Special provisions for Goa

Polity & Governance glossary

Also called: Article 371I · Topic: Special Provisions, Scheduled and Tribal Areas · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Federalism"

Meaning

Article 371I was added by the 56th Amendment in 1987. It says that Goa's legislative assembly must have at least 30 members, and it does nothing else. It protects a minimum assembly size for a small state. It gives no protection for land, customary law or the Governor's powers.

Example

Goa's Article 371I is a common Prelims trap. Students often assume that every Article 371 clause protects land or local identity. In fact, Goa's clause covers only the minimum size of its assembly.

Don't confuse with

  • Articles 371F (Sikkim) and 371H (Arunachal Pradesh): these also require at least 30 assembly members, but they add other provisions, such as a Governor's "special responsibility".
  • Article 371G (Mizoram): it sets a minimum of 40 members, not 30, and also protects customary law and land.

Related concepts

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