Constitution of India · Part XVII: Official Language · Chapter IV: Special Directives
Article 351: Directive for development of the Hindi language
In plain words
The Union must promote the spread of Hindi and develop it as a medium of expression for India's composite culture, enriching it by assimilating forms, style and expressions from Hindustani and the other Eighth Schedule languages, drawing its vocabulary primarily from Sanskrit and secondarily from other languages.
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
It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure its enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule, and by drawing, wherever necessary or desirable, for its vocabulary, primarily on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages.
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 351
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Mrs. Varshatai w/o. Sh. Sanjay bagade v. The State of Maharashtra through
Issue arose whether use of Urdu on a signboard of the building of Municipal Council in Maharashtra is violative of any provision of law.
- Aashirwad Films v. Union of India & Ors.
- Ms. Aruna Roy and Others v. Union of India and Others