Home The Constitution Part XVII Article 351

Art. 351 Part XVII: Official Language

Directive for Development of the Hindi Language

Exact text — Constitution of India

It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure its enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule, and by drawing, wherever necessary or desirable, for its vocabulary, primarily on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

The final Article of Part XVII places an affirmative duty on the Union to actively promote and develop Hindi — but with a specific, deliberate instruction on HOW: by drawing from and assimilating other Indian languages' vocabulary and expressions (particularly Sanskrit, and the other Eighth Schedule languages), envisioning Hindi's growth as inclusive of India's linguistic diversity rather than displacing it.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This Article's specific language — 'without interfering with its genius' and drawing from other Indian languages — reflects the framers' vision of Hindi's promotion as complementary to India's linguistic plurality, not a replacement for it, a nuance often lost in contemporary language-policy debates.

Read alongside this one

Art. 343 — Official Language of the Union

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 351

Does this Article require other Indian languages to give way to Hindi?

No — it specifically directs Hindi's development to happen 'without interfering with' the other languages' character, and to actively draw from them, envisioning a complementary rather than a displacing relationship.

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The text above reproduces Article 351 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.