Official-source-backed civic learning

Understand India's Constitution, Article by Article

Selected high-yield constitutional articles explained in plain language — with practical daily-life meaning, citizen protection context, and source references.

Official-source-backedPlain-language summariesPractical civic examplesCitizen protection context

Articles

Parts

What you'll find here

Active Articles

65 selected, high-yield

Parts Covered

14 constitutional parts

Citizen context

Protection & rights

Learning path

Read · Understand · Apply

Authority Note

This section is for civic learning. For legal drafting, formal examinations, court references, or official use, always verify against the exact constitutional text from an official source.

Part I

The Union and its Territory

1 article

Art. 1active

Name and territory of the Union

Part I

Article 1 gives India its constitutional identity and explains the broad territorial structure of the country.

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Part III

Fundamental Rights

21 articles

Art. 12active

Definition of the State

Part III

Article 12 tells you who can be held responsible when Fundamental Rights are violated.

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Art. 13active

Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of Fundamental Rights

Part III

Article 13 is the constitutional basis for striking down laws that violate Fundamental Rights.

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Art. 14active

Equality before law

Part III

Article 14 means the State must act fairly, non-arbitrarily, and treat similarly placed people similarly unless a reasonable basis exists.

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Art. 15active

Prohibition of discrimination on certain grounds

Part III

Article 15 protects people from certain forms of discrimination while allowing affirmative measures for disadvantaged groups.

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Art. 16active

Equality of opportunity in public employment

Part III

Article 16 requires fair opportunity in government jobs while allowing carefully defined reservation policies.

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Art. 17active

Abolition of untouchability

Part III

Article 17 constitutionally rejects untouchability and supports laws punishing caste-based exclusion linked to it.

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Art. 18active

Abolition of titles

Part III

Article 18 discourages hereditary or honorific status labels that conflict with republican equality.

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Art. 19active

Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.

Part III

Article 19 protects key democratic freedoms, but those freedoms may be limited on specific constitutional grounds.

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Art. 20active

Protection in respect of conviction for offences

Part III

Article 20 gives basic safeguards to people accused or convicted in criminal matters.

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Art. 21active

Protection of life and personal liberty

Part III

Article 21 is the heart of dignity-based constitutional protection and has been expanded by courts to cover many aspects of meaningful life.

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Art. 21Aactive · inserted by amendment

Right to education

Part III

Article 21A makes elementary education a Fundamental Right for children in the specified age group.

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Art. 22active

Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases

Part III

Article 22 gives procedural protections after arrest and sets constitutional limits around detention.

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Art. 23active

Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour

Part III

Article 23 protects people from exploitation through trafficking and forced labour.

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Art. 24active

Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc.

Part III

Article 24 protects children from dangerous forms of work.

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Art. 25active

Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion

Part III

Article 25 protects individual religious freedom, but it is not absolute.

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Art. 26active

Freedom to manage religious affairs

Part III

Article 26 protects the collective autonomy of religious denominations in religious matters.

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Art. 27active

Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion

Part III

Article 27 supports secular taxation by preventing taxes targeted to promote a particular religion.

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Art. 28active

Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or worship in certain educational institutions

Part III

Article 28 protects students from being compelled into religious instruction or worship in certain educational settings.

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Art. 29active

Protection of interests of minorities

Part III

Article 29 protects cultural and educational interests, especially language, script, and culture.

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Art. 30active

Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions

Part III

Article 30 gives minorities constitutional protection to run educational institutions preserving their identity.

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Art. 32active

Remedies for enforcement of rights conferred by Part III

Part III

Article 32 is the direct route to the Supreme Court when Fundamental Rights need enforcement.

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Part IV

Directive Principles of State Policy

4 articles

Art. 38active

State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people

Part IV

Article 38 guides the State toward social, economic, and political justice.

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Art. 39active

Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State

Part IV

Article 39 sets major social and economic policy goals for a welfare-oriented State.

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Art. 39Aactive · inserted by amendment

Equal justice and free legal aid

Part IV

Article 39A is the constitutional policy foundation for free legal aid and access to justice.

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Art. 44active

Uniform civil code for the citizens

Part IV

Article 44 is a Directive Principle about moving toward common civil laws for citizens.

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Part IVA

Fundamental Duties

1 article

Art. 51Aactive · inserted by amendment

Fundamental duties

Part IVA

Article 51A reminds citizens that constitutional democracy also involves civic responsibilities.

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Part V

The Union

15 articles

Art. 72active

Power of President to grant pardons, etc.

Part V

Article 72 gives the President constitutional clemency power in important categories of criminal sentences.

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Art. 74active

Council of Ministers to aid and advise President

Part V

Article 74 expresses the parliamentary system: the elected executive advises the President.

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Art. 75active

Other provisions as to Ministers

Part V

Article 75 explains how the Union Council of Ministers is appointed and held accountable.

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Art. 76active

Attorney-General for India

Part V

Article 76 creates the constitutional office of the Union government chief legal adviser.

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Art. 79active

Constitution of Parliament

Part V

Article 79 defines the institutional composition of Parliament.

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Art. 80active

Composition of the Council of States

Part V

Article 80 explains how Rajya Sabha is composed.

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Art. 81active

Composition of the House of the People

Part V

Article 81 explains the representative structure of Lok Sabha.

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Art. 105active

Powers, privileges, etc., of the Houses of Parliament and of the members and committees thereof

Part V

Article 105 allows Parliament to function freely by protecting legislative speech and privileges.

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Art. 124active

Establishment and constitution of Supreme Court

Part V

Article 124 is the constitutional starting point for the Supreme Court.

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Art. 129active

Supreme Court to be a court of record

Part V

Article 129 gives the Supreme Court enduring record authority and contempt power.

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Art. 136active

Special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court

Part V

Article 136 lets the Supreme Court hear exceptional appeals even when ordinary appeal routes may be limited.

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Art. 141active

Law declared by Supreme Court to be binding on all courts

Part V

Article 141 gives Supreme Court precedent binding force across Indian courts.

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Art. 142active

Enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc.

Part V

Article 142 gives the Supreme Court a special power to do complete justice in cases before it.

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Art. 143active

Power of President to consult Supreme Court

Part V

Article 143 creates the Supreme Court advisory opinion route for important public questions.

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Art. 148active

Comptroller and Auditor-General of India

Part V

Article 148 creates the CAG, an institution that audits government finances and supports accountability.

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Part VI

The States

8 articles

Art. 153active

Governors of States

Part VI

Article 153 establishes the constitutional office of Governor in States.

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Art. 154active

Executive power of State

Part VI

Article 154 formally vests State executive power in the Governor, though responsible government works through ministers.

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Art. 163active

Council of Ministers to aid and advise Governor

Part VI

Article 163 explains the advice relationship between the State Council of Ministers and the Governor.

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Art. 164active

Other provisions as to Ministers

Part VI

Article 164 explains appointment and accountability of State Ministers.

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Art. 168active

Constitution of Legislatures in States

Part VI

Article 168 defines the basic structure of State Legislatures.

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Art. 169active

Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in States

Part VI

Article 169 gives a constitutional route to add or remove an upper house in a State.

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Art. 214active

High Courts for States

Part VI

Article 214 establishes High Courts as constitutional courts for States.

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Art. 226active

Power of High Courts to issue certain writs

Part VI

Article 226 gives High Courts broad writ powers, often making them the first practical constitutional court for citizens.

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Part VIII

The Union Territories

2 articles

Art. 239active

Administration of Union territories

Part VIII

Article 239 explains the general constitutional model for Union territory administration.

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Art. 239AAactive · inserted by amendment

Special provisions with respect to Delhi

Part VIII

Article 239AA gives Delhi a special elected government model while preserving Union control over specified subjects.

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Part IX

The Panchayats

1 article

Art. 243active · inserted by amendment

Definitions for Panchayats

Part IX

Article 243 sets the vocabulary for constitutional Panchayati Raj provisions.

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Part XI

Relations between the Union and the States

2 articles

Art. 246active

Subject-matter of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States

Part XI

Article 246 is a core federalism provision that explains who can make laws on which subjects.

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Art. 246Aactive · inserted by amendment

Special provision with respect to goods and services tax

Part XI

Article 246A creates the constitutional law-making basis for GST.

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Part XII

Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits

3 articles

Art. 265active

Taxes not to be imposed save by authority of law

Part XII

Article 265 means government taxation must have legal backing.

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Art. 280active

Finance Commission

Part XII

Article 280 creates the Finance Commission to recommend how Union and State finances should be shared.

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Art. 300Aactive · inserted by amendment

Persons not to be deprived of property save by authority of law

Part XII

Article 300A protects property as a constitutional legal right, though not as a Fundamental Right.

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Part XV

Elections

2 articles

Art. 324active

Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission

Part XV

Article 324 creates the Election Commission of India as the constitutional authority for election administration.

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Art. 326active

Elections to the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies on the basis of adult suffrage

Part XV

Article 326 is the constitutional basis for universal adult voting in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

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Part XVIII

Emergency Provisions

3 articles

Art. 352active

Proclamation of Emergency

Part XVIII

Article 352 allows National Emergency in grave situations, with constitutional checks added especially after Emergency-era experience.

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Art. 356active

Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in States

Part XVIII

Article 356 lets the Union intervene in State governance when constitutional government cannot function, but misuse is subject to judicial review.

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Art. 360active

Provisions as to financial emergency

Part XVIII

Article 360 is the constitutional provision for Financial Emergency.

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Part XX

Amendment of the Constitution

1 article

Art. 368active

Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure therefor

Part XX

Article 368 explains how the Constitution can be amended, subject to the basic structure doctrine developed by the Supreme Court.

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Part XXI

Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions

1 article

Art. 370active

Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir

Part XXI

Article 370 is historically and constitutionally important. Its practical operation changed after the 2019 constitutional orders and declaration, while the article remains a key reference point in the official constitutional text and appendices.

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Explanations are learning-friendly summaries. Verify with official text for formal use.