CONSTITUTION OF INDIAArticle 347
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Where a demand has been made and the President is satisfied that a substantial proportion of the population of a State desire the use of any language spoken by them to be recognised by that State, he may direct that such language shall also be officially recognised throughout that State or any part thereof for such purpose as he may consider necessary.
mcqquestion.com · Indian Polity🗣️ Exam Edge
🗣️ Article 347: Special Language Provision
A language spoken by a substantial part of a State’s population.
Art. 347Special provision for a language
PresidentPresident may direct official recognition
StatesFor a language spoken by a substantial section
Part XVIILies in the official-language Part
DemandA demand from the State concerned
ExamDistinguish from Art 348 (Supreme Court language)
💡The trap: Article 347 lets the President direct official recognition for a language spoken by a substantial part of a State.
mcqquestion.comUPSC · CDS · NDA · CAPF · SSC
A substantial proportion and demand has been made set the preconditions for presidential action.
🏛️ Must Know
The Presidential Power
- Article 347Lets the President direct that a language spoken by a substantial section of a State’s population also be officially recognised.
- ScopeThis recognition can cover the whole state, or just part of it.
- Demand requiredThe President can only act on a demand made by that population, and must be satisfied it is genuine.
- Minority protectionArticle 347 protects linguistic minorities, letting their language gain official status.
- Why it mattersIt is the President’s route to compel a state to recognise a minority language.
A Rarely Used Safety Net
- Rarely usedArticle 347 has barely ever been invoked, because states usually act on their own first.
- Article 345States normally recognise languages under Article 345, their own power.
- So what347 is a backstop for when a state refuses; it is the rarer path.
- How to recall347 is the emergency lever for language recognition; it waits unused because States usually act first.
🏘️ Good to Know
The Story of Its Use
- 1950Article 347 came into force with the Constitution.
- 1989Uttar Pradesh recognised Urdu as its second official language, via its own state law, not a Presidential order.
- 2014The Supreme Court upheld that law in U.P. Hindi Sahitya Sammelan v. State of U.P.
- So whatStates acting first under Article 345 is why 347 stays unused.
- Why it mattersThe fact that States act first under 345 is precisely why the Presidential route stays dormant, and exams test that reason.
The UP Urdu Case
- 1989 lawUttar Pradesh recognised Urdu as its second official language through its own law.
- 2014 rulingThe Supreme Court upheld the law in U.P. Hindi Sahitya Sammelan v. State of U.P.
- Why it mattersIt shows the 345 route working without needing 347.
- So whatMinority recognition can succeed through state action alone.
✅ Test Yourself
Work through a 5-question chain on Article 347, then keep practising with a random Indian Polity question.
⚡ Great to Know
347 vs 345
- Article 345Gives States the primary power to adopt official languages.
- Article 347Lets the President compel recognition if a State won’t.
- So what345 is the norm; 347 is the presidential safety net.
- How to recall345 = State acts; 347 = President compels.
- Why it mattersBecause 345 usually resolves the issue, options that overstate 347’s use are wrong.
🎯 Exam Angle (PYQ & MCQ Traps)
CDS II 2016: Constitution Structure
- QuestionCDS and other competitive exams test knowledge of the Constitution’s structure and its specific provisions, including the language provisions in Part XVII.
- WhyPart XVII (Articles 343-351) deals with official language; Article 347 is one of its special provisions.
- LinkSource: CDS II 2016 (see Q56).
The ‘States Can’t Act’ Trap
- Trap optionOnly the President can grant official status to a language.
- DistractorArticle 347’s presidential power sounds exclusive.
- Fact testedStates act under Article 345 first; 347 is the presidential fallback.
- Eliminate fastIf an option denies States any language power, it is wrong.
- Try this rule345 = State; 347 = President.
The ‘Automatic Power’ Trap
- Trap optionThe President can act under 347 on his own, anytime.
- DistractorPresidential powers often seem self-starting.
- Fact testedThe President must act on a genuine demand from the population concerned.
- Eliminate fastIf an option drops the demand requirement, it is wrong.
- Try this ruleDemand + satisfaction = presidential action.
📰 Current Affairs
Language Recognition Today
- DevelopmentMinority-language recognition debates keep Article 347 relevant.
- Why it mattersStates recognising second languages under 345 is the live pattern.
- So whatExpect 347 linked to current language-policy questions.
Beyond the answer
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