Article 210

Language to be Used in State Legislature

Official heading: “Language to be used in the Legislature .”

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Source edition: The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
Source locator: Part VI, Article 210, printed pages 96–97
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Last human legal review: Not yet reviewed

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1. In One Sentence

Article 210 regulates language in the State Legislature, authorizing the State official language(s), Hindi, or English, while permitting members unable to express themselves in these languages to speak in their mother tongue.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Article 210 governs linguistic diversity and expression in State legislative debates, corresponding to Article 120 for Parliament.

Authorized Languages: Business in the State Legislature may be transacted in the official language or languages of the State, or in Hindi, or in English.

Mother-Tongue Right: The proviso to Clause (1) protects linguistic inclusion: the Speaker of the Assembly or Chairman of the Council may permit any member who cannot adequately express themselves in any of the recognized languages to address the House in their mother tongue.

English Transition Rule: Clause (2) originally provided that English would lapse after fifteen years unless the Legislature provided otherwise by law; subsequent State official language statutes have preserved English alongside regional languages.

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

A newly elected MLA representing an indigenous community is fluent only in a regional tribal language not recognized as an official State language.

Core takeaway: Under the proviso to Article 210(1), the Speaker grants permission for the MLA to address the Assembly in their mother tongue.

Illustrative Notice: Official bills, amendments, and legislative journals are published in the State's recognized official languages.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 210 balances administrative continuity with democratic linguistic inclusion.

Recognizes State official languages, Hindi, and English for legislative debates.
Mother-tongue address allowed upon presiding officer permission.
Protects representative voice of non-majority linguistic communities.

5. Operative Constitutional 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 th e 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.

Transcription for reference; compare with the linked official editionNot yet verified by a human legal reviewer

6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations

Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.

Sources & Citation Metadata

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Constitutional TextThe Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)Cited PDF page
Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part VI, Article 210, printed pages 96–97 • Human source-link check pending
Primary PDF accessed and transcribed with AI assistance on 14 October 2026. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted; operative wording is retained. This is not human legal review. Later amendments and commencement notifications have not been comprehensively checked.

Human legal review is pending; compare the text with the cited editionNon-partisan educational resource