VoxJuris
Home › Acts › Constitution › Part XVII › Article 343

Constitution of India · Part XVII: Official Language · Chapter I: Language of the Union

Article 343: Official language of the Union

In plain words

The official language of the Union is Hindi in Devanagari script, with the international form of Indian numerals for official purposes. English was to continue for fifteen years from the start of the Constitution for the official purposes it was then used for.

  • During that period the President could authorise Hindi and Devanagari numerals in addition to English and international numerals.
  • Parliament can by law provide for English, or Devanagari numerals, to be used after that period for purposes it specifies.

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) The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before such commencement:

Provided that the President may, during the said period, by order1 authorise the use of the Hindi language in addition to the English language and of the Devanagari form of numerals in addition to the international form of Indian numerals for any of the official purposes of the Union.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in this article, Parliament may by law provide for the use, after the said period of fifteen years, of—

(a) the English language; or

(b) the Devanagari form of numerals, for such purposes as may be specified in the law.

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 343