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THE CONSTITUTION, MADE UNDERSTANDABLE

Article 302
Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse

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26 Parts12 Schedules506 indexed article entries, including historical omissions
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Source edition: as on 1 May 2026. Omitted and struck-down reference entries remain labelled. Open the authoritative PDF ↗

Article 302 / Part XIII

Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse

included in edition
THE PLAIN-LANGUAGE GUIDE

What does this mean?

Parliament can impose public-interest restrictions on the freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse under the stated power. This qualifies Article 301 through legislation.

Freedom of trade across India and the constitutional exceptions for lawful restrictions.

PURPOSE & CONTEXT

Why is this provision here?

Trade freedom must operate with defined public-interest powers and limits on discriminatory barriers, rather than unrestricted conflicting government claims.

Historical evidence

This 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
302. Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse.—Parliament may by law impose such restrictions on the freedom of trade, commerce or intercourse between one State and another or within any part of the territory of India as may be required in the public interest.
Source-page notes · may concern neighbouring Articles

1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).

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.