Article 371

Special Development Boards for Maharashtra and Gujarat

Official heading: “Special provision with respect to the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat”

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Source edition: The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
Source locator: Part XXI, Article 371, printed pages 231–232
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Last human legal review: Not yet reviewed

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1. In One Sentence

Empowers the President to authorize the Governors of Maharashtra and Gujarat to establish separate development boards and equitable budgetary allocations for Vidarbha, Marathwada, Saurashtra, and Kutch.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Substituted by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (which divided bilingual Bombay State into Maharashtra and Gujarat), Article 371 addresses regional socio-economic disparities.

Under clause (2), the President may provide for special responsibilities of the Governors of Maharashtra and Gujarat to establish separate development boards for Vidarbha, Marathwada, Saurashtra, and Kutch.

The provision mandates the equitable allocation of development funds across these regions, the annual tabling of development board reports before the State Legislative Assembly, and equitable facilities for technical education and vocational training.

It also ensures equitable opportunities for employment in state public services for the people of these economically backward regions.

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

The Governor of Maharashtra directs that a designated percentage of state irrigation and technical education capital funds be allocated specifically to the Marathwada region.

Core takeaway: Article 371(2) empowers the Governor to ensure balanced regional development and overcome historical economic backlogs.

Illustrative Notice: The Governor’s special responsibility guides executive resource planning; it does not replace the normal legislative functions of the State Assembly.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 371 provides a targeted regional equity mechanism within Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Development boards: Authorizes dedicated boards for Vidarbha, Marathwada, and the rest of Maharashtra, and Saurashtra, Kutch, and the rest of Gujarat.
Equitable allocation: Requires equitable spending on development and public vocational facilities.
Gubernatorial responsibility: Gives the Governor special personal oversight regarding regional development balance.

5. Operative Constitutional Text

(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may by order made with respect to the State of Maharashtra or Gujarat, provide for any special responsibility of the Governor for— (a) the establishment of separate development boards for Vidarbha, Marathwada, and the rest of Maharashtra, or, as the case may be, Saurashtra, Kutch and the rest of Gujarat with the provision that a report on the working of each of these boards will be placed each year before the State Legislative Assembly; (b) the equitable allocation of funds for developmental expenditure over the said areas, subject to the requirements of the State as a whole; and (c) an equitable arrangement providing adequate facilities for technical education and vocational training, and adequate opportunities for employment in services under the control of the State Government, for the areas mentioned in sub-clause (b), subject to the requirements of the State as a whole.

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 XXI, Article 371, printed pages 231–232 • 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