Home The Constitution Part XXI Article 369

Art. 369 Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions

Temporary Power to Parliament to Make Laws With Respect to Certain Matters in the State List as if They Were Matters in the Concurrent List

Exact text — Constitution of India

Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament shall, during a period of five years from the commencement of this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to the following matters as if they were enumerated in the Concurrent List, namely:—(a) trade and commerce within a State in, and the production, supply and distribution of, cotton and woollen textiles, raw cotton..., foodstuffs..., cattle fodder..., coal, iron, steel and mica; (b) offences against laws with respect to any of the matters mentioned in clause (a), jurisdiction of courts... and fees in respect of any of those matters.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

A time-limited, 5-year transitional provision letting Parliament legislate on certain essential-commodity subjects (textiles, foodstuffs, coal, steel, and similar items) as if they were on the Concurrent List, even though they'd otherwise be exclusively State List matters — reflecting the newly independent government's urgent need for centralised control over critical goods during the immediate post-independence period.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This Article's 5-year window (ending in 1955) has long since expired, making it now a purely historical provision — but it illustrates how the framers built in specific, deliberately temporary flexibility to handle India's urgent early economic challenges without permanently altering the constitutional division of powers.

Read alongside this one

Art. 246 — Union, State and Concurrent Lists

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 369

Is this Article still operative today?

No — its 5-year window from 1950 expired in 1955; it remains in the text as a historical record of this specific transitional arrangement.

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The text above reproduces Article 369 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.