What is Article 387 of Indian Constitution – Defination & Meaning

Article 387: Special provision as to determination of population for the purposes of certain elections Omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act,
📅 Part XXI – Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions
🏷️Omitted

📚 UPSC Relevant

Article Number

387

part

Part XXI – Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions

Status

Omitted

Full Definition & Explanation

Article 387 of the Indian Constitution was originally included to address how population would be determined for certain elections. This article aimed to clarify the basis on which representation in the legislature would be calculated, specifically linked to population figures. It was major for ensuring that electoral representation was fairly distributed among various states and union territories, influencing how many seats each area would receive in the Lok Sabha or state assemblies. The article impacted various groups, especially in states with differing population sizes. By providing a method to calculate representation, it ensured that larger populations received appropriate representation in the political structure. However, it also allowed for exceptions, considering factors like geographical boundaries and historical contexts that might have led to imbalances in population distribution. In 1956, this article was omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act. The removal reflected a shift in the constitutional framework, possibly due to the evolving nature of Indian society and governance. While Article 387 is no longer in effect, understanding its role is key for grasping how the Constitution has adapted over time to meet the needs of a diverse and populous nation like India. The amendment indicates the flexible nature of the Constitution, allowing it to change with societal needs and electoral fairness.

Historical Context

Article 387 was a transitional provision dealing with population determination for electoral purposes during the initial years after the Constitution’s commencement. Before the first general elections under the new Constitution, there was no official census-based delimitation for the new electoral constituencies. Article 387 provided a mechanism for the President to determine population figures for purposes like delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies. The first post-Independence Census was held in 1951. The Delimitation Commission Act 1952 and the subsequent Delimitation Commissions used Census data for constituency delimitation. Article 387 became redundant once this formal delimitation process was established and the first elections were completed. The Seventh Amendment Act 1956 omitted it along with other transitional provisions.

Key Features

– Article 387 was originally about population determination for elections.
– It aimed to ensure fair electoral representation across states.
– The article was omitted by the Seventh Amendment in 1956.
– Omission reflected changes in India’s political and social landscape.
– Fair representation remains a key principle in electoral processes.

Importance & Impact

– Fair representation ensures that all citizens have a voice in governance and decision-making.
– Determining population for elections helps maintain balanced political power across different regions.
– Omission demonstrates the Constitution’s capacity to adapt according to changing societal needs.
– Changes in governance reflect the diverse needs of a broad and varied society.
– Understanding this article aids in studying the evolution of electoral reforms in India.

Sample UPSC Question

Which of the following statements regarding Article 387 of the Indian Constitution is correct? A) It was added to address population determination for elections to ensure fairness. B) It was omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, due to changing needs. C) It is still in effect today and guides electoral representation. D) It only affects union territories and not states. Choose the correct options and explain your reasoning.

Answer

The correct answer is A and B. Article 387 was originally included to determine population for elections but was omitted in 1956 due to changing political needs. Options C and D are incorrect as the article is no longer in effect and applied to all regions, not just union territories.

Key Takeaways

✓ Article 387 dealt with population figures for electoral representation.
✓ It was omitted in 1956 by the Seventh Amendment for political reasons.
✓ Fair representation is a core principle in a democratic system.
✓ The Constitution adapts to the changing needs of society and governance.
✓ Understanding this article helps analyze India’s electoral reforms over time.

FAQs

Article 387 of the Indian Constitution was originally included to address how population would be determined for certain elections. This article aimed to clarify the basis on which representation in the legislature would be calculated, specifically linked to population figures. It was major for ensuring that electoral representation was fairly distributed among various states and union territories, influencing how many seats each area would receive in the Lok Sabha or state assemblies.

However, it also allowed for exceptions, considering factors like geographical boundaries and historical contexts that might have led to imbalances in population distribution. In 1956, this article was omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act. The removal reflected a shift in the constitutional framework, possibly due to the evolving nature of Indian society and governance.

The removal reflected a shift in the constitutional framework, possibly due to the evolving nature of Indian society and governance. While Article 387 is no longer in effect, understanding its role is key for grasping how the Constitution has adapted over time to meet the needs of a diverse and populous nation like India. The amendment indicates the flexible nature of the Constitution, allowing it to change with societal needs and electoral fairness.

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Pramod Pal Founder and Editor-in-Chief

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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