The Constitution of India
Article 307
Appointment of authority for carrying out the purposes of articles 301 to 304
Parliament may by law appoint such authority as it considers appropriate for carrying out the purposes of articles 301, 302, 303 and 304, and confer on the authority so appointed such powers and such duties as it thinks necessary.
Why this exists
Articles 301 to 304 create a broad guarantee that trade, commerce, and movement of goods and people can flow freely across India, with some permitted restrictions by Parliament or state legislatures. The Constitution's framers anticipated that simply stating this freedom might not be enough — someone might need to actively monitor, coordinate, or adjudicate disputes about it. Article 307 was added as a forward-looking provision, giving Parliament the option to set up a dedicated body (similar to interstate trade commissions in other federations) to oversee and implement this freedom, without making such a body mandatory.
Common misconceptions
- Myth: Article 307 has created an actual trade authority in India.
Fact: No such authority has ever been set up by Parliament under this Article; it remains a power that exists on paper but has not been used. - Myth: Article 307 itself guarantees free trade between states.
Fact: The actual freedom of trade and commerce is guaranteed by Articles 301-304; Article 307 only allows Parliament to create a body to help enforce those guarantees.