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Article 12: Definition of the State

Defines State for Part III to include the Government and Parliament of India, State governments and legislatures, local authorities, and other authorities within India or under Government of India control.

Part IIIactive

In this article

What it means

Plain-language explanation

Where you notice it

Daily civic life

How it protects you

Citizen protection

What to remember

Exam and recall pointers

What it means

Simple explanation

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

Practical daily-life use

Where citizens notice it

  • Helps identify whether a public authority is bound by Fundamental Rights.
  • Useful when questioning unfair action by government bodies, local bodies, or public authorities.

How it protects you

Citizen protection context

  • Prevents public authorities from escaping constitutional responsibility.
  • Connects rights enforcement with government and government-controlled power.

Example situations

General civic examples

  • A municipal authority applies a public rule unfairly.
  • A government-controlled body makes an arbitrary decision affecting access to a public benefit.

Citizen note

Learning note

Whether a body is State can depend on facts and court interpretation; this is not legal advice.

Exam pointers

What to remember

  • Article 12 applies for the purposes of Part III.
  • The meaning of other authorities has been shaped by case-law.

Related articles

Continue learning

Art. 13: Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of Fundamental RightsArt. 32: Remedies for enforcement of rights conferred by Part IIIArt. 226: Power of High Courts to issue certain writs

Source references

Verification basis

Last reviewed against official sources: 2026-05-20.