Article 355: Duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance

In plain words

The Union must protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance, and ensure that every State's Government is carried on according to the Constitution.

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

It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the Government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

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 355

IN RE : SECTION 6A OF THE CITIZENSHIP ACT 1955 versus
2024 INSC 78917 October 2024Reference answered

Issue arose as regards the constitutional validity of s.6A of the Citizenship Act; does s.6A offend preambular values like fraternity; s.6A, if ultra vires Part II of the Constitution; does s.6A create an unreasonable…
Md. Rahim Ali @ Abdur Rahim v. The State of Assam & Ors.
2024 INSC 51111 July 2024Appeal(s) allowed

The Foreigners Tribunal, Nalbari declared the appellant to be a foreigner on the grounds that he failed to discharge his burden under Section 9 of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
In Re: Article 370 of the Constitution v. .
2023 INSC 105811 December 2023Disposed of
Gujarat Mazdoor Sabha & Anr. v. The State of Gujarat
2020 INSC 5721 October 2020Appeal(s) allowed
Abdul Kuddus v. Union of India and Others
2019 INSC 68417 May 2019Disposed of
Jindal Stainless Ltd. & Anr v. State of Haryana & Ors
2016 INSC 101911 November 2016Directions issued
Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association (Eevfam) & Anr. v. Union of India & Anr.
2016 INSC 5278 July 2016Directions issued
Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
2014 INSC 87417 December 2014Directions issued
Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India & Ors.
2014 INSC 18312 March 2014Disposed of
In Re: Ramlila Maidan Incident Dt.4/5.06.2011 v. Home Secretary, Union of India & Ors.
2012 INSC 10323 February 2012Disposed of
Sarbananda Sonowal v. Union of India
2006 INSC 9545 December 2006Allowed
Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India and Ors.
2006 INSC 53222 August 2006Dismissed
Rameshwar Prasad and Ors. v. Union of India and Anr.
2006 INSC 4224 January 2006Disposed of
Sarbananda Sonowal v. Union of India and Anr.
2005 INSC 28712 July 2005Petition allowed .
Special Reference No. I of 2002 v. .
2002 INSC 44528 October 2002Reference answered
Naga People'S Movement of Human Rights Etc. v. Union of India
1997 INSC 76327 November 1997Disposed of
Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies,Lucknow, U.P. and Another v. Prakash Chandra Saxena and Another
1994 INSC 1955 May 1994Appeal allowed.
S.R. Bommai v. Union of India and Ors.
1994 INSC 11111 March 1994
State of Karnataka v. Union of India & Another
1977 INSC 2148 November 1977Dismissed
State of Rajasthan & Ors. Etc. Etc. v. Union of India Etc. Etc.
1977 INSC 1436 May 1977Dismissed
Additional District Magistrate, Jabalpur v. S. S. Shukla Etc. Etc.
1976 INSC 12928 April 1976Appeal(s) allowed