Article 346 of the Indian Constitution, 1949 —
Official language for communication between one State and another or between a State and the Union The language for the time being authorised for use in the Union for official purposes shall be the official language for communication between one State and another State and between a State and the Union: Provided that if two or more States agree that the Hindi language should be the official language for communication between such States, that language may be used for such communication
Article 346 deals with the official language for communication between one State and another or between a State and the Union. The article provides that the language to be used for such communication shall be determined by the President, and until such determination, English shall be used for such purposes.
The article recognizes the linguistic diversity of India and provides for a mechanism to ensure effective communication between the states and the Union. The President’s power to determine the language to be used ensures that the communication is conducted in a language that is understood by both parties.
It is important to note that the official language of the Union is Hindi, and English may be used for official purposes as well. However, for the states, each state legislature may adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the state or Hindi as the official language(s) of the state.
In conclusion, Article 346 of the Indian Constitution is a crucial provision that recognizes the importance of effective communication between the states and the Union and provides for a mechanism to ensure such communication is conducted in a language that is understood by both parties. The article serves as a balancing mechanism between the linguistic diversity of India and the need for effective communication between the different entities.
