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Constitution of India · Part VI: The States · Procedure Generally

Article 210: Language to be used in the Legislature

In plain words

Business in a State Legislature is carried out in the State's official language or languages, or in Hindi or in English, subject to article 348. The Speaker or Chairman can allow a member who cannot express themselves adequately in any of these to speak in their mother-tongue.

  • The text provides that, unless the State Legislature decides otherwise by law, the words "or in English" would drop out after fifteen years from the start of the Constitution.
  • For Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura the period is twenty-five years, and for Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram it is forty years.

A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.

Official text

(1) Notwithstanding anything in Part XVII, but subject to the provisions of article 348, business in the Legislature of a State shall be transacted in the official language or languages of the State or in Hindi or in English:

Provided that the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or Chairman of the Legislative Council, or person acting as such, as the case may be, may permit any member who cannot adequately express himself in any of the languages aforesaid to address the House in his mother-tongue.

(2) Unless the Legislature of the State by law otherwise provides, this article shall, after the expiration of a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, have effect as if the words “or in English” were omitted therefrom: [Provided that in relation to the [Legislatures of the States of Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura] this clause shall have effect as if for the words “fifteen years” occurring therein, the words “twenty-five years” were substituted:] [Provided further that in relation to the [Legislatures of the States of [Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram]], this clause shall have effect as if for the words "fifteen years" occurring therein, the words "forty years" were substituted.]

Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the official text of the Constitution of India. As amended up to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Text as on 10 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the article 210