Important Articles of Constitution 2

In continuation of my blog on Important Articles of the Indian Constitution.

Here are the next few chapters:

Directive Principles                                                                             

• Article 38: it directs the government to build a fair society that promotes the welfare and well-being of all citizens. Clause (1) is for promoting Welfare and Justice and Clause (2) is for Reducing Inequalities.
• Article 39: It says that the State must direct its policy toward securing these six main goals- Right to Livelihood; Resource Distribution; No Wealth Concentration; Equal Pay; Worker and Child Health; and Child Development.
• Article 40: It directs the State to organise village panchayats and give them the powers they need to act as units of self-government.
• Article 44: it directs the State to secure a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for citizens throughout India.
• Article 45: it directs the State to provide early childhood and education for all children until they complete the age of six years. In 2002, by 86^th Amendment Act, it was amended; now you have to refer to Article 21A.
• Article 48 A: It directs the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the country’s forests and wildlife.
• Article 50: It directs the State to separate the judiciary from the executive in public services. It stops the executive branch from controlling or influencing judges, and it ensures people get a fair and honest trial without bias.
• Article 51 A: It lists the 11 fundamental moral and civic duties of an Indian citizen. They are: Following freedom struggle ideals; Protecting national unity; Citizens are called to defend nation; Promote harmony while protecting women’s dignity; Preserve cultural heritage; Protect the environment; Cultivating scientific temper; Safeguarding public property; Pursuing excellence; and Requires parents to provide educational opportunities for children aged 6 to 14.

Parliament

• Article 79: it establishes that the Parliament of the Union consists of the President and two Houses-The Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha)
• Article 80: It sets up the rules for how the Rajya Sabha or Upper House is put together. 250 seats is the top limit, and 245 seats are filled right now. 12 members max are picked by the President; they must be experts in literature, science, art or social service. 238 members max at most represent the states and union territories.
• Article 81: It defines the composition of Lok Sabha, setting its max strength at 550 members. Seats allocations per state remain tied to 1971 census figures, and presently the number of seats are frozen. This freeze will last until the first census published after the year 2026.
• Article 85: It governs the summoning, prorogation, and dissolution of Parliament by the President. The President must summon each house of Parliament to meet at a time and place of their choosing. No more than six months can pass between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of next session. This means Parliament must meet at least twice a year. The President may prorogue (end of session for) either or both the houses, and dissolve the Lok Sabha.
• Article 100: It sets the rules for voting, the power to work despite empty seats, and the minimum number of members needed to hold a meeting in Parliament. All questions in either house or joint sitting are decided by majority vote of members present and voting. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha does not vote on the first instance. They can cast their votes if there is a tie. Either house can function even if there are vacant seats. The minimum number of members(quorum) required to run a meeting in either house of Parliament is one-tenth of the total members of that House.
• Article 105: It sets out the powers, privileges, and immunities of Parliament, its members, and its committees. Key provisions are: Freedom of Speech– Clause (1) guarantees freedom of speech in Parliament, subject to constitutional provisions and the rules and standing orders of the House. Immunity from court proceedings-Clause (2) protects the Members of Parliament (MPs) from any legal action in court for anything they say or any vote they cast in Parliament or its committees.
• Article 108: It allows the President to call a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament to solve disagreement over a bill. It can happen only if a bill passed by one House is sent to the other House and the other House rejects or both houses disagree on the changes (amendments) made, or More than six months pass without the other House passing the bill.
• Article 110: It defines a Money Bill as a special financial bill that deals exclusively with matters like taxation, government borrowing, and the Consolidated Fund of India.
• Article 112: It requires the President to present an Annual Financial Statement-commonly known as the Union Budget-to both Houses of Parliament for every financial year.
• Article 123 : It gives the President the power to pass temporary laws, called ordinances, when Parliament is not in session. The ordinance must be shown to both Houses of Parliament as soon as they meet again. The ordinance has to be passed by both houses of Parliament.

Balance chapters in my future blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

27^th August 2026