Home The Constitution Part VI Article 201

Art. 201 Part VI: The States

Bills Reserved for Consideration

Exact text — Constitution of India

When a Bill is reserved by a Governor for the consideration of the President, the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom: Provided that, where the Bill is not a Money Bill, the President may direct the Governor to return the Bill to the House or, as the case may be, the Houses of the Legislature of the State... for reconsideration... and, when a Bill is so returned, the House or Houses shall reconsider it accordingly... and if it is again passed by the House or Houses... it shall be presented again to the President for his consideration.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article covers what happens once a Governor has reserved a state Bill for the President — the President can assent or withhold assent, and (for non-Money Bills) can similarly direct reconsideration by the state legislature. Crucially, UNLIKE the ordinary Governor/President assent process, there's no provision here compelling the President to eventually assent even if the state legislature re-passes the reconsidered Bill — the President retains genuine, final discretion.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is a significant asymmetry in India's federal structure — while a Governor must eventually assent to a state Bill the legislature insists on repassing, the President (once a Bill reaches them via reservation) has no equivalent obligation, giving the Union genuinely final say over specific state legislation the Governor chooses to reserve.

Read alongside this one

Art. 200 — Assent to Bills

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 201

If the state legislature re-passes a reserved Bill after the President's reconsideration request, must the President then assent?

No — unlike the Governor's own reconsideration process (Article 200), there's no provision here requiring the President to assent even after the state re-passes the Bill, giving the Union genuinely final discretion over reserved Bills.

← PreviousArticle 200: Assent to Bills Next →Article 202: Annual Financial Statement

The text above reproduces Article 201 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.