Constitution of India · Part XIX: Miscellaneous
Article 363A: Recognition granted to Rulers of Indian States to cease and privy purses to be abolished
In plain words
From the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, former Rulers of Indian States and their successors ceased to be recognised as Rulers, privy purses were abolished, and all rights and liabilities about privy purses were extinguished.
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
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution or in any law for the time being in force—
(a) the Prince, Chief or other person who, at any time before the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, was recognised by the President as the Ruler of an Indian State or any person who, at any time before such commencement, was recognised by the President as the successor of such ruler shall, on and from such commencement, cease to be recognised as such Ruler or the successor of such Ruler;
(b) on and from the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, privy purse is abolished and all rights, liabilities and obligations in respect of privy purse are extinguished and accordingly the Ruler or, as the case may be, the successor of such Ruler, referred to in clause (a) or any other person shall not be paid any sum as privy purse.]
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 363A
- In Re: Article 370 of the Constitution v. .
- Sri Marthanda Varma (D) Thr. Lrs. & Anr. v. State of Kerala & Ors.
- Talat Fatima Hasan Through Her Constituted Attorney Sh. Syed Mehdi Husain v. Nawab Syed Murtaza Ali Khan (D) by Lrs. & Ors.
- I. R. Coelho (Dead) by Lrs. v. State of Tamil Nadu
- Raghunathrao Ganpatrao Etc. Etc. v. Union of India