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Constitution of India · Part XIII: Trade, Commerce and Intercourse Within the Territory of India · Restrictions on the legislative powers of the Union and of the

Article 305: Saving of existing laws and laws providing for State monopolies

In plain words

Articles 301 and 303 do not affect existing laws unless the President orders otherwise. Article 301 also does not affect laws made before the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act, 1955, or prevent new laws, on State trade, business or monopolies covered by sub-clause (ii) of clause (6) of article 19.

A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.

Official text

Nothing in articles 301 and 303 shall affect the provisions of any existing law except in so far as the President may by order otherwise direct; and nothing in article 301 shall affect the operation of any law made before the commencement of the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act, 1955, in so far as it relates to, or prevent Parliament or the Legislature of a State from making any law relating to, any such matter as is referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (6) of article 19.]

Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the official text of the Constitution of India. As amended up to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Text as on 10 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the article 305