Constitution of India · Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions
Article 360: Provisions as to financial emergency
In plain words
If the President is satisfied that the financial stability or credit of India or any part of it is threatened, the President can proclaim a financial emergency. The Proclamation must be laid before each House of Parliament and lapses after two months unless both Houses approve it.
- During it, the Union can direct any State to follow canons of financial propriety and give other necessary directions.
- Directions can require cutting the salaries and allowances of State employees, and reserving Money Bills and other financial Bills for the President after the State Legislature passes them.
- The President can also direct cuts in the salaries and allowances of Union employees, including Supreme Court and High Court Judges.
- Special rules apply if the House of the People is dissolved during the two months.
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
(1) If the President is satisfied that a situation has arisen whereby the financial stability or credit of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, he may by a Proclamation make a declaration to that effect. [(2) A Proclamation issued under clause (1)—
(a) may be revoked or varied by a subsequent Proclamation;
(b) shall be laid before each House of Parliament;
(c) shall cease to operate at the expiration of two months, unless before the expiration of that period it has been approved by resolutions of both Houses of Parliament:
Provided that if any such Proclamation is issued at a time when the House of the People has been dissolved or the dissolution of the House of the People takes place during the period of two months referred to in sub-clause (c), and if a resolution approving the Proclamation has been passed by the Council of States, but no resolution with respect to such Proclamation has been passed by the House of the People before the expiration of that period, the Proclamation shall cease to operate at the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the House of the People first sits after its reconstitution unless before the expiration of the said period of thirty days a resolution approving the Proclamation has been also passed by the House of the People.]
(3) During the period any such Proclamation as is mentioned in clause (1) is in operation, the executive authority of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to any State to observe such canons of financial propriety as may be specified in the directions, and to the giving of such other directions as the President may deem necessary and adequate for the purpose.
(4) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution—
(a) any such direction may include—
(i) a provision requiring the reduction of salaries and allowances of all or any class of persons serving in connection with the affairs of a State;
(ii) a provision requiring all Money Bills or other Bills to which the provisions of article 207 apply to be reserved for the consideration of the President after they are passed by the Legislature of the State;
(b) it shall be competent for the President during the period any Proclamation issued under this article is in operation to issue directions for the reduction of salaries and allowances of all or any class of persons serving in connection with the affairs of the Union including the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts. [(5) * * * * *]
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 360
- Gujarat Mazdoor Sabha & Anr. v. The State of Gujarat
- S. Kasi v. State Through the Inspector of Police Samaynallur Police Station Madurai District
- Govt. of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India
- Krishna Kumar Singh & Anr v. State of Bihar & Ors.
- Nabam Rebia, and Bamang Felix v. Deputy Speaker and Others
- Union of India and Others v. Major S.P. Sharma and Others
- Rameshwar Prasad and Ors. v. Union of India and Anr.
- V.S. Mallimath v. Union of India and Anr.
- Naga People'S Movement of Human Rights Etc. v. Union of India
- New Delhi Municipal Council v. State of Punjab Etc. Etc.
- S.R. Bommai v. Union of India and Ors.