Article 302

Parliamentary Power to Restrict Interstate Commerce in the Public Interest

Official heading: “Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse”

Check this article against the official editionAwaiting human legal review

Source edition: The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
Source locator: Part XIII, Article 302, printed page 171
Last human source-link check: Not yet checked
Last human legal review: Not yet reviewed

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1. In One Sentence

Empowers Parliament to enact laws imposing restrictions on interstate or intrastate trade and commerce if required in the public interest.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

While Article 301 declares trade free throughout India, Article 302 gives Parliament the power to impose restrictions in the public interest.

Parliament can regulate supply chains, movement of essential commodities, or consumer protection across state lines.

Parliament’s power under Article 302 is subject to the anti-discrimination rule in Article 303, except in cases of acute national scarcity.

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

Parliament passes the Essential Commodities Act regulating interstate transport of petroleum and fertilizers to prevent black-marketing.

Core takeaway: Article 302 empowers Parliament to restrict free movement when necessary for national welfare and public distribution.

Illustrative Notice: Parliament cannot use this power to favor one State over another unless scarcity is officially declared under Article 303(2).

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 302 balances commercial freedom with national public interest imperatives.

Plenary Parliamentary authority: Only Parliament—not State Legislatures—derives regulatory power directly under Article 302.
Public interest standard: The statutory restriction must demonstrably serve the general public interest.
Subject to Article 303: Parliament cannot practice regional favoritism or trade discrimination between States.

5. Operative Constitutional Text

Parliament may by law impose such restrictions on the freedom of trade, commerce or intercourse between one State and another or within any part of the territory of India as may be required in the public interest.

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 XIII, Article 302, printed page 171 • 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