What is Article 371G of Indian Constitution – Defination & Meaning

Article 371G: Special provision with respect to the State of Mizoram Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,— (a) no Act of Parliament in respect of—
📅 Part XXI – Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions
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Article Number

371G

part

Part XXI – Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions

Status

Active

Bare Acts Text

Article 371G: Special provision with respect to the State of Mizoram

  • Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—
    • (a) no Act of Parliament in respect of—
      • (i) religious or social practices of the Mizos,
      • (ii) Mizo customary law and procedure,
      • (iii) administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law,
      • (iv) ownership and transfer of land, shall apply to the State of Mizoram unless the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram by a resolution
        so decides:
      • Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to any Central Act in force in the Union territory of Mizoram immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Fifty-third Amendment) Act, 1986;
    • (b) the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram shall consist of not less than forty members.
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Full Definition & Explanation

Article 371G specifically provides special provisions for the State of Mizoram. It protects the unique cultural and social practices of the Mizo people. This article ensures that any law made by Parliament will not affect Mizo customs unless the Mizoram Legislative Assembly agrees to it. For example, laws regarding land ownership and Mizo customary law cannot be imposed without local consent. This provision allows Mizoram to maintain its distinct identity and autonomy in legal matters that pertain to its indigenous practices. The state assembly has the power to decide on matters such as civil and criminal justice, ensuring that decisions reflect Mizo traditions. This autonomy is key as it allows the state to govern itself in ways that align with its cultural heritage. The article also mandates that the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram must have at least forty members. This ensures adequate representation of the people in the state’s governance. In practice, this means that laws affecting Mizo customs are crafted with local input, preserving their traditions and ensuring that the people have a say in their governance. It empowers the local population and helps maintain harmony between indigenous practices and broader national laws.

Historical Context

It protects the unique cultural and social practices of the Mizo people. This article ensures that any law made by Parliament will not affect Mizo customs unless the Mizoram Legislative Assembly agrees to it. For example, laws regarding land ownership and Mizo customary law cannot be imposed without local consent. This provision allows Mizoram to maintain its distinct identity and autonomy in legal matters that pertain to its indigenous practices. Article 371G specifically provides special provisions for the State of Mizoram. The state assembly has the power to decide on matters such as civil and criminal justice, ensuring that decisions reflect Mizo traditions.

Key Features

– Article 371G protects Mizo religious and social practices from Parliament acts.
– Mizo customary law governs civil and criminal justice in the state.
– Land ownership and transfer laws require local assembly consent.
– The Mizoram Legislative Assembly must have at least forty members.
– Central Acts in force before 1986 are exempt from this provision.

Importance & Impact

– Mizo customs are respected in legal matters due to this article.
– Local governance is maintained, allowing for cultural preservation
– The article empowers the Mizo community to decide on local laws.
– It prevents external interference in Mizo social practices
– The representation in the assembly ensures adequate local participation

Sample UPSC Question

Which of the following statements is true regarding Article 371G? A) It applies to all states in India. B) It allows Parliament to impose laws on Mizoram without consent. C) The Mizoram Legislative Assembly must have at least forty members. D) It does not consider Mizo customary law in legal matters.? Analyze these options carefully in light of the constitutional distribution of legislative and executive powers.

Answer

The correct answer is C. Article 371G states that the Mizoram Legislative Assembly must consist of at least forty members, ensuring adequate representation for the local population. Article 371G specifically provides special provisions for the State of Mizoram. It protects the unique cultural and social practices of the Mizo people.

Key Takeaways

✓ Article 371G safeguards Mizo cultural practices
✓ It ensures local assembly’s power over laws
✓ Mizoram maintains autonomy in governance
✓ Land laws require local legislative consent
✓ Representation in the assembly is guaranteed

FAQs

Article 371G specifically provides special provisions for the State of Mizoram. It protects the unique cultural and social practices of the Mizo people. This article ensures that any law made by Parliament will not affect Mizo customs unless the Mizoram Legislative Assembly agrees to it. For example, laws regarding land ownership and Mizo customary law cannot be imposed without local consent.

This autonomy is key as it allows the state to govern itself in ways that align with its cultural heritage. The article also mandates that the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram must have at least forty members. This ensures adequate representation of the people in the state’s governance. Article 371G specifically provides special provisions for the State of Mizoram.

In practice, this means that laws affecting Mizo customs are crafted with local input, preserving their traditions and ensuring that the people have a say in their governance. It empowers the local population and helps maintain harmony between indigenous practices and broader national laws.

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Pramod is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of StudyHub. He holds a Master's degree and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Geology, alongside more than 7+ years spent building and verifying competitive exam content for Indian aspirants. He leads StudyHub's editorial process across Indian Polity, the Constitution, Indian Economy, History, Geography, Science, and the platform's other subject areas — checking every article against primary sources (bare act text and Gazette notifications for constitutional topics, government and Economic Survey data for economy content, standard reference material elsewhere) and flagging it for re-verification whenever a relevant amendment, policy, or data update makes an earlier version outdated.
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