Home The Constitution Part XXI Article 371A

Art. 371A Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions

Special Provision With Respect to the State of Nagaland

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—(a) no Act of Parliament in respect of—(i) religious or social practices of the Nagas, (ii) Naga customary law and procedure, (iii) administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, (iv) ownership and transfer of land and its resources, shall apply to the State of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

One of the strongest state-specific protections in the entire Constitution — it means Parliament CANNOT legislate on Naga religious/social practices, customary law, or land/resource ownership in Nagaland at all, unless Nagaland's own Legislative Assembly specifically agrees by resolution — effectively giving Nagaland a veto over central legislation in these particularly sensitive, identity-linked areas.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This Article reflects the unique political settlement that brought Nagaland into the Indian Union in 1963, specifically protecting Naga customary institutions and land rights from being overridden by ordinary central legislation — a genuinely exceptional degree of legislative autonomy compared to most Indian states.

Read alongside this one

Art. 244 — Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas Art. 371g — Special Provisions for Mizoram

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 371A

Can the central government simply pass a land law that applies in Nagaland like anywhere else?

Not for land ownership/transfer matters — this Article specifically requires Nagaland's own Legislative Assembly to agree by resolution before such a central law can apply there, a genuinely unusual level of state-specific legislative protection.

← PreviousArticle 371: Special Provision With Respect to the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat Next →Article 371B: Special Provision With Respect to the State of Assam

The text above reproduces Article 371A 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.