Article 371 of the Constitution of India: Special Provisions for Maharashtra and Gujarat

Article 371, in Part XXI of the Constitution of India, contains special provisions concerning regional development and equality of opportunity within Maharashtra and Gujarat. It authorises the President to assign specified special responsibilities to the Governor by order.

Updated: 19 September 2026

What does Article 371 provide?

Article 371 is titled "Special provision with respect to the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat." The present operative provision is clause (2). Clause (1) was omitted by the Constitution (Thirty-second Amendment) Act, 1973 with effect from 1 July 1974.

Meaning and scope of the special provision

The opening words "Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution" give clause (2) an overriding formulation for the limited purpose stated in Article 371. The provision does not itself create a general regional reservation or a separate government. Instead, it empowers the President, by order, to place defined responsibilities on the Governor concerning balanced regional development, allocation of development funds, technical and vocational education, and opportunities in State-controlled services.

Regions covered by Article 371

For Maharashtra, Article 371 refers to Vidarbha, Marathwada and the rest of Maharashtra. For Gujarat, it refers to Saurashtra, Kutch and the rest of Gujarat. The constitutional design is directed toward equitable treatment of these regions while expressly remaining subject to the requirements of the State as a whole.

Development boards and annual legislative reporting

The President may provide for separate development boards for the regions identified in Article 371. The constitutional text also contemplates that a report on the working of each board will be placed annually before the relevant State Legislative Assembly. This reporting requirement connects the special regional mechanism with legislative oversight.

Equitable allocation of development funds

Article 371(2)(b) addresses the equitable allocation of funds for developmental expenditure among the specified regions. The word "equitable" calls for fairness in allocation, while the qualification "subject to the requirements of the State as a whole" makes clear that regional allocation operates within the wider needs of Maharashtra or Gujarat.

Education, vocational training and State employment

Article 371(2)(c) permits an equitable arrangement for adequate technical education and vocational training facilities and adequate opportunities for employment in services under the control of the State Government. This responsibility likewise applies across the specified regions and remains subject to the requirements of the State as a whole.

How Article 371 reached its present form

Article 371 was substituted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956. Following the reorganisation of the former State of Bombay, section 85 of the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 amended clause (2) so that it expressly referred to Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Constitution (Thirty-second Amendment) Act, 1973 later omitted clause (1), leaving clause (2) as the operative part of Article 371.

Legal reference: For authoritative wording and amendment footnotes, consult the current official text of the Constitution published by the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice. The text above is presented for legal information and easier reading.

Related constitutional provisions

Article 371 is part of a series of special provisions in Part XXI. You may also read Article 370, Article 371A, Articles 371B and 371C, Articles 371D and 371E, Article 371F, and Articles 371G, 371H and 371I.