Article 303 of Constitution of India – Restrictions on the legislative powers of the Union and of the States with regard to trade and commerce.
Article 303 of Constitution of India deals with Restrictions on the legislative powers of the Union and of the States with regard to trade and commerce.
Original Text of Article 303 of Constitution of India
(1) Notwithstanding anything In article 302, neither Parliament nor the Legislature of a State shall have power To make any law giving, or authorising the giving of, any preference to one State over another, or making, or authorizing the making of, any discrimination between one State and another, by virtue of any entry relating to trade and Commerce in any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall prevent Parliament from making any law giving, or authorizing the giving of, any preference or making, or authorizing the making of, any discrimination if it is declared by such law that it is necessary to do so for the purpose of dealing with a situation arising from scarcity of goods in any part of the territory of India.
Questions related to Article 303 of Constitution of India
Article 303 prohibits Parliament or any state legislature from giving preference to one state over another in matters of trade, commerce, or revenue. This ensures fairness under the Constitution of India and promotes national economic integration.
Yes, under clause (2) of Article 303, Parliament may make laws that give preference or discriminate between states if it is necessary for dealing with a scarcity of goods in any part of India. This exception shows the flexibility of the Indian Constitution.
Article 301 ensures freedom of trade across India, while Article 303 restricts both central and state governments from giving unfair advantages to particular states, thus maintaining uniformity in the economic provisions of the Articles of Indian Constitution.
You can refer to legal databases like Indian Kanoon, which offers case laws, judgments, and interpretations of Article 303 of the Constitution of India.
Understanding Article 303 is crucial for UPSC aspirants as it touches upon federalism, economic justice, and the legislative powers of Parliament—all key concepts within the Indian Constitution and Polity syllabus.
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