Under Article 120 of the Indian Constitution, what is the default language for transacting business in Parliament if the Presiding Officer permits a member who cannot adequately express themselves in Hindi or English?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Article 120 of the Constitution mandates that parliamentary business be conducted in Hindi or English, but empowers the presiding officer to permit members who cannot adequately express themselves in either language to address the house in their mother tongue. This provision ensures inclusive democratic representation for parliamentarians from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Restricting proceedings exclusively to Hindi or English would disenfranchise non-fluent legislators. A related constitutional safeguard is found in Article 348, which governs the language used in the Supreme Court and high courts.