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The Constitution, Made Understandable.

Article 240

Presidential Regulation-Making Power for Specified Union Territories

Official heading: “Power of President to make regulations for certain Union territories”

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The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
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Part VIII, Article 240, printed pages 120–121
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1. In One Sentence

Empowers the President to make regulations for the peace, progress, and good government of specified Union Territories, having the force of parliamentary acts.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Article 240 grants the President direct legislative regulation-making power for specified Union Territories, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Puducherry.

Regulations made by the President have the same legal force and effect as an Act of Parliament, and may repeal or amend any existing parliamentary law applicable to the territory.

For territories with a legislature (like Puducherry), this presidential regulation power ceases once the legislature convenes, but revives if the legislature is dissolved or suspended.

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

New civil administration, land tenure, or environmental preservation rules are introduced for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands or Lakshadweep.

Core takeaway: Under Article 240, the President promulgates Regulations directly for the territory without requiring a full statute to be debated in Parliament.
Illustrative Notice: Presidential regulations remain subject to the Constitution and cannot infringe Fundamental Rights or basic constitutional guarantees.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 240 provides plenary legislative authority for non-state union territories.

  • Applies to specified territories: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Puducherry.
  • Equivalent to parliamentary statute: Can amend or repeal prior parliamentary laws in that territory.
  • Suspension condition: Cannot be used for Puducherry while its legislature is actively functioning.

5. Operative Constitutional Text

(1) The President may make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of the Union territory of— (a) the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; (b) Lakshadweep; (c) Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu; (d) Puducherry: Provided that when any body is created under article 239A to function as a Legislature for the Union territory of Puducherry, the President shall not make any regulations for the peace, progress and good government of that Union territory with effect from the date appointed for the first meeting of the Legislature: Provided further that whenever the body functioning as a Legislature for the Union territory of Puducherry is dissolved, or the functioning of that body as such Legislature remains suspended on account of any action taken under any such law as is referred to in clause (1) of article 239A, the President may make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of that Union territory during the period of such dissolution or suspension. (2) Any regulation so made may repeal or amend any Act made by Parliament or any other law which is for the time being applicable to the Union territory and, when promulgated by the President, shall have the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament which applies to that territory.
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
  • •
    Constitutional TextThe Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)Cited PDF page
    Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part VIII, Article 240, printed pages 120–121 • 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

Related Constitutional Articles to Explore:

Go to ARTICLE 239 →Go to ARTICLE 239A →Go to ARTICLE 239B →Go to ARTICLE 241 →