Article 394A

Authoritative Constitutional Text in the Hindi Language

Official heading: “Authoritative text in the Hindi language”

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Source edition: The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
Source locator: Part XXII, Article 394A, printed page 252
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Last human legal review: Not yet reviewed

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1. In One Sentence

Mandates the President to publish authoritative translations of the Constitution and all amendments in Hindi, carrying the same legal meaning as the original English text.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Inserted by the Constitution (Fifty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1987, Article 394A provides legal sanctity to the Hindi translation of the Constitution.

Prior to 1987, although a Hindi translation was signed by members of the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950, only the English text was recognized as legally authoritative in courts of law under Article 348.

Clause (1) directed the President to publish under presidential authority the translation of the Constitution in Hindi, incorporating all amendments, and to publish Hindi translations of all future amendments.

Clause (2) establishes that the published Hindi translation shall be construed to have the same meaning as the original English text; if any difficulty arises in interpretation, the President shall cause the translation to be revised.

Clause (3) declares that the published Hindi translation shall be deemed to be, for all purposes, the authoritative text of the Constitution in the Hindi language.

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

A litigant in a High Court presenting oral arguments in Hindi cites the Hindi text of an article published under presidential authority.

Core takeaway: Under Article 394A(3), the Hindi text published under presidential authority is an authoritative legal text for all purposes in Hindi proceedings.

Illustrative Notice: In cases of divergence or interpretive doubt, clause (2) requires harmony with the original English text, and the English text remains the supreme anchor under Article 348.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 394A confers official authoritative status upon the Hindi text of the Constitution.

Fifty-eighth Amendment reform: Enacted in 1987 to provide an authoritative national language text.
Same meaning rule: Presumes the Hindi text carries the identical meaning of the English original.
Presidential revision duty: If interpretation difficulties arise between versions, the President causes suitable revision.

5. Operative Constitutional Text

(1) The President shall cause to be published under his authority,— (a) the translation of this Constitution in the Hindi language, signed by the members of the Constituent Assembly, with such modifications as may be necessary to bring it in conformity with the language, style and terminology adopted in the authoritative texts of Central Acts in the Hindi language, and incorporating therein all the amendments of this Constitution made before such publication; and (b) the translation in the Hindi language of every amendment of this Constitution made in the English language. (2) The translation of this Constitution and of every amendment thereof published under clause (1) shall be construed to have the same meaning as the original thereof and if any difficulty arises in so construing any part of such translation, the President shall cause the same to be revised suitably. (3) The translation of this Constitution and of every amendment thereof published under this article shall be deemed to be, for all purposes, the authoritative text thereof in the Hindi language.

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 XXII, Article 394A, printed page 252 • 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