ti es; to r enoun ce p racti c es d erog ator y to th e
digni t y o f wo men;
(f ) t o v alu e an d p r es erv e th e ri ch h erit ag e o f o u r co mp o sit e cu ltu r e;
(g ) t o pro t ect and i mprov e th e n atur al environ ment in cluding
for es ts, l ak es , riv ers and wild li f e, and to h ave co mp assion for living
cr eatur e s;
(h ) t o d ev elop th e s ci en tifi c temp er , hu manism and the sp irit of
inqui r y and r efor m;
(i ) t o s af egu ard publi c prop er t y and to abjur e viol en ce;
(j ) t o striv e tow ards ex cell ence i n all sph eres o f indiv idu al and
coll ectiv e activit y so th at th e nation const an tl y ris es to high er l ev el s of
e n d e av o u r an d ac h i ev e me n t .

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PART V
THE UNION
C HA P TE R I.—T H E E X EC U TI VE
Th e Pr esid ent and Vi ce- Pr esid ent
52 . Th e Presid ent of India .— Th er e sh all b e a Pr esid en t o f Indi a .
53 . Ex ecutiv e pow er of th e Union .—(1 ) The ex ecut iv e power of the
U n io n sh all b e v est ed in th e Pre sid en t an d sh a ll b e ex er cis ed b y h i m e ith er
dir ectl y or through offi cers subordin a t e to him i n accord an ce with th is
Consti tution .
(2) Without pr ejudi ce to th e gen er al it y of th e for egoing provis ion, th e
supr eme co mmand of th e Def ence For ces of the Un ion sh all be v est ed in
th e Pr esid en t and th e ex er cis e th er eof sh al l b e re gul at ed b y l a w .
(3) Nothing in this art i cl e sh all—
(a ) b e d eemed to tr an sf er to th e P r esid en t any f u n ctions conf err ed
b y an y ex isting l a w on th e Gov ern me nt of any St at e or oth er authori t y;
or
(b ) p r ev ent Parl i a ment fro m conf erring by l a w fun c tions on
author iti es oth er th an th e Pr esid ent .
54 . El ection of Pres id ent.—T h e P r es id en t sh al l b e el e ct ed b y th e
memb er s o f an el ecto r al co ll eg e consis ting of—
(a ) t h e el ect ed memb er s o f bo th Hous es of P arli ament ; and
(b ) t h e el ect ed memb er s o f the Legisl ativ e As semb li es of th e St at es.
Explanation . —In this arti cl e and in art i cl e 55 , ‘‘S t at e’’ in clud es th e
Nation al Capit al Territor y of Delhi and th e Union t erri tor y of Pondi ch err y.
55 . Mann er of el ect ion of Presid en t. —(1) As f ar as pr acti cabl e, ther e
sh al l b e u n ifo rmi t y in th e s c a le o f r ep r es en t atio n o f th e d i ff er en t S t at es a t
th e el ect ion of th e Pr esid ent .
(2) For th e purpos e of s e curing su ch unifor mit y among th e S tat es in t er
s e as w ell as p ari t y b e tw e en th e S t at e s as a w h o l e an d th e U n io n , th e
nu mb er o f vot es whi ch each el ect ed memb er of P arli ament and of th e
Legisl ativ e Assemb l y of each St at e is entit l ed to cast at su ch election sh all
b e d et er min ed in th e follo wing man n er: —
(a ) ev er y el ected memb er o f th e Leg isl ativ e Ass embl y o f a St at e
sh al l h av e as ma n y vot es as ther e ar e mu lt ipl es of on e thous an d in th e
quoti en t ob t ained b y d ividing th e popul at ion of th e St at e b y th e tot al
n u mb er o f th e e le c t ed me mb er s o f th e Ass e mb l y;

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(b ) i f , aft er t aking th e s a id mu ltipl e s of on e thous an d , th e r e maind er
is not l es s th an fiv e hundr ed , th en th e vot e of each me mb er r ef err ed to
in sub- cl au s e (a) s h all b e fu rth er in cr e as ed b y o n e;
(c ) e a c h e l e c t ed member of either House of Parliament shall have such number of
votes as may be obtained by dividing the total number of votes assigned to the members
of the Legislative Assemblies of the States under sub-clauses (a) and (b) by the total
number of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament, fractions exceeding one-
half being counted as one and other fractions being disregarded.
(3) The election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of
proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such
election shall be by secret ballot.
Explanation.— In this article, the expression ‘‘population’’ means the population as
ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the
relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken
after the year 2026 have been published, be construed as a reference to the 1971 census.
56. Term of office of President.—(1) The President shall hold office for a term of five
years from the date on which he enters upon his office:
Provided that—
(a ) t h e Pr es id en t may, b y writing und er his hand addr ess ed to th e
Vi ce-Pr es id ent , r esign hi s of fi ce;
(b ) t h e Pr esid en t may, for viol ation of th e Consti tution , b e r e mo v ed
fro m offi ce b y imp each men t in th e mann er prov id ed in arti cl e 61;
(c ) t h e Pr esid en t sh all , not withst an d ing th e expir a tion of his t er m,
continu e to hold offi ce unti l h is su ccessor ent e rs upon h is offi ce.
(2) Any resignation addressed to the Vice-President under clause (a) of the proviso to
clause (1) shall forthwith be communicated by him to the Speaker of the House of the People.
57. Eligibility for re-election.—A person who holds, or who has held, office as President
shall, subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, be eligible for re-election to that
office.
58. Qualifications for election as President.—(1) No person shall be eligible for election
as President unless he—
(a ) i s a citi zen of Indi a,
(b ) h as co mpl eted th e ag e of th irt y- fiv e years , and
(c ) i s qu al ifi ed for el ect ion as a memb er of th e Hous e of th e P eopl e.
(2) A p er son sh all not b e eligibl e for el ection as Pr esid ent if h e holds
an y offi ce of p rofi t und er th e Gov ern ment o f Indi a or th e Gov ern ment of
an y St at e or under an y lo cal or oth er au thorit y subj ect to th e contro l of an y
of th e s aid Gov ern ments .


Explanation . —For th e purpo s es of th is arti cl e, a p erson sh all not b e
d eemed to ho ld an y offi ce of profi t b y r e ason onl y th at h e is the Pr esid ent
or Vi ce- Pr esident of th e Un ion or th e Governor of an y St at e or i s a
Minist er eith er for th e Union or for an y S t at e.
59 . Condit ions of Presid ent's offi ce.—(1 ) Th e Pr esid en t sh all n o t b e a
memb er of either Hou s e of P arli ament or of a Hous e o f th e Legis l atur e o f
an y St ate, and if a memb er of eith er Hou s e of P arl i ament or of a Hous e of
th e Legisl atur e of an y St at e b e el ect ed Pr es ident , h e sh all b e d eemed to
h av e v acat ed his s eat in th at Hous e on th e d at e on whi ch h e enters upon hi s
offi ce as Pr es ident .
(2) Th e Pr esid ent sh al l no t hold an y o th er offi ce of profit .
(3) Th e Pr es id en t sh all b e en titl ed without p a ymen t o f r ent to th e us e o f
his of fi ci al r esid en c es and sha ll b e al so en tit l ed to su ch emo lu me nts ,
a llo w an c es and priv il eg es as ma y b e d e t er min ed b y P a rli a me nt b y l a w and ,
unti l provision in th at b eh alf i s so ma d e, su ch emo lu me nts , allow a n c es and
priv il eg es as are sp ecifi ed in the S e cond S ch edul e.
(4 ) T h e e mo lu me n ts a n d allo w a n c es o f th e P r esid en t sh all n o t b e
di mini sh ed dur ing his t er m of offi ce.
60 . Oath o r affi rma tion by the Presid ent . —Ev er y Pr es id ent a nd ev er y
p erson acting as Pr esid en t or dis ch arg ing th e fun ctions of th e Pr esid en t
sh al l, b efor e ent er ing upon hi s offi ce, ma k e and subs crib e in th e pr es en ce
of th e Chi e f Just i c e of Indi a or , in his abs en ce, th e s enior - most Judg e o f
th e Supr eme Court av ail abl e, an o a th or affir mation in th e fol lo wing for m,
th at i s to s a y—
"I , A. B . , d o s w e a r i n t h e n a m e o f G o d t h a t I wi l l f ai t h f u l l y ex e cu t e
solemnly affirm
th e of fi c e of President (or discharge the functions of the President) of India and will to the best of my ability
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being
of the people of India.".
61 . P ro c edu re fo r i mp e a chme n t of th e P r esid ent . —(1) Wh en a
Pr esid en t is to b e i mp each ed for v iol ation of th e Cons titut ion, th e ch arg e
sh al l b e pr ef erred b y eith er Hous e of P arli ament .
(2) No su ch ch arg e sh all b e pr eferr ed unl ess —
(a ) t h e p ropos al to p ref er su ch ch arg e is contain ed in a r esolution
w h i ch h as b e en mo v ed af t er at l e ast fo u rt e en d a ys' n o ti c e in wri ting
sign ed b y not l ess th an on e-fou rth of th e tot al nu mb er of memb ers of th e
Hous e h as b een giv en of th eir int ent ion to mov e th e r esolu tion , and
(b ) s u ch r eso lu tio n h as b e en p ass ed b y a ma jo rit y o f n o t l ess th an
t wo-th irds of the tot al memb ership of th e House.
(3) Wh en a ch arg e h as b een so pr ef err ed b y eith er Hous e of P arl i ament ,
th e oth er House sh all inv e stigat e th e ch arg e or cau s e th e ch arg e to b e
in v es tig at ed an d th e P re sid en t sh al l h av e th e rig h t to ap p e ar an d to b e
r epr es en t ed at su ch inv est iga tion .


(4) If as a result of the investigation a resolution is passed by a majority of not less than
two-thirds of the total membership of the House by which the charge was investigated or
caused to be investigated, declaring that the charge preferred against the President has been
sustained, such resolution shall have the effect of removing the President from his office as
from the date on which the resolution is so passed.
62. Time of holding election to fill vacancy in the office of President and the term of office of person elected to fill
casual vacancy. —(1) An election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of President shall be
completed before the expiration of the term.
(2) An election to fill a vacancy in the office of President occurring by reason of his death,
resignation or removal, or otherwise shall be held as soon as possible after, and in no case
later than six months from, the date of occurrence of the vacancy; and the person elected to
fill the vacancy shall, subject to the provisions of article 56, be entitled to hold office for the
full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.
63. The Vice-President of India.—There shall be a Vice-President of India.
64. The Vice-President to be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States.—The Vice-
President shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States and shall not hold any other
office of profit:
Provided that during any period when the Vice-President acts as President or discharges
the functions of the President under article 65, he shall not perform the duties of the office of
Chairman of the Council of States and shall not be entitled to any salary or allowance payable
to the Chairman of the Council of States under article 97.
65. The Vice-President to act as President or to discharge his functions during casual vacancies in the
office, or during the absence, of President.— (1) In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the
President by reason of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise, the Vice-President shall act as President until the date
on which a new President elected in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter to fill such vacancy enters upon his
office.
(2) When the President is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or
any other cause, the Vice-President shall discharge his functions until the date on which the
President resumes his duties.
(3) The Vice-President shall, during, and in respect of, the period while he is so acting as,
or discharging the functions of, President, have all the powers and immunities of the President
and be entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined by
Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such emoluments,
allowances and privileges as are specified in the Second Schedule.
66. Election of Vice-President.—(1) The Vice-President shall be elected by the members
of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance
with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and
the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
(2) Th e Vi ce-Pr esid en t sh all not b e a me mb er of eith er Hous e of
P arl i ament or of a Hous e of the Legi sl atur e o f an y St at e, and if a memb er
of eith er Hous e of P arli ament or of a Hous e of th e Legi sl atur e of an y St at e
b e el e ct ed Vi c e-Pr es id en t , h e sh all b e d e e me d to h av e v a c at ed h is s e at in


th at Hous e on th e d at e on whi ch h e ent ers upon hi s offi ce as Vi ce-
P r esid en t.
(3) No p erson sh al l b e eligib le for el ection as Vi ce-Pr esid ent un l ess
h e—
(a ) i s a citi zen of Indi a;
(b ) h as co mpl eted th e ag e of th irt y- fiv e years; and
(c ) i s qu al ifi ed for el ect ion as a memb er of th e C oun cil of St at es .
(4 ) A p er so n sh all n o t b e el ig ib l e fo r el e ct io n as Vi c e -Pr esid en t if h e
holds an y office of p rofit und er th e Govern me nt of Indi a or th e
Gov ern ment of an y St at e or und er an y lo cal or oth er autho rity subj ect to
th e control of an y of th e s aid Go v ern me nts .
E x p l a n a t i o n . — For th e purposes of th is arti cl e, a p erson shall no t b e
d eemed to ho ld an y offi ce of profi t b y r e ason onl y th at h e is the Pr esid ent
or Vi ce- Pr esident of th e Un ion or th e Governor of an y St at e or i s a
Minist er eith er for th e Union or for an y S t at e.
6 7 . T e r m o f o f f i c e o f Vi c e- P re s i d en t . —Th e Vi ce-Pr es id ent sh al l hold
offi ce for a t erm o f fiv e years f ro m th e d at e on whi ch h e enters upon his
offi ce:
Provid ed th at—
(a ) a Vi ce-P r esid ent may, b y writ ing und er his h and addr ess ed to th e
Pr esid en t, r es ign his offi ce;
(b ) a V i c e -Pr esid en t ma y b e r emo v ed fro m h is o ffi c e b y a r e so lu t io n
of th e Coun cil of St at es p ass ed b y a ma jori t y of all th e th en me mb ers of
th e Coun ci l and agr e ed to b y the Hous e of th e P eopl e; bu t no resolu tion
for th e purpos e of this cl au s e sh al l b e mo v ed unl ess at l e ast fourt e en
d ays' noti ce h as b een g iv en o f th e int ent ion to mo v e th e resolution ;
(c ) a Vi ce-Pr esid en t sh al l, not with st anding th e ex p ir ation of his
t er m, continu e to hold offi ce unti l h is su ccessor ent ers upon his offi ce.
68 . Ti me o f holding el ection t o fi ll va can cy in th e offi ce o f Vi ce-
Presid ent and th e t erm of offi ce of p erson el ect ed to fil l casua l
va can cy .—(1) An election to fil l a v acan c y caus ed b y th e expir a tion of th e
t er m o f offi ce of Vi ce-Pr esid ent sh all b e co mpl et ed b efor e the exp ir ation
o f t h e t er m.
(2) An el ection to f ill a vacan cy in th e offi ce of Vi ce-Pr esid en t
o ccurring b y r eason of hi s d eath, r esign at ion or r emov al , or other wis e sh all
b e h eld as soon as possib l e after th e o c curr ence of th e v acancy, and th e
p erson el ect ed to f ill th e v acancy sh al l, subj ect to th e provi sions of arti cl e
67 , b e en ti tl ed to ho ld offi ce for th e full t er m of f iv e years fro m th e d at e
on whi ch h e enters upon his offi ce.
69. Oath or affirmation by the Vice-President.—Every Vice-President shall, before
entering upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed


in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation in the following form, that is to say—
"I , A. B . , d o s w e a r i n t h e n a m e o f G o d t h at I w i l l b e ar t r u e f ai t h and
solemnly affirm
all eg i an ce to the Consti tution of Indi a as b y l aw est abl ish ed and th at I will
f ai thfull y dis charg e th e dut y upon whi ch I am about to ent er . "
70. Discharge of President's functions in other contingencies.—Parliament may make
such provisions as it thinks fit for the discharge of the functions of the President in any
contingency not provided for in this Chapter.
71. Matt ers relating to , o r co nn ect ed w ith, th e el ection of a
Presid ent o r Vi ce- P resi den t.— (1) All doub ts an d disput es aris ing out o f
or in conn ect ion wi th th e el ection o f a Pr esid ent or Vi ce-P resident sh all b e
inqui r ed into and d e cid ed b y th e Supr eme Court whos e d e cision sh al l b e
fin a l.
(2) If the election of a person as President or Vice-President is declared void by the
Supreme Court, acts done by him in the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of
the office of President or Vice-President, as the case may be, on or before the date of the
decision of the Supreme Court shall not be invalidated by reason of that declaration.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may by law regulate any
matter relating to or connected with the election of a President or Vice-President.
(4) The election of a person as President or Vice-President shall not be called in question
on the ground of the existence of any vacancy for whatever reason among the members of the
electoral college electing him.
72. Power of President to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute
sentences in certain cases.— (1) The President shall have the power to grant pardons,
reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence
of any person convicted of any offence—
(a) in all cases where the punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial;
(b) in all cases where the punishment or sentence is for an offence against any law
relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends;
(c) in all cases where the sentence is a sentence of death.
(2) Nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the power conferred by law on any
officer of the Armed Forces of the Union to suspend, remit or commute a sentence passed by
a Court Martial.
(3) Nothing in sub-clause (c) of clause (1) shall affect the power to suspend, remit or
commute a sentence of death exercisable by the Governor of a State under any law for the
time being in force.
73. Extent of executive power of the Union.— (1) Subject to the provisions of this
Constitution, the executive power of the Union shall extend—
(a ) t o th e matt ers with r esp ect to whi ch P arliamen t h as power to
mak e l aw s; and


(b ) t o th e ex erc is e o f su ch r ig h ts , au th o r it y an d ju ri sd i ctio n a s ar e
e x er cis ab l e b y th e Gov ern me nt of Indi a b y v irtu e of an y tr ea t y or
agr eement:
Provid ed th at th e ex ecu tiv e po wer r ef er r ed to in sub- cl aus e (a ) s h all
not , s av e as expr ess l y provid ed in this Const itution or in an y law ma d e b y
P arl i a ment , extend in an y St at e to matt ers with r esp ect to whi ch th e
Legisl atur e o f th e St at e h as also po wer to make l aws .
(2) Un t il o th erwis e provid ed by P arli a ment , a St at e an d an y offi cer or
author it y of a St at e ma y, not withst and ing an ything in th is arti cl e, continu e
to ex er cis e in matt ers with r e spect to whi ch P arl i a ment h as power to mak e
l aws for th at S tat e su ch ex ecutiv e po wer or function s as th e S t at e or offi cer
or authorit y th er eof could ex ercis e i mme d i at ely b e for e th e comme n cemen t
of this Const itution .
Coun cil of Minist er s
74 . Coun cil of Min ist ers to aid and advise Presid ent .—(1) Th er e
sh al l b e a Council of Minist er s with th e Pri me Minis t er at th e h e ad to aid
and advi s e th e Pr esid en t who sh all , in th e ex ercis e of his fun ction s, act in
accord an ce with su ch advi ce:
Provid ed th at th e P r esid ent may r equi r e th e Coun cil o f Minis t ers to
r e consid er su ch adv i ce, eith er g en er al l y or o th er wis e, and the P r esid ent
sh al l act in accord an ce with th e advi ce t end er ed aft er su ch r e consid er ation .
(2) Th e qu es tion wh eth er an y, and if so wh at , adv i ce was t end er ed b y
Minist ers to th e Pr esid en t sh all not b e inquir ed into in an y court .
75 . Oth er p rovis ions as to Minist ers . —(1) Th e Pri me Minis t er sh all
b e appoint ed b y th e Pr esid ent and th e oth e r Minis t ers sh all b e appoint ed b y
th e Pr esid en t on th e advi ce of the Pri me Min ist er .
(1 A) Th e tot al nu mb er of Ministers , in clud ing th e Pri me Minister , in th e
Coun cil of Minist er s sh all not ex ceed fift een per cent . o f th e tot al nu mb er
of memb er s of th e Hou s e of th e P eopl e.
(1 B) A me mb er of eith er Hous e of P ar li ame nt belonging to an y pol iti cal
p art y who is disqu alifi ed for b eing a memb er of th at H ous e und er
p ar agr aph 2 of th e T enth S ch edul e sh al l a lso b e disqu al ifi ed to b e
appoint ed as a Minis t er und er cl aus e (1) for dur ation of th e p eriod
co mmen c ing from t h e d at e of his d isqu alif i c ation till th e d at e on whi ch th e
t er m of h is office as su ch memb er would expi re or wh er e h e cont es ts an y
el ect ion to eith er Hou s e of P arliamen t b efor e the expir y o f su ch p eriod , t ill
th e d at e o n wh i ch h e is d e cl ar ed e l e ct ed , wh i ch ev er is e arl ie r.
(2) Th e Mini st ers sh al l ho ld of fi ce during th e pl easur e of th e Pr esid en t.
(3) Th e Coun cil o f Min ist ers sh al l b e co ll ectiv el y r esponsible to th e
H o u s e o f t h e P eo p l e .


(4) Befor e a Minist er ent ers upon his off ice, th e P r esident sh all
ad minis ter to him t h e o aths of offi ce and of s e cr ecy accord ing to th e for ms
s et out for th e purpos e in th e Third S ch edul e.
(5) A Minis t er who for an y period of six cons ecut iv e months is not a
memb er of eith er Hous e of P ar liamen t sh all at th e exp ir ation o f t h at p eriod
ceas e to b e a Minis t er.
(6 ) Th e s a l ari es an d a llo w an c es o f M in ist ers sh all b e su ch as P arl i a men t
ma y f ro m ti me to ti me b y l a w d et e r min e a n d , u n ti l Pa rl i a men t so
d et er min es , sh all b e as sp ecifi ed in th e S econd Sch edul e.
The Attorney-General for India
76. Attorney-General for India.—(1) The President shall appoint a person who is
qualified to be appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court to be Attorney- General for India.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Attorney-General to give advice to the Government of India
upon such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character, as may from
time to time be referred or assigned to him by the President, and to discharge the functions
conferred on him by or under this Constitution or any other law for the time being in force.
(3) In the performance of his duties the Attorney-General shall have right of audience in
all courts in the territory of India.
(4) The Attorney-General shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, and shall
receive such remuneration as the President may determine.
Conduct of Government Business
77. Conduct of business of the Government of India.—(1) All executive action of the
Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President.
(2) Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the President shall be
authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules to be made by the President, and
the validity of an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question
on the ground that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the President.
(3) The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of
the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.
* * * * *
78. Duties of Prime Minister as respects the furnishing of information to the
President, etc.—It shall be the duty of the Prime Minister—
(a ) t o co mmu ni cat e to th e Pr esid en t all d e ci sions of th e Coun cil of
Minist ers r e l ating to th e ad minis tr ation of th e aff ai rs of th e Union and
propos al s fo r l egis l ation;
(b ) t o furnish su ch infor mation r el ating to th e ad min istr ation of th e
aff ai rs of th e Un ion and p roposals for l egis l ation as th e Pr es id en t ma y
call for ; and
(c ) i f th e Pr esid en t so r equir es , to sub mit for th e consid eration of
th e Co u n cil o f M in ist e rs an y ma tt e r o n wh i ch a d e cisio n h as b ee n t ak en
b y a Min ist er but whi ch h as not b een consid er ed b y th e Coun cil.


CHAPTER II.—PARLIAMENT
General
79. Constitution of Parliament.—There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall
consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and
the House of the People.
80. Composition of the Council of States.—(1) The Council of States shall consist of—
(a) twelve members to be nominated by the President in accordance with the
provisions of clause (3); and
(b) not more than two hundred and thirty-eight representatives of the States and of
the Union territories.
(2) The allocation of seats in the Council of States to be filled by representatives of the
States and of the Union territories shall be in accordance with the provisions in that behalf
contained in the Fourth Schedule.
(3) The members to be nominated by the President under sub-clause (a) of clause (1)
shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such
matters as the following, namely:—
Literature, science, art and social service.
(4) The representatives of each State in the Council of States shall be elected by the
elected members of the Legislative Assembly of the State in accordance with the system of
proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
(5) The representatives of the Union territories in the Council of States shall be chosen in
such manner as Parliament may by law prescribe.
81. Composition of the House of the People.—(1) Subject to the provisions of article
331, the House of the People shall consist of—
(a) not more than five hundred and thirty members chosen by direct election from
territorial constituencies in the States, and
(b) not more than twenty members to represent the Union territories, chosen in such
manner as Parliament may by law provide.
(2) For the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (1),—
(a) there shall be allotted to each State a number of seats in the House of the People
in such manner that the ratio between that number and the population of the State is, so far
as practicable, the same for all States; and
(b) each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the
ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it is,
so far as practicable, the same throughout the State:
Provided that the provisions of sub-clause (a) of this clause shall not be applicable for the
purpose of allotment of seats in the House of the People to any State so long as the population
of that State does not exceed six millions.


(3) In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the
last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
Provided that the reference in this clause to the last preceding census of which the
relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken
after the year 2026 have been published, be construed, —
(i) for the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (2) and the proviso to that clause, as a
reference to the 1971 census; and
(ii) for the purposes of sub-clause (b) of clause (2) as a reference to the 2001 census.
82. Readjustment after each census.—Upon the completion of each census, the
allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States and the division of each State into
territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority and in such manner as
Parliament may by law determine:
Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the House of the People
until the dissolution of the then existing House:
Provided further that such readjustment shall take effect from such date as the President
may, by order, specify and until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the House may
be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment:
Provided also that until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2026
have been published, it shall not be necessary to readjust—
(i) the allocation of seats in the House of People to the States as readjusted on
the basis of the 1971 census; and
(ii) the division of each State into territorial constituencies as may be readjusted
on the basis of the 2001 census,
under this article.
83 . Du ration of Hous es of Pa rlia men t .—(1) Th e Coun c il of St at es
sh al l no t b e subj ect to d issolution , but as n e arl y as pos sibl e on e-th ird of
th e me mb ers ther eof sh all r et ire as soon as ma y b e on th e expir a tion of
ev er y s e cond year in acco rd an ce with th e provision s mad e in that b eh al f b y
P arl i ament b y l aw .
(2) Th e Hous e o f th e P eopl e, un l ess soon er dis solv ed, sh all con tinu e
for fiv e years fro m t h e d at e appoint ed for its fir st me eting and no long er
and th e expi r ation of th e s a id p eriod o f fiv e years sh all oper at e as a
dis solution of th e Ho u s e:
Provid ed th at th e s aid p eriod ma y, w hil e a P ro cl a ma tion of Eme r g en c y
is in op er ation, b e ex t end ed b y P arli a me nt b y l a w for a p eriod not
ex ceeding on e year at a ti me and not ext ending in an y cas e b eyond a p eriod
o f six mo n th s aft er th e Pro cl a ma tio n h as c e as ed to o p er at e .
84 . Qualif i cation fo r me mb er ship of Pa rliamen t.— A p erson sh all not
b e qu alif ied to b e chos en to fill a s eat in P arli amen t unl ess h e—
(a ) i s a c it i zen o f In d i a , an d ma k e s an d su b s crib e s b efo r e so me
p erson au thorised in th at b eh alf b y th e El ection Co mmi ssion an o ath or


affi r mation according to the for m s et out for th e purpos e in th e Th ird
S ch edul e;
(b ) i s , in th e cas e of a s eat in th e Coun cil of St at es, not l ess th an
thi rt y years of ag e and , in th e cas e of a s eat in th e Hous e of the P eopl e,
not l ess th an t we nt y- fiv e ye ars of ag e; and
(c ) p oss ess es suc h o th er qu al ific a tion s as ma y b e pr e s crib ed in t h at
b eh al f b y o r u n d e r an y l a w ma d e b y P a r l i a me n t .
85 . S essions of Pa rlia me n t , p ro rogation and disso lution .—(1) Th e
Pr esid en t sh al l fro m t i me to time s u mmo n each Hous e of P arl i ament to
meet at su ch time an d p l ace as h e thinks f it , but six months sh al l no t
int e rv en e b e twee n it s l ast si tting in on e s ess ion and th e d at e appoint ed fo r
it s f irst si tting in th e n ext s ession .
(2) Th e Pr esid ent may fro m t i me to ti me—
(a ) p rorogu e th e Hous es or eith er Hous e;
(b ) d is solv e th e Hous e of th e P eopl e.
86 . Right of Presid ent to add ress and s end messag es to Hous es .—(1)
Th e Pr esid ent may ad dr ess eith er Hous e of P arl i ament o r both Hous es
ass e mbl ed tog eth er , and for th at purpos e requir e th e attend an ce of
memb er s.
(2) Th e Pr es id ent ma y s end me ss ag es to either Hous e of P arl i a ment ,
wh eth er with r esp ect to a Bi ll th en p ending in P arl i ament or o th er wis e, and
a Hou s e to whi ch an y me ss ag e is so s ent sh all w ith all conv enie nt d esp at ch
consid er an y matt er r equ ir ed b y th e mess ag e to b e t ak en into consid er ation .
87 . Sp ecia l address by th e Presid en t. —(1) At th e co mme n c ement of th e
fir st s es sion af ter each g en er al el ect ion to th e Hous e of th e P eopl e and at
th e co mme n cement of th e f irst s ess ion o f each year th e Pr esid en t sh all
addr ess both Hous es of P arli a me nt ass e mbl ed tog eth er and infor m
P arl i ament of the caus es of its su mmon s.
(2) Prov ision sh all b e ma d e by th e rul e s r egul at ing th e procedur e of
eith er Hous e for th e al lot ment of t i me fo r dis cus sion of th e ma tt ers
r ef err ed to in such addr ess .
88 . Right s of Minist ers and Atto rn ey- G en eral as resp ects Hous es. —
E v er y Mini st er a nd th e Attorn ey- G en er al of Indi a sh all h av e th e right to
sp eak in , and oth er wis e to t ake p a rt in th e pro ceedings of , eith er Hous e,
an y joint sit ting of th e Hous es , and an y co mmi tt ee of Parli a me nt of wh i ch
h e ma y b e n a me d a me mb er , but sh all not by virtu e of this arti cl e b e
enti tl ed to vot e.
Offi cers o f Par lia ment
89 . Th e Chai rma n and Deputy Chai rman of th e Coun cil of Stat es .—
(1) Th e Vi ce- Pr esid en t of Indi a sh all b e ex o ffi cio Ch airman of th e
C oun cil of St at es .


(2) Th e Coun ci l of S tat es sh all , as soon as may b e, choos e a memb er of
th e Coun ci l to b e Deput y Ch air man th er eof and , so oft en as th e offi ce o f
Deput y Ch air man b eco mes vacant , th e Coun cil sh al l choos e anoth er
me mb e r to b e De p u t y Ch air ma n th er eo f .
90 . Va ca tion and resignat ion of , and removal f ro m, t h e offi ce of
Deputy Chai rman .— A memb er hold ing offi ce as Deput y Ch air man of th e
C oun cil of St at es —
(a ) s h all v acate hi s offi ce if h e ceas e s to b e a me mb er of th e
C o u n cil ;
(b ) may at any ti me, b y writing und er h is hand addr ess ed to th e
Ch air man , resign his offi ce; and
(c ) ma y b e r e mov ed fro m h is offi c e b y a r eso lution of th e Coun cil
p ass ed b y a majori t y of al l th e th en memb ers of th e Coun cil:
Provid ed th at no r eso lution fo r th e purpos e of cl au s e (c ) s h al l b e mo v ed
unl ess at l e ast fourt e en d a ys ’ noti ce h as b e en giv en of th e int ent ion to
mo v e th e resolution .
91 . Pow er o f th e D eputy Chai rma n o r oth er p erson to p erfo rm t h e
duti es of th e offi ce o f, o r to a ct as , Chai rman .—(1 )Whil e th e off ice of
Ch air man i s v acant , or during an y p er iod wh en th e Vi ce-Pr esident is act ing
as , o r dis ch a rging th e fun c tions of, Pr esid en t, th e duti es of th e offi ce sh all
b e perfor med b y th e Deput y Ch air man , or , if th e off i ce of Deput y
C h air man is al so v acant , b y such memb er o f th e Coun cil of St at es as th e
Pr esid en t ma y appoint for th e purpos e.
(2) During th e abs en c e of th e Ch air man fro m an y si tting of th e Coun cil
of St at es th e Deput y Ch air man , or , if h e is also abs ent , su ch p erson as may
b e d et er min ed b y th e ru les of pro c edur e of th e Coun cil , or , if no su ch
p erson is pr es en t , su ch oth er p erson as ma y b e d et er min ed b y th e Coun cil ,
s h al l a c t as Ch air ma n .
92 . Th e Chai rma n o r th e D eputy Chai rma n not to p res id e w hi l e a
resolut ion fo r his remo val f ro m o ffi ce is und er consid eration .— (1) At
an y sit ting of th e Coun cil of St at es, whil e an y r esolu tion for th e r e mov al
of th e Vi ce-Pr esid ent fro m hi s offi ce is und er consid er ation , the Ch ai r man ,
or wh il e an y r esolu tion fo r th e r e mo v al of th e Deput y Ch air man fro m his
offi ce is und er consid er ation , th e Deput y Ch airman , sh all not , though he is
pr es ent , pr es id e, and th e provisions of cl aus e (2) of ar ti cl e 91 sh al l appl y
in r el ation to ev er y su ch s itting as th ey appl y in r el ation to a si tting fro m
w h i ch t h e Ch air ma n , o r, as t h e c a s e ma y b e , t h e D ep u t y Ch air ma n , i s
a b s en t .
(2) Th e Ch air man sh all h av e the r ight to sp eak in , and oth er wis e to t ak e
p art in th e pro ceedings of , th e Coun cil of S t ates wh il e an y r esolu tion fo r
th e r e mo v al of th e Vi ce-Pr esid ent fro m h is o ffice is und er consid er ation in
th e Coun cil , but , not withs t anding an ything in arti cle 100 , sh al l no t b e


enti tl ed to vot e at al l on su ch r esolu tion or on an y oth er ma t t er during such
p r o c e ed i n g s .
93 . Th e Sp ea ker and Deputy Sp ea ker of th e Hou s e of th e Peopl e.—
T h e Ho u s e o f t h e P eo p l e s h al l , a s s o o n as ma y b e , ch o o s e t wo me mb e r s o f
th e Hous e to b e r esp ectiv el y Sp eak er and Deput y Sp eak er th er eof and , so
oft en as th e offi ce of Speak er or Deput y Speak er b eco mes v acant , th e
Hous e sh all choos e anoth er memb er to b e Sp eak er or Deput y Sp eak er , as
t h e c as e ma y b e.
94 . Va cat ion and resignation o f, and remo val f ro m, t h e offi ces of
S p ea ke r a n d De p u t y S p ea ke r . — A memb er holding of fi ce as Sp eak er or
Deput y Sp eak er of th e Hous e o f th e P eopl e—
(a ) s h al l v acat e his offi ce if h e ceas es to b e a memb er of th e Hous e
of th e P eopl e;
(b ) may at an y ti me, b y writ ing und er hi s h and addr ess ed , if su ch
memb er is th e Sp eak er , to th e Deput y Sp eak er , and if su ch memb er is
th e Deput y Sp eak er , to th e Sp eak er , r esign his offi ce; and
(c ) may b e r emov ed fro m h is offi ce b y a r eso lution of th e Hous e o f
th e P eopl e p assed b y a majori t y of all th e th en memb er s o f the Hous e:
Provid ed th at no r eso lution fo r th e purpos e of cl au s e (c ) s h al l b e mo v ed
unl ess at l e ast fourt e en d a ys ’ noti ce h as b e en giv en of th e int ent ion to
mo v e th e resolution :
Provid ed furth er th at, wh en ev er th e Hous e of th e P eop le is dis solv ed,
th e Sp eak er sh all no t v acat e his off i ce until imme d i at el y b efor e th e first
meet ing of th e Hous e of th e P eopl e aft er th e disso lution .
95 . Pow er of th e Depu ty Sp ea ker o r oth er p erson to p erfo rm th e
duti e s of th e offi ce of , o r to a ct as , Sp ea ke r.—(1) Whil e th e offi ce of
Sp e ak er is v a ca n t , th e d u t i es o f th e o f fi c e sh al l b e p erfo rme d b y th e
Deput y Sp eak er o r, if th e off i ce o f Deput y Sp eak er is also v acant , b y su ch
memb er of th e Hous e of th e Peopl e as th e P resid en t may appoint for the
purpose.
(2) During th e abs en ce of th e Sp eak er fro m an y sitt ing of the Hou s e of
th e P eop l e th e Deput y Sp eak er or , if h e is also abs en t, su ch person as may
b e d et er min ed by th e rul es of pro cedur e of th e Hous e, o r, i f no su ch p erson
is pr esen t, such oth er p erson as ma y b e d e t er min ed b y th e House, sh all act
a s S p e ak er .
96 . Th e Sp ea ker o r th e Deputy Sp ea ker not to p resid e w hil e a
resolut ion fo r his remo val f ro m o ffi ce is und er consid eration .— (1) At
an y sitting of th e Hou s e of th e P eop l e, whil e an y r eso lution for th e
r e mov al of th e Sp eak er fro m h is of fi ce is und er consid er ation , th e Sp eak er ,
or whil e an y r esolu tion for th e r e mov al of th e Deput y Sp eak er fro m hi s
offi ce is und er consid er ation , th e Depu t y Sp eak er , sh all not , though h e i s
pr es ent , pr es id e, and th e provisions of cl aus e (2) of ar ti cl e 95 sh al l appl y


in r el ation to ev er y su ch s itting as th ey appl y in r el ation to a si tting fro m
w h i ch t h e S p e ak e r , o r , as t h e c as e ma y b e , t h e D e p u t y S p e ak er , i s ab s en t .
(2) Th e Sp eak er sh all h av e th e righ t to sp eak in , and o th erwise to t ake
p art in th e pro ceedings of , th e Hous e of th e P eopl e whil e an y resolu tion for
his r e mo v al f rom o ff i ce is und er consid er ation in th e House and sh all ,
not with st anding an ything in articl e 100 , b e en t itl ed to vot e onl y in th e first
ins t an ce on su ch r eso lution o r on an y o th er ma tt er during such pro ceed ings
but not in th e cas e of an eq u a lity of vot es .
97 . Sala ri es and allow ances of th e Cha irma n and Deputy Chai rma n
a n d t h e S p ea ke r a n d D ep u t y S p ea ke r . — Th er e sh all b e paid to th e
C h air ma n and th e D epu t y Ch air ma n o f th e Coun cil of St at es , a nd to th e
Sp eak er and th e Deput y Sp eak er of th e Hous e of th e P eopl e, su ch s al ari es
a nd al low an c e s a s ma y b e r esp e ctiv e l y fix ed b y P arli a me nt b y l a w and ,
unti l prov ision in th at b eh alf is so mad e, su ch s al ari es and allo wan ces as
ar e sp ecif ied in th e S e cond S ch edul e.
98 . Secreta riat of Pa rlia men t.— (1) Each Hous e of P ar li ament sh all
h av e a s ep ar at e s e cr et a ri al st aff:
Provid ed th at nothing in this claus e sh all b e constru ed as pr ev en ting th e
cr eat ion of posts co mmon to both Hous es of P arl i ament .
(2) P arl i ament may b y l aw r egul at e th e r ecruit ment , and th e condit ions
of s ervi ce of p ersons appoint ed, to the s ecr et ari al st aff of either Hous e of
P arl i a ment .
(3) Un til provision is ma d e b y P arl i a ment und er cl au s e (2) , th e P r esid en t
ma y, aft e r consult a tion with the Sp eak er o f the Hou s e of th e P eopl e or th e
C h air man of th e Coun cil of St at es , as th e cas e may b e, mak e rul es
r egul ating th e r e cruit ment , and th e condi tions of s ervi ce o f p ersons
appoint ed , to the s ecr et ari al s t aff of th e Hous e of th e P eopl e o r th e Coun cil
of S t at es , and an y ru l es so ma de sh all h av e effect subj ect to the prov isions
o f an y l a w ma d e u n d er t h e s ai d c l au s e .
Condu ct of Busin ess
99 . Oath o r af fi rma tion by me mb ers .— Ev er y memb er o f either House
o f P ar li a men t sh all , b efo r e t ak in g h is s e at , ma k e an d su b s c rib e b efo r e th e
Pr esid en t, or so me p erson appoint ed in th at b eh al f b y hi m, an o a th or
affi r mation according to the for m s et out for th e purpos e in th e Th ird
S ch ed u l e .
100 . Vot ing in Hous es , power of Hous es to a ct notw ithstand ing
v a can ci es a n d q u o ru m. — (1) S av e as other wis e provid ed in this
Consti tution , all qu estions at an y s itting of eith er Hous e o r joint sit ting of
th e Hous es sh all b e d et er min ed b y a ma j o rity of vot es o f th e me mb ers
pr es ent and voting , oth er than th e Sp eak er or person acting as Ch air man or
Sp eak er .

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