THE PLAIN-LANGUAGE GUIDE
What does this mean?
State executive power must not impede Union executive power, with specified Union directions concerning communications and railways. The Article also addresses related extra costs.
Who can make laws and how Union and State executive responsibilities interact.
Why is this provision here?
Union-State relationships need defined powers and cooperation or priority rules. This Article addresses the specific allocation or coordination issue described above.
Historical evidenceThis Article number belongs to the original constitutional framework, but its present wording may include later amendments or substitutions. A provision-specific original Assembly debate has not been verified here. The explanation of function above is editorial inference from the text, not an attributed single motive of the framers. The original draft-making archive is a research resource, not proof of a particular historical reason.
The explanation of purpose is an editorial reading of the provision. A drafting motive is attributed only where a linked historical source supports it.
Limits, exceptions & reading carefully
Educational summary of the linked source text. Exceptions, provisos, implementing laws and applicable judgments must be read before applying it to a real case.
Read the official constitutional text
257. Control of the Union over States in certain cases.—(1) The
executive power of every State shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice
the exercise of the executive power of the Union, and the executive power of the
Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a State as may appear to
the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.
(2) The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of
directions to a State as to the construction and maintenance of means of
communication declared in the direction to be of national or military importance:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be taken as restricting the power
of Parliament to declare highways or waterways to be national highways or
national waterways or the power of the Union with respect to the highways or
waterways so declared or the power of the Union to construct and maintain means
of communication as part of its functions with respect to naval, military and air
force works.
(3) The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of
directions to a State as to the measures to be taken for the protection of the
railways within the State.
(4) Where in carrying out any direction given to a State under clause (2)
as to the construction or maintenance of any means of communication or under
clause (3) as to the measures to be taken for the protection of any railway, costs
have been incurred in excess of those which would have been incurred in the
discharge of the normal duties of the State if such direction had not been given,
there shall be paid by the Government of India to the State such sum as may be
agreed, or, in default of agreement, as may be determined by an arbitrator
appointed by the Chief Justice of India, in respect of the extra costs so incurred
by the State.
Extracted from the Legislative Department’s May 2026 edition. Page footnotes may refer to neighbouring provisions; check their markers in the PDF. Inclusion in this edition does not by itself establish commencement or judicial effect.
