Constitution of India · Section Article 355
Duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance
Article 355 — Duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance
- Duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance.—It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the Government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
Plain English Summary
This article states that the central government (the Union) has a fundamental responsibility to safeguard every state in India from any external attacks or internal unrest. The Union must also ensure that the government functioning within each state follows the rules set out in the Constitution.
Key Points
- The primary duty of the Union is protection against external aggression (attacks from outside) and internal disturbance (riots or disorder within).
- The Union must ensure that the administration and governance of every state adhere strictly to the provisions laid down in the Constitution.
- This establishes a clear division of responsibility between the central government and the state governments regarding security and constitutional adherence.
Why It Matters
This article underpins the federal structure by ensuring that the central authority has the power to maintain national security and constitutional order across all states, protecting them from threats both inside and outside the country.
Landmark Judgements
No major landmark judgements.