Home The Constitution Part XIX Article 367

Art. 367 Part XIX: Miscellaneous

Interpretation

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Unless the context otherwise requires, the General Clauses Act, 1897, shall, subject to any adaptations and modifications that may be made therein under article 372, apply for the interpretation of this Constitution as it applies for the interpretation of an Act of the Legislature of the Dominion of India.

(2) Any reference in this Constitution to Acts or laws of, or made by, Parliament, or to Acts or laws of, or made by, the Legislature of a State, shall be construed as including a reference to an Ordinance made by the President or, to an Ordinance made by a Governor, as the case may be.

(3) For the purposes of this Constitution 'foreign State' means any State other than India: Provided that, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, the President may by order declare any State not to be a foreign State for such purposes as may be specified in the order.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This closing interpretive Article does two important jobs: it imports the General Clauses Act, 1897's standard interpretive rules (a foundational statute-interpretation law) to help read the Constitution consistently with other Indian legislation, and it clarifies specific interpretive points — like confirming that references to 'Acts' or 'laws' include Presidential/Governor Ordinances, and defining exactly what counts as a 'foreign State' for constitutional purposes (with the President having some flexibility to declare exceptions).

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This Article operates mostly behind the scenes for lawyers and judges interpreting the Constitution's precise legal meaning — but its 'foreign State' clarification, for instance, matters practically for provisions elsewhere (like Article 18's ban on citizens accepting foreign titles) that depend on knowing exactly which countries count as 'foreign'.

Read alongside this one

Art. 366 — Definitions Art. 18 — Abolition of Titles

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 367

Could the President declare Bangladesh or another neighbouring country not to be a 'foreign State' for some purposes?

In principle, clause (3)'s proviso gives the President that flexibility for SPECIFIED purposes under a law Parliament has made — this has been used in narrow, specific contexts rather than as a broad general reclassification.

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The text above reproduces Article 367 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.