Friends, in recent days, all the political parties, whenever they talk the word Constitution is always there in their vocabulary. Most of these political leaders, without even understanding the Constitution, start giving their interpretation of different Articles of the same. In Today’s blog, I am writing about some IMPORTANT ARTICLES OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION.
Citizenship: This chapter has the following Articles:
- Article 5- it grants citizenship to any person who had their domicile in India and met at least one condition: being born in India, having a parent born in India, or living in India for five years.
- Article 6- It defines the rights of citizenship for people who migrated to India from Pakistan during the partition.
- Article 7- It states that anyone who moved to Pakistan after 1st March 1947, is not an Indian citizen, but it provides exceptions for those who returned under a valid permit for permanent resettlement.
- Article 8- It outlines the rights of citizenship for certain persons of Indian origin living outside India. It allows individuals whose parents or grandparents were born in undivided India to register as Indian citizens through diplomatic or consular offices abroad.
- Article 9- it states that any person who voluntarily gets citizenship in a foreign country stops being citizen of India.
- Article 10- It states that any person who is considered a citizen of India under preceding Articles 5 through 9, will keep their citizenship status, unless Parliament passes a new law to change or regulate.
- Article 11-It gives Parliament the absolute power to make laws on all matters relating to citizenship.
Fundamental Rights: This chapter has the following Articles:
- Article 12- It defines the word “State”, which covers Fundamental Rights. It sets the rule for which groups and offices must follow these basic human rights.
- Article 13-it declares that any laws that go against fundamental rights are void.
- Article 14-It states that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
- Article 15-The Indian Constitution prohibits the State and private individuals from discriminating against citizens based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
- Article 16- It guarantees equal opportunity in matters of public employment.
- Article 17- It abolishes ‘untouchability’, forbids its practice in any form, and makes the enforcement of any disability arising from it a punishable offence.
- Article 18- It abolishes all titles. It stops the State from giving special honorific titles that create social classes. It supports the right to equality by ending old feudal and British imperial titles.
- Article 19- It guarantees six core freedoms to all citizens, though these rights are not absolute and face reasonable restrictions.. The six core rights are: Speech & expression; Peaceful assembly; Association or union; free movement; Residence and Profession or trade.
- Article 20- it provides vital safeguards for individuals accused of crime. Key protections are: Retrospective Punishment Article 20(1), Double jeopardy Article 20(2), Self-incrimination Article 20(3)
- Article 21- It guarantees the fundamental right to life and personal liberty for both citizens and non-citizens.
- Article 21A of the Indian Constitution makes free and compulsory education a fundamental right for all children aged 6 to 14
- Article 22-It provides safeguards for individuals against arbitrary arrest and detention.
- Article 23(1)-It bans human trafficking, forced labour & unpaid forced labour as a fundamental right against exploitation.
- Article 23(2)-It allows the State to impose compulsory public service such as military service or community work during emergencies. The State can not discriminate when doing this based on religion, race, caste, or class.
- Article 24- It bans the employment of children under 14 in any factory, mine, or other dangerous work.
- Article 25- It gives persons the fundamental right to freedom of conscience and freedom to profess, practice, and propagate their religion.
- Article 26- It protects the collective freedom of religious denominations to manage their own religious affairs. The right is subject to public order, morality, and health.
- Article 27- It states that no person can be forced to pay any taxes if the money collected is meant to promote or maintain a specific religion or religious group.
- Article 28- it grants freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions. It ensures that schools and colleges funded or recognised by the government stay neutral, protecting students from forced religious teachings.
- Article 29- It is a fundamental right that protects the cultural, language, and educational interests of citizens, including minority groups. It ensures that any group with distinctive language, script, or culture can preserve it, and stops State-run or state-aided schools from turning away students based on religion, race, caste, or language.
- Article 30-It gives religious and linguistic minorities the fundamental right to set up and run their own educational institutions.
- Article 32-It provides the Right to Constitutional Remedies, allowing citizens to approach the Supreme Court directly if their fundamental rights are violated.
In my future blogs, I will cover different chapters of the Constitution with their respective Articles. The chapters are Directive Principles, President, Parliament, Judiciary and Emergency.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
25th August 2026.