Home The Constitution Part XII Article 291

Art. 291 Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits

(Repealed) Privy Purse Sums of Rulers

Exact text — Constitution of India

[This Article, which originally guaranteed payment of 'privy purse' sums to former Rulers of Indian princely states as agreed during their territories' integration into India, was repealed by the 26th Amendment, 1971, which abolished the entire privy purse system.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article originally guaranteed the specific privy purse payments (government stipends to former princely rulers) as part of the broader integration agreements — it was repealed as part of the same 1971 reform (alongside the related changes to Articles 362 and 363A) that ended official recognition of former rulers and their associated financial privileges.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

Like Articles 362 and 363A, this is now purely a historical Article, part of the broader constitutional story of how India transitioned away from formally recognising and financially supporting its former princely rulers.

Read alongside this one

Art. 363a — Recognition of Rulers Ceases; Privy Purses Abolished

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 291

Was this repeal controversial?

Yes — it faced significant legal and political opposition at the time, given it withdrew previously guaranteed payments, and required a constitutional amendment (rather than just executive action) specifically because an earlier attempt to end privy purses through executive order alone had been struck down by the courts.

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The text above reproduces Article 291 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.