🇮🇳 Article 346 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Official language for communication between one State and another or between a State and the Union
🔷 Explanation of Article 346:
✅ Main Provision:
-
The language used for communication:
-
Between one State and another, or
-
Between a State and the Union,
shall be the language authorized for use by the Union for official purposes (i.e., English, unless otherwise provided).
-
-
However, two or more states can mutually agree to use Hindi or any other language for communication between them.
🟢 Key Points:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Language for Inter-Governmental Communication | English (default) |
| Alternate Language Allowed | Hindi or any other language by mutual agreement between the States |
| Applies To | Communication between:✔️ One State and another✔️ A State and the Union Government |
| Objective | To ensure clarity, uniformity, and mutual understanding in official inter-governmental communication |
📌 Purpose of Article 346:
-
To avoid confusion or language barriers in official correspondence between states and between states and the central government.
-
It encourages the use of English as a common link language, unless mutually decided otherwise.
📝 Example:
-
If Tamil Nadu and Punjab want to communicate officially:
-
Default: English
-
If they agree: Can use Hindi or any language they both understand.
-
Here is a comparison chart between Article 345 and Article 346 of the Indian Constitution:
🗂️ Comparison Chart: Article 345 vs Article 346
| Aspect | Article 345 | Article 346 |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Official language(s) of a State | Official language for communication between States and with the Union |
| Scope | Language used within a State for official purposes | Language used for communication between States, or between a State and the Union |
| Authority | State Legislature decides the official language of the State | Union Government’s language is the default; states can mutually agree to use a different language |
| Default Language | Any regional language or Hindi, as adopted by the State | English, unless otherwise agreed |
| Flexibility | Full autonomy to the State Legislature to choose language(s) | States can mutually decide to use Hindi or another language |
| Example | Maharashtra uses Marathi for state-level communication | Tamil Nadu and Kerala communicate with each other or the Union in English by default |
| Purpose | To preserve and promote local/regional identity | To ensure uniformity and mutual understanding in inter-state and central communication |
| Constitutional Chapter | Part XVII – Chapter II: Regional Languages | Part XVII – Chapter II: Regional Languages |
📝 Summary:
-
🏞 Article 345 = State decides its internal official language.
-
🔄 Article 346 = Defines the language of communication between governments (States ↔ Union or State ↔ State).
Follow Us