Home The Constitution Part XIX Article 364

Art. 364 Part XIX: Miscellaneous

Special Provisions as to Major Ports and Aerodromes

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may by public notification direct that as from such date as may be specified in the notification any law made either before or after the commencement of this Constitution, in so far as it relates to major ports or aerodromes, shall, subject to such exceptions or modifications as he thinks fit, apply to any major port or aerodrome, or to any specified major port or aerodrome... (2) In this article—(a) 'major port' means such port as the President may by public notification declare, or may by such notification declare to have become, a major port; (b) 'aerodrome' has the meaning assigned to it in the Indian Aircraft Act, 1934.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article gives the Union special power over major ports and airports, recognising their strategic and national-economic significance — the President can apply specific legal regimes to these facilities and, notably, this connects to Union authority over law and order in and immediately around them, an area where states' ordinary jurisdiction is more limited than usual.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why major ports and airports operate under a distinctive legal and security framework compared to ordinary state-administered infrastructure — reflecting their importance to national trade, security, and international connectivity.

Read alongside this one

Art. 246 — Union, State and Concurrent Lists

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 364

Does a state police force have full authority within a major airport?

Airport security and certain aspects of law and order around major ports/aerodromes involve significant Union-level authority (like the CISF for major airports), reflecting this Article's special constitutional treatment of these facilities, distinct from a state's ordinary policing authority.

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The text above reproduces Article 364 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.