 |
| What is Article 366 of Indian constitution |
Article 366 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Definitions
🔷 Explanation of Article 366:
Article 366 is a definition clause of the Indian Constitution.
It provides official meanings of various important terms used across the Constitution to ensure clarity and uniformity in interpretation.
✅ Key Terms Defined Under Article 366:
| Clause | Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | Agricultural income | As defined for income-tax purposes under Indian law |
| (2) | Article | Refers to Articles of the Constitution of India |
| (3) | Borrowing | Includes any form of borrowing under constitutional authority |
| (4) | Clause | Subdivision of an Article or Schedule |
| (10) | Existing law | Any law in force before the commencement of the Constitution |
| (12) | Indian State | Refers to princely states that existed before independence |
| (15) | Part | A division in the Constitution |
| (17) | Proclamation of Emergency | Proclamation under Article 352 (National Emergency) |
| (18) | Ruler | Person recognized by the President as the ruler of a former princely state |
| (22) | Scheduled Castes | Castes deemed SC under Article 341 |
| (24) | Scheduled Tribes | Tribes declared ST under Article 342 |
| (25) | Services | Posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or a State |
| (26) | State | Refers to States mentioned in the First Schedule, including Union Territories with legislatures (like Delhi, Puducherry) |
| (28) | Union territory | A territory specified in the First Schedule of the Constitution |
💡 There are 30+ clauses under Article 366, many of which refer to terms defined elsewhere (like Articles 341–342).
📝 Purpose of Article 366:
| Objective | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Legal clarity | Ensures consistent understanding of key terms |
| Cross-reference | Many definitions refer to other Articles or Acts |
| Flexible | Can be updated or expanded via constitutional amendments |
🧾 Example Usage:
-
To determine who qualifies as a Scheduled Tribe → refer to Article 366(24) → then go to Article 342.
-
For meaning of “State” in context of laws or rights → refer to Article 366(26).
📌 Summary:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Interpretative/Definition clause |
| Function | Provides official meanings of constitutional terms |
| Used in | All parts of the Constitution |
| Linked Articles | Articles 341, 342, 352, First Schedule, etc. |
| Amendable? | ✅ Yes, via constitutional amendment |
Here is a glossary-style list of definitions under Article 366 of the Indian Constitution – a helpful reference for understanding constitutional terms:
🇮🇳 Glossary from Article 366 – Definitions in the Constitution
| Clause | Term | Definition / Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | Agricultural Income | As defined in the Indian Income Tax Act. |
| (2) | Article | Refers to an article of the Indian Constitution. |
| (3) | Borrowing | Includes any borrowing made under the authority of the Constitution. |
| (4) | Clause | Refers to subdivisions within an article or schedule. |
| (10) | Existing Law | Any law in force before the commencement of the Constitution. |
| (11) | Federal Court | Refers to the Federal Court of India established before independence. |
| (12) | Indian State | A princely state which had not merged into the Dominion of India before 1950. |
| (13) | Part | A division of the Constitution (e.g., Part III – Fundamental Rights). |
| (14) | Pension | Includes compensation, gratuity, and other retirement benefits. |
| (15) | Proclamation of Emergency | Means a proclamation under Article 352. |
| (16) | Public Notification | A notification published in the Official Gazette. |
| (17) | Ruler | A person recognized by the President as the ruler of a former princely state. |
| (18) | Scheduled Castes | As defined in Article 341. Castes notified by the President as SCs. |
| (19) | Scheduled Tribes | As defined in Article 342. Tribes notified by the President as STs. |
| (20) | Schedule | Refers to one of the Schedules to the Constitution (e.g., 7th Schedule). |
| (21) | Service | A post in connection with the affairs of the Union or State. |
| (22) | State | A State specified in the First Schedule, including Union Territories with legislatures (e.g., Delhi). |
| (23) | Union Territory | A Union territory mentioned in the First Schedule. |
📝 Notes:
-
Many definitions are linked to other constitutional articles, like Articles 341 (Scheduled Castes) and 342 (Scheduled Tribes).
-
Article 366 is mostly used for interpretative clarity and ensures consistent terminology.
Follow Us