Home The Constitution Part XI Article 245

Art. 245 Part XI: Relations Between the Union and the States

Extent of Laws Made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India, and the Legislature of a State may make laws for the whole or any part of the State. (2) No law made by Parliament shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it would have extra-territorial operation.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This is the opening Article of Part XI's legislative-relations chapter — it sets the basic territorial reach of law-making power: Parliament can legislate for all of India (or any part), while a State Legislature is normally confined to its own state's territory. Clause (2) importantly confirms Parliament's laws remain valid even if they have some extra-territorial effect, as long as there's a sufficient connection to India.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why a central law can validly regulate conduct that partly happens outside India (like certain offences by Indian citizens abroad, or international business dealings with an Indian nexus), while a state law generally can't reach beyond its own borders.

Read alongside this one

Art. 246 — Union, State and Concurrent Lists

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 245

Can a State Legislature pass a law affecting people or property in another state?

Generally no — a State Legislature's law-making power is normally confined to its own territory, unlike Parliament's broader (and validly extra-territorial) reach.

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The text above reproduces Article 245 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.