Part 5 Article 52 to 151

The President and Vice President

Article 52-The President of India

Article 53-Executive power of the Union.

Article 54-Election of President

Article 55-Manner of the election of President

Article 56-.Term of office of President.

Article 57-. . Eligibility for re-election

Article 58-. . Qualifications for election as President.

Article 59- Conditions of President’s office.

Article 60-Oath or affirmation by the President

Article 61-. Procedure for impeachment of the President.

Article 62-. Time of holding election to fill a vacancy in the office of President and the term of office of person elected to fill casual vacancy.

Article 63-The Vice-President of India.

Article 64-The Vice-President to be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States.

Article 65-The Vice-President to act as President or to discharge his functions during casual vacancies in the office, or during the absence, of President.

Article 66-. Election of Vice-President.

Article 67-Term of office of Vice-President.

Article 68-Time of holding election to fill a vacancy in the office of Vice-President and the term of office of person elected to fill casual vacancy.

Article 69-Oath or affirmation by the Vice-President.

Article 70-Discharge of President’s functions in other contingencies.

Article 71-Matters relating to, or connected with, the election of a President or Vice-President.

Article 72-Power of President to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases.

Article 73-Extent of executive power of the Union.

Council of Ministers

Article 74-Council of Ministers to aid and advise President.

Article 75-Other provisions as to Ministers.

The Attorney General for India

Article 76-Attorney-General for India.

Conduct of Government Business

Article 77-Conduct of business of the Government of India.

Article 78-. Duties of Prime Minister as respects the furnishing of information to the President, etc.

Parliament

Article 79-Constitution of Parliament.

Article 80- Composition of the Council of States.

Article 81-Composition of the House of the People.

Article 82-. Readjustment after each census.

Article 83-. Duration of Houses of Parliament.

Article 84-. Qualification for membership of Parliament.

Article 85-Sessions of Parliament, prorogation, and dissolution

Article 86-. Right of President to address and send messages to Houses.

Article 87-Special address by the President.

Article 88-Rights of Ministers and Attorney-General as respects Houses

Officer of Parliament

Article 89-Rights of Ministers and Attorney-General as respects Houses.

Article 90-Vacation and the resignation of, and removal from, the office of Deputy Chairman.

Article 91-Power of the Deputy Chairman or other person to perform the duties of the office of, or to act as, Chairman.

Article 92-. The Chairman or the Deputy Chairman not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration.

Article 93-The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the People.

Article 94-Vacation and the resignation of, and removal from, the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Article 95-Power of the Deputy Speaker or other person to perform the duties of the office of, or to act as, Speaker.

Article 96-The Speaker or the Deputy Speaker not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration

Article 97-. Salaries and allowances of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Article 98-Secretariat of Parliament

Conduct of Business

Article 99- Oath or affirmation by members.

Article 100-Voting in Houses, power of Houses to act notwithstanding vacancies and quorum.

Disqualification of Members

Article 101-Vacation of seats.

Article 102-Disqualifications for membership.

Article 103-Decision on questions as to disqualifications of members

Article 104-Penalty for sitting and voting before making oath or affirmation under article 99 or when not qualified or when disqualified.

Power, Privileges, and Immunities of Parliament and Members

Article 105-Powers, privileges, etc., of the Houses of Parliament and the members and committees thereof

Article 106-Salaries and allowances of members.

Legislative Procedure

Article 107- Provisions as to introduction and passing of Bills.

Article 108-Joint sitting of both Houses in certain cases

Article 109-Special procedure in respect of Money Bills.

Article 110-Definition of “Money Bills”

Article 111-Assent to Bills.

Procedure in Financial Matters

Article 112-Annual financial statement.

Article 113-Procedure in Parliament concerning estimates.

Article 114-Appropriation Bills.

Article 115-. Supplementary, additional, or excess grants.

Article 116-Votes on account, votes of credit, and exceptional grants.

Article 117-. Special provisions as to financial Bills.

Procedure Generally

Article 118- Rules of procedure.

Article 119-Regulation by the law of procedure in Parliament in relation to financial business

Article 120-Language to be used in Parliament.

Article 121-. Restriction on discussion in Parliament.

Article 122-Courts not to inquire into proceedings of Parliament.

Legislative Powers of the President

Article 123-.Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Parliament.

Article 124-Establishment and constitution of Supreme Court.

Article 124A-National Judicial Appointments Commission.

Article 124B-. Functions of Commission.

Article 124 C-Power of Parliament to make law

Article 125-Salaries, etc., of Judges

Article 126-Appointment of acting Chief Justice.

Article 127-. Appointment of ad hoc judges.

Article 128-Attendance of retired Judges at sittings of the Supreme Court

Article 129-Supreme Court to be a court of record

Article 130-Seat of Supreme Court.

Article 131-Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Article 131A-Omitted

Article 132-Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court in appeals from High Courts in certain cases.

Article 133-Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court in appeals from High Courts in regard to civil matters.

Article 134-Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court in regard to criminal matters.

Article 134 A-Certificate for appeal to the Supreme Court.

Article 135-. Jurisdiction and powers of the Federal Court under existing law to be exercisable by the Supreme Court

Article 136-. Special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court.

Article 137-Review of judgments or orders by the Supreme Court.

Article 138-Enlargement of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Article 139-Conferment on the Supreme Court of powers to issue certain writs.

Article 139 A-Transfer of certain cases.

Article 140-Ancillary powers of the Supreme Court.

Article 141-Law declared by Supreme Court to be binding on all courts.

Article 142-. Enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc

Article 143-Power of President to consult Supreme Court

Article 144-. Civil and judicial authorities to act in aid of the Supreme Court.

Article 144 A-[Omitted.]

Article 145-Rules of Court, etc.

Article 146-. Officers and servants and the expenses of the Supreme Court.

Article 147-Interpretation.

Comptroller and Auditor- General of India

Article 148-Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

Article 149-. Duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

Article 150-Form of accounts of the Union and the States.

Article 151-Audit reports.

In Detail

The President and Vice President

Article 52-The President of India

There shall be a President of India.

Article 53-Executive power of the Union.

(1) The executive power of the Union shall be ensow in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution. 

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union shall be vested in the President and the exercise thereof shall be regulated by law. (3) Nothing in this article shall— 

(a) be consider to transfer to the President any functions conferred by any existing law on the Government of any State or other authority.

 or 

(b) prevent Parliament from conferring by law functions on authorities other than the President.

Article 54-Election of President

The President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of— 

(a) the elected members of both Houses of Parliament.

 (b) the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States. 

Explanation—In this article and in article 55, “State” includes the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union territory of *Pondicherry.

Article 55-Manner of the election of President

(1) As far as practicable, there shall be uniformity in the scale of representation of the different States at the election of the President. 

(2) For the purpose of securing such uniformity among the States inter se as well as parity between the States as a whole and the Union, the number of votes which each elected member of Parliament and of the Legislative Assembly of each State is entitled to cast at such election shall be determined in the following manner:— 

(a) every elected member of the Legislative Assembly of a State shall have as many votes as there are multiples of one thousand in the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the State by the total number of the elected members of the Assembly;

(b) if, after taking the said multiples of one thousand, the remainder is not less than five hundred, then the vote of each member referred to in sub-clause 

(a) shall be further increased by one.

(c) each elected member of either House of Parliament shall have such number of votes as may be obtained by dividing the total number of votes assigned to the members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States under sub-clauses (a) and (b) by the total number of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament, fractions exceeding one-half being counted as one and other fractions being disregarded. (3) The election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot. 

Explanation—In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published: Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2 [2026] have been published, be construed as a reference to the 1971 census.

Article 56-.Term of office of President

(1) The President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office: Provided that— (a) the President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Vice-President, resign his office; (b) the President may, for violation of the Constitution, be removed from office by impeachment in the manner provided in article 61; (c) the President shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office. (2) Any resignation addressed to the Vice-President under clause (a) of the proviso to clause (1) shall forthwith be communicated by him to the Speaker of the House of the People.

Article 57- Eligibility for re-election

A person who holds, or who has held, office as President shall, subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, be eligible for re-election to that office.

Article 58-Qualifications for election as President.

(1) No person shall be eligible for election as President unless he

 (a) is a citizen of India 

(b) has completed the age of thirty-five years.  

(c) is qualified for election as a member of the House of the People. 

(2) A person shall not be eligible for election as President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments. Explanation.

For the purposes of this article, a person shall not be deemed to hold any office of profit by reason only that he is the President or Vice-President of the Union or the Governor 1*** of any State or is a Minister either for the Union or for any State.

Article 59- Conditions of President’s office.

(1) The President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State, and if a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State be elected President, he shall be deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date on which he enters upon his office as President. 

(2) The President shall not hold any other office of profit. 

(3) The President shall be entitled without payment of rent to the use of his official residences and shall be also entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such emoluments, allowances and privileges as are specified in the Second Schedule. 

(4) The emoluments and allowances of the President shall not be diminished during his term of office.

Article 60-Oath or affirmation by the President

Every President and every person acting as President or discharging the functions of the President shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe in the presence of the Chief Justice of India or, in his absence, the senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court available, an oath or affirmation in the following form, that is to say—

of President (or discharge the functions of the President) of India and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of India.".

Article 61- Procedure for impeachment of the President.

(1) When a President is to be impeached for violation of the Constitution, the charge shall be preferred by either House of Parliament. 

(2) No such charge shall be preferred unless— 

(a) the proposal to prefer such charge is contained in a resolution which has been moved after at least fourteen days' notice in writing signed by not less than one-fourth of the total number of members of the House has been given of their intention to move the resolution, and (b) such resolution has been passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House. 

(3) When a charge has been so preferred by either House of Parliament, the other House shall investigate the charge or cause the charge to be investigated and the President shall have the right to appear and to be represented at such investigation. 

(4) If as a result of the investigation a resolution is passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House by which the charge was investigated or caused to be investigated, declaring that the charge preferred against the President has been sustained, such resolution shall have the effect of removing the President from his office as from the date on which the resolution is so passed.

Article 62- Time of holding election to fill a vacancy in the office of President and the term of office of person elected to fill casual vacancy.

(1) An election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of President shall be completed before the expiration of the term. (2) An election to fill a vacancy in the office of President occurring by reason of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise shall be held as soon as possible after, and in no case later than six months from, the date of occurrence of the vacancy; and the person elected to fill the vacancy shall, subject to the provisions of article 56, be entitled to hold office for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.

Article 63-The Vice-President of India.

There shall be a Vice-President of India.

Article 64-The Vice-President to be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States.

The Vice-President shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of the States and shall not hold any other office of profit:

Provided that during any period when the Vice-President acts as President or discharges the functions of the President under article 65, he shall not perform the duties of the office of Chairman of the Council of States and shall not be entitled to any salary or allowance payable to the Chairman of the Council of States under article 97.

Article 65-The Vice-President to act as President or to discharge his functions during casual vacancies in the office, or during the absence, of President.

(1) In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the President by reason of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise, the Vice-President shall act as President until the date on which a new President elected in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter to fill such vacancy enters upon his office. 

(2) When the President is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the Vice-President shall discharge his functions until the date on which the President resumes his duties. 

(3) The Vice-President shall, during, and in respect of, the period while he is so acting as, or discharging the functions of, President, have all the powers and immunities of the President and be entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such emoluments, allowances and privileges as are specified in the Second Schedule.

Article 66- Election of Vice-President.

(1) The Vice-President shall be elected by the 1 [members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament] in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot. 

(2) The Vice-President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State, and if a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State be elected Vice-President, he shall be deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date on which he enters upon his office as Vice-President. 

(3) No person shall be eligible for election as Vice-President unless he— (a) is a citizen of India; (b) has completed the age of thirty-five years; and

(c) is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States. 

(4) A person shall not be eligible for election as Vice-President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments. Explanation.—For the purposes of this article, a person shall not be deemed to hold any office of profit by reason only that he is the President or Vice-President of the Union or the Governor 1*** of any State or is a Minister either for the Union or for any State.

Article 67-Term of office of Vice-President.

The Vice-President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office: Provided that— 

(a) a Vice-President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office. 

(b) a Vice-President may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council of States passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the House of the People; but no resolution for the purpose of this clause shall be moved unless at least fourteen days' notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.

(c) a Vice-President shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.

Article 68-Time of holding election to fill a vacancy in the office of Vice-President and the term of office of person elected to fill casual vacancy.

(1) An election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of Vice-President shall be completed before the expiration of the term.

(2) An election to fill a vacancy in the office of Vice-President occurring by reason of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise shall be held as soon as possible after the occurrence of the vacancy, and the person elected to fill the vacancy shall, subject to the provisions of article 67, be entitled to hold office for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.

Article 69-Oath or affirmation by the Vice-President.

Every VicePresident shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation in the following form, that is to say— "I, A.B., do swear in the name of God that I will bear true faith and solemnly affirm allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.".

Article 70-Discharge of President’s functions in other contingencies.

Parliament may make such provision as it thinks fit for the discharge of the functions of the President in any contingency not provided for in this Chapter.

Article 71-Matters relating to, or connected with, the election of a President or Vice-President.

(1) All doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a President or Vice-President shall be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose decision shall be final. 

(2) If the election of a person as President or Vice-President is declared void by the Supreme Court, acts done by him in the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of the office of President or Vice-President, as the case may be, on or before the date of the decision of the Supreme Court shall not be invalidated by reason of that declaration. 

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may by law regulate any matter relating to or connected with the election of a President or Vice-President. 

(4) The election of a person as President or Vice-President shall not be called in question on the ground of the existence of any vacancy for whatever reason among the members of the electoral college electing him.]

Article 72-Power of President to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases.

(1) The President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence—

 (a) in all cases where the punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial;

(b) in all cases where the punishment or sentence is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends. 

(c) in all cases where the sentence is a sentence of death. (2) Nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the power conferred by law on any officer of the Armed Forces of the Union to suspend, remit or commute a sentence passed by a Court Martial. (3) Nothing in sub-clause (c) of clause (1) shall affect the power to suspend, remit or commute a sentence of death exercisable by the Governor 1*** of a State under any law for the time being in force

Article 73-Extent of executive power of the Union.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive power of the Union shall extend

(a) to the matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws.

 (b) to the exercise of such rights, authority and jurisdiction as are exercisable by the Government of India by virtue of any treaty or agreement: Provided that the executive power referred to in sub-clause (a) shall not, save as expressly provided in this Constitution or in any law made by Parliament, extend in any State 2*** to matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has also power to make laws. (2) Until otherwise provided by Parliament, a State and any officer or authority of a State may, notwithstanding anything in this article, continue to exercise in matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws for that State such executive power or functions as the State or officer or authority thereof could exercise immediately before the commencement of this Constitution.

Council of Ministers

Article 74-Council of Ministers to aid and advise President.

1 [(1) There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice

2 [Provided that the President may require the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice, either generally or otherwise, and the President shall act in accordance with the advice tendered after such reconsideration.

(2) The question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the President shall not be inquired into in any court.

Article 75-Other provisions as to Ministers.

(1) The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. 

3 [(1A) The total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed fifteen per cent. of the total number of members of the House of the People. 

(1B) A member of either House of Parliament belonging to any political party who is disqualified for being a member of that House under paragraph 2 of the Tenth Schedule shall also be disqualified to be appointed as a Minister under clause (1) for duration of the period commencing from the date of his disqualification till the date on which the term of his office as such member would expire or where he contests any election to either House of Parliament before the expiry of such period, till the date on which he is declared elected, whichever is earlier.

(2) The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. 

(3) The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People. 

(4) Before a Minister enters upon his office, the President shall administer to him the oaths of office and of secrecy according to the forms set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.

(5) A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of either House of Parliament shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister. (6) The salaries and allowances of Ministers shall be such as Parliament may from time to time by law determine and, until Parliament so determines, shall be as specified in the Second Schedule.

The Attorney General for India

Article 76-Attorney-General for India.

(1) The President shall appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court to be Attorney-General for India.

 (2) It shall be the duty of the Attorney-General to give advice to the Government of India upon such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character, as may from time to time be referred or assigned to him by the President, and to discharge the functions conferred on him by or under this Constitution or any other law for the time being in force. 

(3) In the performance of his duties the Attorney-General shall have right of audience in all courts in the territory of India. 

(4) The Attorney-General shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, and shall receive such remuneration as the President may determine.

Conduct of Government Business

Article 77-Conduct of business of the Government of India.

(1) All executive action of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President. 

(2) Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the President shall be authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules1 to be made by the President, and the validity of an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the President. 

(3) The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business

Article 78-. Duties of Prime Minister as respects the furnishing of information to the President, etc.

It shall be the duty of the Prime Minister

 (a) to communicate to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation.

(b) to furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation as the President may call for.

(c) if the President so requires, to submit for the consideration of the Council of Ministers any matter on which a decision has been taken by a Minister but which has not been considered by the Council.

Parliament

Article 79-Constitution of Parliament.

There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.

Article 80- Composition of the Council of States.

(1) 1 [ 2*** The Council of States] shall consist of— (a) twelve members to be nominated by the President in accordance with the provisions of clause (3); and (b) not more than two hundred and thirty-eight representatives of the States 3 [and of the Union territories]. (2) The allocation of seats in the Council of States to be filled by representatives of the States 3 [and of the Union territories] shall be in accordance with the provisions in that behalf contained in the Fourth Schedule.

 (3) The members to be nominated by the President under sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely:— Literature, science, art and social service.

(4) The representatives of each State 1*** in the Council of States shall be elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of the State in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. (5) The representatives of the 2 [Union territories] in the Council of States shall be chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law prescribe.

Article 81-Composition of the House of the People.

(1) 4 [Subject to the provisions of article 331 5***], the House of the People shall consist of— (a) not more than 6 [five hundred and thirty members] chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States, and (b) not more than 7 [twenty members] to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide. (2) For the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (1),— (a) there shall be allotted to each State a number of seats in the House of the People in such manner that the ratio between that number and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States; and (b) each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it is, so far as practicable, the same throughout the State: 8 [Provided that the provisions of sub-clause (a) of this clause shall not be applicable for the purpose of allotment of seats in the House of the People to any State so long as the population of that State does not exceed six millions.]

(3) In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published. 1 [Provided that the reference in this clause to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2 [2026] have been published, 3 [be construed,— (i) for the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (2) and the proviso to that clause, as a reference to the 1971 census; and (ii) for the purposes of sub-clause (b) of clause (2) as a reference to the 4 [2001] census.]]

Article 82-. Readjustment after each census.

Upon the completion of each census, the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine: Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the House of the People until the dissolution of the then existing House: 5 [Provided further that such readjustment shall take effect from such date as the President may, by order, specify and until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the House may be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment: Provided also that until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 6 [2026] have been published, it shall not be necessary to 7 [readjust—

(i) the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States as readjusted on the basis of the 1971 census; and (ii) the division of each State into territorial constituencies as may be readjusted on the basis of the 1 [2001] census, under this article.]]

Article 83-. Duration of Houses of Parliament.

(1) The Council of States shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible one-third of the members thereof shall retire as soon as may be on the expiration of every second year in accordance with the provisions made in that behalf by Parliament by law. 

(2) The House of the People, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for 2 [five years] from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of 2 [five years] shall operate as a dissolution of the House: Provided that the said period may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate.

Article 84-. Qualification for membership of Parliament.

A person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in Parliament unless he— 3 [(a) is a citizen of India, and makes and subscribes before some person authorised in that behalf by the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule;] (b) is, in the case of a seat in the Council of States, not less than thirty years of age and, in the case of a seat in the House of the People, not less than twenty-five years of age; and (c) possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.

Article 85-Sessions of Parliament, prorogation, and dissolution

(1) The President shall from time to time summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session. 

(2) The President may from time to time— (a) prorogue the Houses or either House; (b) dissolve the House of the People.

Article 86-. Right of President to address and send messages to Houses.

The President may address either House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together, and for that purpose require the attendance of members. (2) The President may send messages to either House of Parliament, whether with respect to a Bill then pending in Parliament or otherwise, and a House to which any message is so sent shall with all convenient despatch consider any matter required by the message to be taken into consideration.

Article 87-Special address by the President.

(1) At the commencement of 2 the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year] the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons. 

(2) Provision shall be made by the rules regulating the procedure of either House for the allotment of time for discussion of the matters referred to in such address 3***.

Article 88-Rights of Ministers and Attorney-General as respects Houses

Every Minister and the Attorney-General of India shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, either House, any joint sitting of the Houses, and any committee of Parliament of which he may be named a member, but shall not by virtue of this article be entitled to vote.

Officer of Parliament

Article 89-Rights of Ministers and Attorney-General as respects Houses.

(1) The Vice- President of India shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States. 

(2) The Council of States shall, as soon as may be, choose a member of the Council to be Deputy Chairman thereof and, so often as the office of Deputy Chairman becomes vacant, the Council shall choose another member to be Deputy Chairman thereof.

Article 90-Vacation and the resignation of, and removal from, the office of Deputy Chairman.

A member holding office as Deputy Chairman of the Council of States— 

(a) shall vacate his office if he ceases to be a member of the Council.

(b) may at any time, by writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman, resign his office.

(c) may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council: Provided that no resolution for the purpose of clause (c) shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.

Article 91-Power of the Deputy Chairman or other person to perform the duties of the office of, or to act as, Chairman.

(1) While the office of Chairman is vacant, or during any period when the Vice-President is acting as, or discharging the functions of, President, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy Chairman, or, if the office of Deputy Chairman is also vacant, by such member of the Council of States as the President may appoint for the purpose. (2) During the absence of the Chairman from any sitting of the Council of States the Deputy Chairman, or, if he is also absent, such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the Council, or, if no such person is present, such other person as may be determined by the Council, shall act as Chairman.

Article 92-. The Chairman or the Deputy Chairman not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration.

(1) At any sitting of the Council of States, while any resolution for the removal of the Vice-President from his office is under consideration, the Chairman, or while any resolution for the removal of the Deputy Chairman from his office is under consideration, the Deputy Chairman, shall not, though he is present, preside, and the provisions of clause (2) of article 91 shall apply in relation to every such sitting as they apply in relation to a sitting from which the Chairman, or, as the case may be, the Deputy Chairman, is absent.

(2) The Chairman shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, the Council of States while any resolution for the removal of the Vice-President from his office is under consideration in the Council, but, notwithstanding anything in article 100, shall not be entitled to vote at all on such resolution or on any other matter during such proceedings.

Article 93-The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the People.

The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker thereof and, so often as the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker becomes vacant, the House shall choose another member to be Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the case may be.

Article 94-Vacation and the resignation of, and removal from, the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

A member holding office as Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of the People

(a) shall vacate his office if he ceases to be a member of the House of the People.

(b) may at any time, by writing under his hand addressed, if such member is the Speaker, to the Deputy Speaker, and if such member is the Deputy Speaker, to the Speaker, resign his office; and 

(c) may be removed from his office by a resolution of the House of the People passed by a majority of all the then members of the House: Provided that no resolution for the purpose of clause (c) shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution: Provided further that, whenever the House of the People is dissolved, the Speaker shall not vacate his office until immediately before the first meeting of the House of the People after the dissolution.

Article 95-Power of the Deputy Speaker or other person to perform the duties of the office of, or to act as, Speaker.

(1) While the office of Speaker is vacant, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy Speaker or, if the office of Deputy Speaker is also vacant, by such member of the House of the People as the President may appoint for the purpose. (2) During the absence of the Speaker from any sitting of the House of the People the Deputy Speaker or, if he is also absent, such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the House, or, if no such person is present, such other person as may be determined by the House, shall act as Speaker.

Article 96-The Speaker or the Deputy Speaker not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration

(1) At any sitting of the House of the People, while any resolution for the removal of the Speaker from his office is under consideration, the Speaker, or while any resolution for the removal of the Deputy Speaker from his office is under consideration, the Deputy Speaker, shall not, though he is present, preside, and the provisions of clause (2) of article 95 shall apply in relation to every such sitting as they apply in relation to a sitting from which the Speaker, or, as the case may be, the Deputy Speaker, is absent.

 (2) The Speaker shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, the House of the People while any resolution for his removal from office is under consideration in the House and shall, notwithstanding anything in article 100, be entitled to vote only in the first instance on such resolution or on any other matter during such proceedings but not in the case of an equality of votes.

Article 97-. Salaries and allowances of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

There shall be paid to the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States, and to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, such salaries and allowances as may be respectively fixed by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries and allowances as are specified in the Second Schedule

Article 98-Secretariat of Parliament

(1) Each House of Parliament shall have a separate secretarial staff: Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the creation of posts common to both Houses of Parliament.

 (2) Parliament may by law regulate the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to the secretarial staff of either House of Parliament. (3) Until provision is made by Parliament under clause (2), the President may, after consultation with the Speaker of the House of the People or the Chairman of the Council of States, as the case may be, make rules regulating the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to the secretarial staff of the House of the People or the Council of States, and any rules so made shall have effect subject to the provisions of any law made under the said clause.

Conduct of Business

Article 99- Oath or affirmation by members.

Every member of either House of Parliament shall, before taking his seat, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.

Article 100-Voting in Houses, power of Houses to act notwithstanding vacancies and quorum.

(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, all questions at any sitting of either House or joint sitting of the Houses shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting, other than the Speaker or person acting as Chairman or Speaker. The Chairman or Speaker, or person acting as such, shall not vote in the first instance, but shall have and exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes. 

(2) Either House of Parliament shall have power to act notwithstanding any vacancy in the membership thereof, and any proceedings in Parliament shall be valid notwithstanding that it is discovered subsequently that some person who was not entitled so to do sat or voted or otherwise took part in the proceedings. 

1 [(3) Until Parliament by law otherwise provides, the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament shall be one-tenth of the total number of members of the House. 

(4) If at any time during a meeting of a House there is no quorum, it shall be the duty of the Chairman or Speaker, or person acting as such, either to adjourn the House or to suspend the meeting until there is a quorum.]

Disqualification of Members

Article 101-Vacation of seats.

(1) No person shall be a member of both Houses of Parliament and provision shall be made by Parliament by law for the vacation by a person who is chosen a member of both Houses of his seat in one House or the other.

(2) No person shall be a member both of Parliament and of a House of the Legislature of a State 1***, and if a person is chosen a member both of Parliament and of a House of the Legislature of 2 [a State], then, at the expiration of such period as may be specified in rules made by the President, that person’s seat in Parliament shall become vacant, unless he has previously resigned his seat in the Legislature of the State. 

(3) If a member of either House of Parliament— (a) becomes subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in 3 [clause (1) or clause (2) of article 102], or 

4 [(b) resigns his seat by writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman or the Speaker, as the case may be, and his resignation is accepted by the Chairman or the Speaker, as the case may be,] his seat shall thereupon become vacant.

 5 [Provided that in the case of any resignation referred to in sub-clause (b), if from information received or otherwise and after making such inquiry as he thinks fit, the Chairman or the Speaker, as the case may be, is satisfied that such resignation is not voluntary or genuine, he shall not accept such resignation.] (4) If for a period of sixty days a member of either House of Parliament is without permission of the House absent from all meetings thereof, the House may declare his seat vacant: Provided that in computing the said period of sixty days no account shall be taken of any period during which the House is prorogued or is adjourned for more than four consecutive days.

Article 102-Disqualifications for membership.

—(1) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either House of Parliament

1 [(a) if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State, other than an office declared by Parliament by law not to disqualify its holder.

(b) if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court.

(c) if he is an undischarged insolvent; (d) if he is not a citizen of India, or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State, or is under any acknowledgment of allegiance or adherence to a foreign State.

 (e) if he is so disqualified by or under any law made by Parliament. 

2 [Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause] a person shall not be deemed to hold an office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State by reason only that he is a Minister either for the Union or for such State. 3 [(2) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of either House of Parliament if he is so disqualified under the Tenth Schedule.]

(2) Before giving any decision on any such question, the President shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion.]

Article 103-Decision on questions as to disqualifications of members

(1) If any question arises as to whether a member of either House of Parliament has become subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in clause (1) of article 102, the question shall be referred for the decision of the President and his decision shall be final.

Article 104-Penalty for sitting and voting before making oath or affirmation under article 99 or when not qualified or when disqualified.

If a person sits or votes as a member of either House of Parliament before he has complied with the requirements of article 99, or when he knows that he is not qualified or that he is disqualified for membership thereof, or that he is prohibited from so doing by the provisions of any law made by Parliament, he shall be liable in respect of each day on which he so sits or votes to a penalty of five hundred rupees to be recovered as a debt due to the Union.

Power, Privileges, and Immunities of Parliament and Members

Article 105-Powers, privileges, etc., of the Houses of Parliament and the members and committees thereof

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of Parliament, there shall be freedom of speech in Parliament. 

(2) No member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority of either House of Parliament of any report, paper, votes or proceedings. 1 

[(3) In other respects, the powers, privileges and immunities of each House of Parliament, and of the members and the committees of each House, shall be such as may from time to time be defined by Parliament by law, and, until so defined, 2 [shall be those of that House and of its members and committees immediately before the coming into force of section 15 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978.]].

(4) The provisions of clauses (1), (2) and (3) shall apply in relation to persons who by virtue of this Constitution have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, a House of Parliament or any committee thereof as they apply in relation to members of Parliament.

Article 106-Salaries and allowances of members.

Members of either House of Parliament shall be entitled to receive such salaries and allowances as may from time to time be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that respect is so made, allowances at such rates and upon such conditions as were immediately before the commencement of this Constitution applicable in the case of members of the Constituent Assembly of the Dominion of India.

Legislative Procedure

Article 107- Provisions as to introduction and passing of Bills.

(1) Subject to the provisions of articles 109 and 117 with respect to Money Bills and other financial Bills, a Bill may originate in either House of Parliament. 

(2) Subject to the provisions of articles 108 and 109, a Bill shall not be deemed to have been passed by the Houses of Parliament unless it has been agreed to by both Houses, either without amendment or with such amendments only as are agreed to by both Houses. 

(3) A Bill pending in Parliament shall not lapse by reason of the prorogation of the Houses. 

(4) A Bill pending in the Council of States which has not been passed by the House of the People shall not lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People. 

(5) A Bill which is pending in the House of the People, or which having been passed by the House of the People is pending in the Council of States, shall, subject to the provisions of article 108, lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People.

Article 108-Joint sitting of both Houses in certain cases

(1) If after a Bill has been passed by one House and transmitted to the other House— (a) the Bill is rejected by the other House; or

 (b) the Houses have finally disagreed as to the amendments to be made in the Bill; or 

(c) more than six months elapse from the date of the reception of the Bill by the other House without the Bill being passed by it,

the President may, unless the Bill has elapsed by reason of a dissolution of the House of the People, notify to the Houses by message if they are sitting or by public notification if they are not sitting, his intention to summon them to meet in a joint sitting for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the Bill: Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to a Money Bill.

 (2) In reckoning any such period of six months as is referred to in clause (1), no account shall be taken of any period during which the House referred to in sub-clause (c) of that clause is prorogued or adjourned for more than four consecutive days. 

(3) Where the President has under clause (1) notified his intention of summoning the Houses to meet in a joint sitting, neither House shall proceed further with the Bill, but the President may at any time after the date of his notification summon the Houses to meet in a joint sitting for the purpose specified in the notification and, if he does so, the Houses shall meet accordingly. 

(4) If at the joint sitting of the two Houses the Bill, with such amendments, if any, as are agreed to in joint sitting, is passed by a majority of the total number of members of both Houses present and voting, it shall be deemed for the purposes of this Constitution to have been passed by both Houses: Provided that at a joint sitting— (a) if the Bill, having been passed by one House, has not been passed by the other House with amendments and returned to the House in which it originated, no amendment shall be proposed to the Bill other than such amendments (if any) as are made necessary by the delay in the passage of the Bill; (b) if the Bill has been so passed and returned, only such amendments as aforesaid shall be proposed to the Bill and such other amendments as are relevant to the matters with respect to which the Houses have not agreed; and the decision of the person presiding as to the amendments which are admissible under this clause shall be final. 

(5) A joint sitting may be held under this article and a Bill passed thereat, notwithstanding that a dissolution of the House of the People has intervened since the President notified his intention to summon the Houses to meet therein.

Article 109-Special procedure in respect of Money Bills.

(1) A Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Council of States.

(2) After a Money Bill has been passed by the House of the People it shall be transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations and the Council of States shall within a period of fourteen days from the date of its receipt of the Bill return the Bill to the House of the People with its recommendations and the House of the People may thereupon either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Council of States. 

(3) If the House of the People accepts any of the recommendations of the Council of States, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses with the amendments recommended by the Council of States and accepted by the House of the People. 

(4) If the House of the People does not accept any of the recommendations of the Council of States, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the House of the People without any of the amendments recommended by the Council of States. 

(5) If a Money Bill passed by the House of the People and transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations is not returned to the House of the People within the said period of fourteen days, it shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses at the expiration of the said period in the form in which it was passed by the House of the People.

Article 110-Definition of “Money Bills”

(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a Bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters, namely:— 

(a) the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax

 (b) the regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the Government of India, or the amendment of the law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken or to be undertaken by the Government of India.

(c) the custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund.

d) the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

(e) the declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure;

(f) the receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of a State; or 

g) any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in subclauses (a) to (f). (2) A Bill shall not be deemed to be a Money Bill by reason only that it provides for the imposition of fines or other pecuniary penalties, or for the demand or payment of fees for licences or fees for services rendered, or by reason that it provides for the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax by any local authority or body for local purposes. (3) If any question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the House of the People thereon shall be final. (4) There shall be endorsed on every Money Bill when it is transmitted to the Council of States under article 109, and when it is presented to the President for assent under article 111, the certificate of the Speaker of the House of the People signed by him that it is a Money Bill.

Article 111-Assent to Bil