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The Constitution, Made Understandable.

Article 367

Constitutional Interpretation and Application of the General Clauses Act

Official heading: “Interpretation”

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Source edition
The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
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Part XIX, Article 367, printed pages 227–228
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1. In One Sentence

Directs that the General Clauses Act, 1897 shall apply for the interpretation of the Constitution, and defines foreign states.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Article 367 provides formal rules of statutory construction for the Constitution.

Clause (1) stipulates that unless the context otherwise requires, the General Clauses Act, 1897 (subject to any adaptations made under Article 372) shall apply for the interpretation of the Constitution as it applies for the interpretation of an Act of the Legislature of the Dominion of India.

This incorporates universal statutory canons regarding calculation of time, singular including plural, masculine including feminine, and succession to offices.

Clause (3) defines "Foreign State" as any State other than India, subject to the power of the President to declare by order that specified states shall not be deemed foreign states in relation to particular constitutional provisions (exercised notably for Commonwealth nations).

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

A dispute arises over whether a constitutional statutory timeline includes public holidays in computation of days.

Core takeaway: Under Article 367(1), courts apply the rules of the General Clauses Act, 1897 to interpret constitutional provisions and timelines.
Illustrative Notice: The General Clauses Act applies as a rule of interpretation; it cannot be used to modify substantive constitutional powers or circumvent amendment procedures.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 367 provides the procedural and interpretative backbone for constitutional construction.

  • Application of General Clauses Act: Standardizes definitions, rules of construction, and statutory timelines.
  • Dominion Act standard: Applies the General Clauses Act as adapted under Article 372.
  • Foreign State definition: Authorizes the President to regulate which nations are deemed foreign states under clause (3).

5. Operative Constitutional Text

(1) Unless the context otherwise requires, the General Clauses Act, 1897, shall, subject to any adaptations and modifications that may be made therein under article 372, apply for the interpretation of this Constitution as it applies for the interpretation of an Act of the Legislature of the Dominion of India. (2) Any reference in this Constitution to Acts or laws of, or made by, Parliament, or to Acts or laws of, or made by, the Legislature of a State, shall be construed as including a reference to an Ordinance made by the President or, to an Ordinance made by a Governor, as the case may be. (3) For the purposes of this Constitution "foreign State" means any State other than India: Provided that, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, the President may by order declare any State not to be a foreign State for such purposes as may be specified in the order.
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 XIX, Article 367, printed pages 227–228 • 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 366 →Go to ARTICLE 368 →Go to ARTICLE 372 →