Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India - The Constitution of India 2024 (English Version)↗
Primary official reference for article number, heading, part placement, and current constitutional structure.
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Article 13: Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of Fundamental Rights
Makes laws void to the extent they conflict with Fundamental Rights and defines law broadly for this purpose.
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 13 is the constitutional basis for striking down laws that violate Fundamental Rights.
Practical daily-life use
Where citizens notice it
- Explains why courts can review legislation and executive rules.
- Helps citizens understand that a law is not valid merely because it was passed.
How it protects you
Citizen protection context
- Keeps ordinary law subject to Fundamental Rights.
- Supports judicial review of rights-violating laws.
Example situations
General civic examples
- A rule restricts expression beyond constitutional limits.
- A law discriminates in a way that conflicts with equality protections.
Citizen note
Learning note
Courts decide whether a specific law is unconstitutional and to what extent it becomes unenforceable.
Exam pointers
What to remember
- Article 13 supports judicial review in the Fundamental Rights context.
- The phrase to the extent of inconsistency is important.
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Source references
Verification basis
Supreme Court of India constitutional rights jurisprudence↗
Used only for interpretation notes where courts have shaped the practical reach of constitutional provisions, especially Articles 14, 19, 21, 32, 226, 368, and 370.
Last reviewed against official sources: 2026-05-20.