Article 370 of the Constitution of India was a provision that granted special autonomous status to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. It allowed the state to have its own constitution, flag, and autonomy over internal administration, except in matters of defense, foreign affairs, and communications, which remained under the control of the Indian central government

. Key features of Article 370 included:

• Jammu and Kashmir could draft and have its own constitution.
• The Indian central government's legislative powers over the state were limited to defense, foreign affairs, and communications.
• Other powers of the central government could be extended only with the state's concurrence.
• The state's Constituent Assembly had the authority to recommend the abrogation or amendment of Article 370.
• The provision was originally intended as a temporary arrangement to facilitate the integration of Jammu and Kashmir into India under special conditions following the 1947 accession

Article 370 was based on the Instrument of Accession signed by the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, which allowed the state to join India but retain considerable autonomy

. The special status meant that many Indian laws did not automatically apply to Jammu and Kashmir, and the state had special rights regarding citizenship, property ownership, and fundamental rights distinct from other Indian states

. In August 2019, the Government of India revoked the special status granted under Article 370 through a presidential order and parliamentary resolution, making all provisions of the Indian Constitution fully applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, effectively abrogating Article 370

. In summary, Article 370 was a constitutional provision granting Jammu and Kashmir special autonomy within India, which was abrogated in 2019 to fully integrate the region into the Indian Union.