Home The Constitution Part XIX Article 363A

Art. 363A Part XIX: Miscellaneous

Recognition Granted to Rulers of Indian States to Cease and Privy Purses to Be Abolished

Exact text — Constitution of India

As from the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971,—(a) any Ruler of an Indian State recognised before such commencement by the President as the Ruler of such State shall cease to be so recognised; (b) all rights, liabilities and obligations of any such Ruler under any covenant, agreement or otherwise, including the right to any privy purse, are hereby terminated. [Added by the 26th Amendment, 1971]

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This is the specific Article that actually abolished the privy purse system — ending official government recognition of former princely rulers and terminating their previously guaranteed rights, including the government payments (privy purses) they'd been receiving since independence. It's a rare example of the Constitution being amended to specifically WITHDRAW previously guaranteed rights from a defined group, justified on egalitarian policy grounds.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why India no longer has any formally 'recognised' royal rulers with official government privileges or payments — the entire system was constitutionally abolished in 1971, ending an arrangement that had continued from the original 1947-49 integration agreements.

Read alongside this one

Art. 362 — (Repealed) Rights of Rulers of Indian States

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 363A

Was the abolition of privy purses controversial?

Yes, significantly — it faced legal challenges, and the amendment was in some ways a direct legislative response to a Supreme Court ruling that had earlier limited the government's power to unilaterally end these guarantees through executive action alone, requiring this formal constitutional amendment instead.

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The text above reproduces Article 363A 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.