In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, “the State’’

includes the Government and Parliament of India and the

Government and the Legislature of each of the States and all local
or other authorities within the territory of India or under the control
of the Government of India

Debate Summary

Article 7, Draft Constitution, 1948

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, "the State"
includes the Government and Parliament of India and the
Government and the Legislature of each of the States and all local
or other authorities within the territory of India.
 
Draft Article 7 (Article 12) was debated on  25th November 1948. It
was a gateway provision for Part III on Fundamental Rights, and
defined the term ‘State’ used throughout the Part.
 
Members of the Assembly were concerned that the wording of the
Article was too vague and some moved amendments. One member
took issue with the term ‘other authorities’ which would in effect
bring in almost every government agency or officer under the ambit
‘State’. Another argued that it was inappropriate to district boards
and municipalities as the ‘State’. The Chairman of the Drafting
Committee clarified that ‘other authorities’ would refer to those that
had ‘the power to make laws or the power to have discretion vested
in it’. He further stated that it would be cumbersome to list the
various institutions upon whom Part III was binding, so the term
‘State’ was useful in this regard.
 
The Assembly adopted the Article with just one amendment on 25th
November 1948.