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Constitution of India — Article Finder

Search by article number (14, 19, 21, 32, 51A, 370) or keyword (equality, freedom, education). Plain-English summaries of the most-cited provisions of the Indian Constitution.

Showing 51 of 51 articles.

Part I — Union and its Territory

  • Art. 1Name and territory of the Union

    India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.

Part I

  • Art. 2Admission or establishment of new States

    Parliament may admit or establish new states on terms it sees fit.

  • Art. 3Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names

    Parliament can form new states by separating territory or merging existing states.

Part II — Citizenship

  • Art. 5Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution

    Persons domiciled in India at commencement become citizens.

Part II

  • Art. 11Parliament to regulate citizenship by law

    Parliament has power to make laws regarding acquisition and termination of citizenship.

Part III — Fundamental Rights

  • Art. 12Definition of "State"

    Includes Government and Parliament of India, state legislatures and all local authorities.

Part III

  • Art. 13Laws inconsistent with Fundamental Rights

    Any law inconsistent with FRs is void to that extent.

  • Art. 14Equality before law

    The State shall not deny any person equality before the law.

  • Art. 15Prohibition of discrimination

    No discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.

  • Art. 16Equality of opportunity in public employment

    Equal opportunity in matters relating to employment under the State.

  • Art. 17Abolition of untouchability

    Untouchability is abolished and its practice is forbidden.

  • Art. 18Abolition of titles

    No title (other than military or academic) shall be conferred by the State.

  • Art. 19Right to freedom (speech, assembly, movement, profession)

    Six freedoms: speech, assembly, association, movement, residence, profession.

  • Art. 20Protection in respect of conviction for offences

    No ex post facto law, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination.

  • Art. 21Protection of life and personal liberty

    No person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty except by procedure established by law.

  • Art. 21ARight to education

    Free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 (added by 86th Amendment, 2002).

  • Art. 22Protection against arrest and detention

    Right to be informed of arrest grounds, consult a lawyer, and produced before a magistrate within 24 hours.

  • Art. 23Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour

    Traffic in humans, beggar and forced labour are prohibited.

  • Art. 24Prohibition of employment of children in factories

    No child below 14 shall be employed in any factory, mine or hazardous occupation.

  • Art. 25Freedom of conscience and free profession of religion

    Right to freely profess, practise, and propagate religion (subject to public order, morality, health).

  • Art. 26Freedom to manage religious affairs

    Religious denominations can establish institutions and manage their affairs.

  • Art. 27Freedom from taxes for religious promotion

    No person can be compelled to pay taxes for promotion of any particular religion.

  • Art. 28Freedom of religious instruction

    No religious instruction in state-funded educational institutions.

  • Art. 29Protection of interests of minorities

    Right to conserve language, script and culture.

  • Art. 30Right of minorities to establish educational institutions

    Minorities (religious or linguistic) can establish and administer educational institutions.

  • Art. 32Right to constitutional remedies

    The right to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights — Dr. Ambedkar called this the "heart and soul" of the Constitution.

Part IV — Directive Principles

  • Art. 36Definition of "State" for DPSPs

    Same definition as Article 12.

Part IV

  • Art. 37Application of DPSPs

    DPSPs are not enforceable by any court but are fundamental in governance.

  • Art. 39State to secure adequate means of livelihood

    Equal pay for equal work, no concentration of wealth, child welfare.

  • Art. 40Organisation of village panchayats

    State to organise village panchayats as units of self-government.

  • Art. 44Uniform Civil Code

    State shall endeavour to secure a uniform civil code throughout India.

  • Art. 45Provision for early childhood care

    Free care and education for children below 6 years.

  • Art. 48Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry

    Improvement of cattle breeds, prohibition of cow slaughter.

  • Art. 50Separation of judiciary from executive

    State shall separate judiciary from the executive in public services.

Part IVA — Fundamental Duties

  • Art. 51AFundamental Duties

    Eleven duties of every citizen: respect Constitution, national flag, defence of country, harmony, environment, scientific temper, etc.

Part V — The Union

  • Art. 52The President of India

    There shall be a President of India.

Part V

  • Art. 53Executive power of the Union

    Vested in the President; exercised through Council of Ministers.

  • Art. 74Council of Ministers to aid the President

    PM heads Council of Ministers; aids and advises President.

  • Art. 75Prime Minister and other Ministers

    PM appointed by President; other ministers on PM's advice.

  • Art. 79Constitution of Parliament

    Parliament consists of the President and two Houses (Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha).

Part VI — The States

  • Art. 153Governors of States

    There shall be a Governor for each State.

Part VI

  • Art. 163Council of Ministers to aid the Governor

    CM heads State Council of Ministers; aids Governor.

Part XVIII — Emergency Provisions

  • Art. 352National emergency

    President may proclaim emergency on grounds of war, external aggression, or armed rebellion.

Part XVIII

  • Art. 356Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in States

    President's rule in a state.

  • Art. 360Financial emergency

    Proclamation when financial stability of India is threatened.

Part XXI — Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions

  • Art. 370Special provisions for Jammu & Kashmir

    Abrogated in August 2019. Historically gave J&K special autonomous status.

Part XXI

  • Art. 371Special provisions for certain States

    Special arrangements for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal, Goa, Karnataka.

  • Art. 370ANote on 370 abrogation

    Following Presidential Order C.O. 272 (Aug 2019) and J&K Reorganisation Act, Article 370 has effectively been rendered inoperative.

Part XX — Amendment of the Constitution

  • Art. 368Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution

    Parliament can amend the Constitution by special majority; basic structure cannot be altered (per Kesavananda Bharati).

Part XIV — Services Under the Union and the States

  • Art. 378Provisions related to Public Service Commissions

    UPSC and SPSCs constitution and functions.

Part XVII — Official Language

  • Art. 343Official Language of the Union

    Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language; English continued for official purposes by act of Parliament.

Coverage

We cover ~50 of the most-cited articles — fundamental rights (Part III), directive principles (Part IV), fundamental duties (Part IVA), Union and State structure, emergency provisions, and amendment provisions. The full Constitution has 470+ articles; for the complete text, refer to the official India Code portal.