Home The Constitution Part XVII Article 343

Art. 343 Part XVII: Official Language

Official Language of the Union

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script... (2) Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before such commencement... (3) Notwithstanding anything in this article, Parliament may by law provide for the use, after the said period of fifteen years, of—(a) the English language, or (b) the Devanagari form of numerals, for such purposes as may be specified in the law.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article names Hindi in Devanagari script as the Union's official language, but immediately builds in a 15-year transition period where English would continue for official purposes — a deliberate compromise given India's linguistic diversity. Crucially, clause (3) let Parliament extend English's official use beyond 15 years, which it did through the Official Languages Act, 1963, making English's official role effectively indefinite rather than time-limited.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why India, more than 75 years after the Constitution's commencement, still officially operates in both Hindi and English for most Union government purposes — a direct result of Parliament exercising this Article's extension power rather than letting the original 15-year clock simply run out.

How This Is Enforced

Laws and mechanisms that put this Article into practice

Official Languages Act, 1963

Extended English's official use indefinitely beyond the original 15-year constitutional deadline, and remains the operative law on this subject.

Read alongside this one

Art. 344 — Commission and Committee on Official Language Art. 394a — Authoritative Text in Hindi

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 343

Was English supposed to stop being an official language in 1965?

Under the original constitutional text, yes — but Parliament used its power under Article 343(3) to pass the Official Languages Act, 1963, extending English's use indefinitely, which is why it remains in official use today.

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The text above reproduces Article 343 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.