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 14: Equality before law
Guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws within India.
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 14 means the State must act fairly, non-arbitrarily, and treat similarly placed people similarly unless a reasonable basis exists.
Practical daily-life use
Where citizens notice it
- Supports challenges to arbitrary public decisions.
- Helps citizens ask for fair treatment in public services and government processes.
How it protects you
Citizen protection context
- Protects against arbitrary State action.
- Supports equal access to legal protection.
Example situations
General civic examples
- A public authority applies a rule differently to two similarly placed people without a reasonable reason.
- A recruitment rule creates an unfair classification unrelated to the job.
Citizen note
Learning note
Courts have expanded Article 14 to address arbitrariness; outcomes depend on facts and legal standards.
Exam pointers
What to remember
- Article 14 includes equality before law and equal protection of laws.
- Reasonable classification requires intelligible differentia and rational nexus.
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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.