Home The Constitution Part V Article 111

Art. 111 Part V: The Union

Assent to Bills

Exact text — Constitution of India

When a Bill has been passed by the Houses of Parliament, it shall be presented to the President, and the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill, or that he withholds assent therefrom: Provided that the President may, as soon as possible after the presentation to him of a Bill for assent, return the Bill... with a message requesting that they will reconsider the Bill... and when a Bill is so returned, the Houses shall reconsider the Bill accordingly, and if the Bill is passed again by the Houses with or without amendment and presented to the President for assent, the President shall not withhold assent therefrom.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article gives the President three options when a bill reaches them: assent (the bill becomes law), withhold assent (a rarely-used 'pocket veto' with significant political implications), or return the bill for reconsideration (a 'suspensive veto') — but if Parliament passes the SAME bill again after reconsideration, the President MUST then give assent, meaning Parliament's will ultimately prevails if it insists.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why the President can meaningfully delay or send back legislation for a second look, but can't permanently block Parliament's clear, repeated will — a carefully balanced check that respects both the President's review function and Parliament's ultimate democratic authority.

Read alongside this one

Art. 200 — Governor's Assent to State Bills

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 111

Can the President simply refuse to sign a bill indefinitely (a 'pocket veto')?

This remains a genuinely debated question — the Article doesn't specify a strict deadline for the President's initial decision, which has led to occasional practical concerns about indefinite delay, though the general expectation and constitutional convention is that the President acts within a reasonable time.

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The text above reproduces Article 111 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.