Art. 83 Part V: The Union

Duration of Houses of Parliament

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) The Council of States shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible one-third of the members thereof shall retire as soon as may be on the expiration of every second year in accordance with the provisions made in that behalf by Parliament by law. (2) The House of the People, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer... Provided that the said period may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes a crucial structural asymmetry between India's two Houses — the Rajya Sabha is a PERMANENT body (never dissolved), with roughly one-third of its members retiring every two years on a rotating basis, while the Lok Sabha has a fixed 5-year term and CAN be dissolved earlier, with only a National Emergency allowing (limited) term extension.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why the Rajya Sabha is sometimes called the 'permanent House' of Parliament — unlike the Lok Sabha, which resets entirely after each general election or dissolution, the Rajya Sabha maintains continuous institutional existence, with only partial membership turnover every two years.

Read alongside this one

Art. 352 — Proclamation of National Emergency

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 83

Can the Lok Sabha's term be extended indefinitely during an Emergency?

No — even during a National Emergency, any single extension is capped at one year at a time, and in any case cannot extend beyond six months after the Emergency itself ends, preventing indefinite postponement of elections.

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The text above reproduces Article 83 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.