Home The Constitution Part XXI Article 379

Art. 379 Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions

(Repealed) Provisional Parliament

Exact text — Constitution of India

[This Article was part of Chapter II of Part XXI as originally enacted — the 'Provisional Parliament' provisions governing India's transitional government between the Constitution's commencement on 26 January 1950 and the formation of India's first fully elected Parliament following the 1951–52 general elections (during which the former Constituent Assembly itself sat as a Provisional Parliament). Once that transition was complete, this Article became spent and was formally omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.]

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This was the opening Article of the now-omitted 'Provisional Parliament' chapter — it established that, until India's first general election produced a fully elected Parliament, the existing Constituent Assembly (which had drafted the Constitution) would itself continue sitting as a Provisional Parliament, ensuring continuous legislative government from day one of the Republic.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This Article's core idea — that the same body which wrote the Constitution would keep governing until voters could elect a proper Parliament — reflects a pragmatic, carefully-planned transition rather than any gap in democratic legitimacy during India's first two years as a Republic.

Read alongside this one

Art. 79 — Composition of Parliament

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 379

Who actually governed India between 26 January 1950 and the first general election?

The same Constituent Assembly that had drafted the Constitution continued sitting as the Provisional Parliament under this Article, until the 1951-52 general elections produced India's first fully, directly elected Parliament.

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The text above reproduces Article 379 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.