Indian Constitution Articles

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Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.

Indian Constitution Articles — Quick Facts

The Indian Constitution has 448 articles in 25 parts, plus 12 schedules. Below are the most frequently tested articles in CLAT.

Must-Know Articles by Topic

Topic	Articles
Fundamental Rights	Articles 12–35 (Part III)
Directive Principles	Articles 36–51 (Part IV)
Executive/President	Articles 52–78 (Part V, Chapter II)
Parliament	Articles 79–122 (Part V, Chapter III)
Supreme Court	Articles 124–147 (Part V, Chapter IV)
Governor	Articles 153–163
Chief Minister	Articles 164–167
High Court	Articles 214–231
Emergency	Articles 352–360

Key Articles to Memorise for CLAT

• Article 14: Right to Equality — “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law.”
• Article 19: Six freedoms — speech, assembly, movement, residence, profession, association.
• Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty — “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.”
• Article 32: Right to constitutional remedies — Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called this the “heart and soul” of the Constitution.
• Article 51A: Fundamental Duties — 11 duties listed (added by 42nd Amendment, 1976).

⚡ Exam tip: CLAT frequently tests Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) — remember it covers not just physical life but also dignity, privacy, and the right to die with dignity (SC judgment in Common Cause v. Union of India, 2018).

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🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

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Indian Constitution Articles — Detailed Study Guide

Fundamental Rights (Part III) — Detailed Breakdown

Article 14 — Equality Before Law The State shall not deny equality before law or equal protection of laws to any person. This covers two concepts:

1. Equality before law — No person is above law; everyone is subject to ordinary law.
2. Equal protection of laws — Like cases must be treated alike. This allows for positive discrimination (reservations) under Article 16.

Article 15 — Prohibition of Discrimination No citizen can be discriminated on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. However, Article 15(3) allows special provisions for women and children.

Article 16 — Equality of Opportunity No citizen can be discriminated in employment or office under the State on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, or residence.

Articles 17–18 — Untouchability Abolished, Titles Abolition of untouchability (Article 17) — practice of untouchability is an offence punishable by law. Article 18 abolishes titles (except academic/military) — no hereditary titles like “Raja”, “Maharaja” allowed.

Articles 19–22 — Civil Liberties

• Article 20: Protection in respect of conviction for offences — no double jeopardy, no ex post facto law, no self-incrimination.
• Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty — broadest, most interpreted article.
• Article 22: Protection against arrest and detention — right to know grounds of arrest, right to consult a lawyer, right to be produced before magistrate within 24 hours.

Articles 25–28 — Freedom of Religion Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. Subject to public order, morality, and health. Article 26: Right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs. Article 27: No tax can be levied for promotion of any religion. Article 28: No religious instruction in State-funded institutions.

Emergency Provisions (Part XVIII)

• Article 352: National Emergency — due to war, external aggression, armed rebellion.
• Article 356: President’s Rule in a State — if Governor reports that State cannot be governed according to constitutional provisions.
• Article 360: Financial Emergency — if financial stability of India is threatened.

⚡ Exam tip: Article 356 (President’s Rule) has been frequently challenged in SC — remember the landmark case S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) where SC held that federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution.

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🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.

Indian Constitution Articles — Comprehensive Notes

Detailed Analysis of Important Articles

Part III — Fundamental Rights

Articles 14-18: Right to Equality Article 14 is the basic structure of equal protection. The landmark case Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) held that Articles 14, 19, and 21 form the golden triangle of personal liberty. The concept of “procedure established by law” in Article 21 was interpreted to mean “due process of law” — expanding its scope significantly.

State is defined under Article 12 as: “the Government and Parliament of India and the Government and the Legislature of each of the States and all local or other authorities within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India.”

Articles 19-22: Six Freedoms and Personal Liberty Article 19(1)(a): Freedom of speech and expression — reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) on grounds of sovereignty and integrity, security of State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency, morality, contempt of court, defamation, incitement to offence.

Article 21 has been expanded through judicial interpretation to include:

• Right to live with dignity (Madhya Pradesh v. Govind Singh, 1975)
• Right to privacy (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, 2017 — 9-judge bench)
• Right to clean environment (Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra v. State of U.P., 1985)
• Right to sleep (Rishabh Dev v. State of M.P., 2022)

Articles 32-35: Constitutional Remedies Article 32 is a fundamental right in itself — the Supreme Court can be approached directly for enforcement of Fundamental Rights. Dr. Ambedkar said Article 32 is the “most important article” — the “heart and soul” of the Constitution.

Locus classicus: In Vineet Narain v. Union of India (1996), the Supreme Court issued directives to improve the CBI’s functioning — showing the Supreme Court’s power to give dynamic directives.

Part IV — Directive Principles of State Policy Articles 36–51 are not enforceable in court (unlike Fundamental Rights) but are “fundamental in the governance of the nation.” Key DPSPs:

• Article 38: Social order based on justice (socio-economic).
• Article 39: Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State (material resources not concentrated, equal justice, free education).
• Article 40: Organise village panchayats.
• Article 48: Agriculture and animal husbandry — prohibition of slaughter of cows and calves.
• Article 51A: Fundamental Duties (added by 42nd Amendment) — 11 duties for citizens.

Landmark Cases Every CLAT Student Must Know

1. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) — Basic Structure Doctrine (11-judge bench)
2. Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980) — Basic Structure can’t be destroyed by constitutional amendments
3. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) — Federalism as basic feature, limits on President’s power under Article 356
4. Verma v. Union of India (1999) — 163rd Report on judicial reforms
5. Common Cause v. Union of India (2018) — Right to die with dignity (passive euthanasia)

Parts of the Constitution

• Part I: Union and its Territory
• Part II: Citizenship
• Part III: Fundamental Rights (448 articles total)
• Part IV: Directive Principles
• Part IV-A: Fundamental Duties
• Part V: Union (Executive, Parliament, Supreme Court)
• Part VI: States (Governor, CM, Council of Ministers, High Courts)
• Part VII: Reserved States (repealed)
• Part VIII: Union Territories
• Part IX: Panchayats and Municipalities
• Part IX-A: Municipal Corporations
• Part X: Scheduled and Tribal Areas
• Part XI: Relations between Union and States
• Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts, Suits
• Part XIII: Trade, Commerce, Intercourse within India
• Part XIV: Services under Union and States
• Part XIV-A: Tribunals
• Part XV: Elections
• Part XVI: Special provisions for SC/ST and OBC
• Part XVII: Official Language
• Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions
• Part XIX: Miscellaneous
• Part XX: Amendment of Constitution
• Part XXI: Temporary/Transitional/Special Provisions

⚡ Exam tip: CLAT consistently tests knowledge of the original number of articles (395 at inception) vs current number (448 after 101st Amendment, 2020) and the Basic Structure Doctrine from Kesavananda Bharati. Also know which article gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction (Article 131 — original jurisdiction for disputes between States or between State and Union).

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