Important Articles of the Indian Constitution

Currently, there are 448 articles in the Indian Constitution (originally 395 articles were there). The topic will cover important parts of the Constitution including, Legislatures, Executive, Schedules, Parts of Indian Constitution, Constitutional Bodies, Statutory Bodies, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and more.

Original Constitution: During Enforcement of the Constitution (26^th January, 1950)

• 395 Articles
• 22 Parts &
• 8 Schedules

 

At Present:

•  448 Articles
• 25 Parts &
• 12 Schedule

 

In Short View: Significant Articles of the Constitution
Article 1-4	The Union and its Territory
Article 5-11	Citizenship
Article 12-35	Fundamental Rights
Article 36-51	DPSP
Article 51A	Fundamental Duties
Article 52-151	The Union Government
Article 152-237	The State Government
Article 239-242	The Union Territory
Article 345-263	Relation Between the Union & the States
Article 324-329A	Elections
Article 352-360	Emergency Provisions
Article 368	Amendment of the Constitution

 

 

 

Important Articles of the Indian Constitution for Competitive Examinations:

 

Part I: The Union and its Territory (Articles: 1 to 4):

Articles 1. Name and territory of the Union.

Articles 2. Admission or establishment of new States.

Articles 3. Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States.

 

Part II: Citizenship (Articles: 5 to 11)

Articles 5. Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution.

Articles 6. Rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India from Pakistan.

Articles 7. Rights of citizenship of certain migrants to Pakistan.

Articles 10. Continuance of the rights of citizenship.

Articles 11. Parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law

 

Part III: Fundamental Rights (Articles 12 to 35)

Article 12. Definition.

Article 13. Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the fundamental rights. (Judicial Review)

 

Right to Equality (Article 14 to 18)

Article 14. Equality before law.

Article 15. Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.

Article 16. Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.

Article 17. Abolition of Untouchability.

Article 18. Abolition of titles.

 

Right to Freedom (Article 19 to 22)

Article 19. Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.

Article 20. Protection in respect of conviction for offences.

Article 21. Protection of life and personal liberty.

Article 21A. Right to education.

Article 22. Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.

 

Right against Exploitation (Article 23 to 24)

Article 23. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.

Article 24. Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc.

 

Right to Freedom of Religion (Article 25 to 28)

Article 25. Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.

Article 26. Freedom to manage religious affairs.

Article 27. Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion.

Article 28. Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions.

 

Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 29 to 30)

Article 29. Protection of interests of minorities.

Article 30. Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.

 

Article 31. [Omitted.] (That was Right to Property)

Article 31A. Saving of Laws providing for acquisition of estates, etc.

Article 31B. Validation of certain Acts and Regulations.

Article 31C. Saving of laws giving effect to certain directive principles.

 

Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)

Article 32. Remedies for enforcement of rights conferred by this Part.

Article 33. Power of Parliament to modify the rights conferred by this Part in their application to Forces, etc.

Article 34. Restriction on rights conferred by this Part while martial law is in force in any area.

Article 35. Legislation to give effect to the provisions of this Part.

 

Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 36 to 51)

Article 36. Definition.

Article 37. Application of the principles contained in this Part.

Article 38. State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people.

Article 39. Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State.

Article 39A. Equal justice and free legal aid.

Article 40. Organisation of village panchayats.

Article 41. Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases.

Article 42. Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief.

Article 43. Living wage, etc., for workers.

Article 43A. Participation of workers in management of industries.

Article 43B. Promotion of co-operative societies.

Article 44. Uniform civil code for the citizens.

Article 45. Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years.

Article 46. Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.

Article 47. Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health.

Article 48. Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry.

Article 48A. Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life.

Article 49. Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance.

Article 50. Separation of judiciary from executive.

Article 51. Promotion of international peace and security.

 

Part IVA: Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)

Article 51A. 11 Fundamental duties.

 

Part V: The Union (Article 52 to 151)

Article 52. The President of India.

Article 53. Executive power of the Union.

Article 61. Procedure for impeachment of the President.

Article 72. Power of President to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases.

Article 74. Council of Ministers to aid and advise President.

Article 76. Attorney-General for India.

Article 79. Constitution of Parliament.

Article 80. Composition of the Council of States.

Article 88. Rights of Ministers and Attorney-General as respects Houses.

Article 93. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the People.

Article 102. Disqualifications for membership.

Article 108. Joint sitting of both Houses in certain cases.

Article 110. Definition of “Money Bills”.

Article 111. Assent to Bills.

Article 112. Annual financial statement.

Article 117. Special provisions as to financial Bills.

Article 123.Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Parliament.

Article 124. Establishment and constitution of Supreme Court.

Article 131. Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Article 132. Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court in appeals from High Courts in certain cases.

Article 136. Special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court.

Article 137. Review of judgments or orders by the Supreme Court.

Article 141. Law declared by Supreme Court to be binding on all courts.

Article 142. Enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc.

Article 143. Power of President to consult Supreme Court.

Article 148. Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

 

Part VI: The States (Article 152 to 237)

153. Governors of States.

161. Power of Governor to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases.

163. Council of Ministers to aid and advise Governor.

165. Advocate-General for the State.

169. Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in States.

199. Definition of “Money Bills”.

200. Assent to Bills.

201. Bills reserved for consideration.

202. Annual financial statement.

213. Power of Governor to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Legislature.

214. High Courts for States.

 

Part VIII: The Union Territories (Article 239-242)

 

Part IX: The Panchayats (Article 243 to 243O)

Part IXA: The Municipalities (Article 243P to 243ZG)

Part IXB: The Co-Operative Societies (Article 243ZH to 243ZT)

Part X: The Scheduled and Tribal Areas (Article 244 to 243A)

 

Part XI: Relations Between the Union and the States (Article 245 to 263)

Article 249. Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List in the national interest.

Article 250. Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to any matter in the State List if a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation.

Article 252. Power of Parliament to legislate for two or more States by consent and adoption of such

legislation by any other State.

Article 253. Legislation for giving effect to international agreements.

Article 262. Adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys.

Co-ordination between States

Article 263. Provisions with respect to an inter-State Council.

 

Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits (Article 264 to 300A)

Article 266. Consolidated Funds and public accounts of India and of the States.

Article 267. Contingency Fund.

Article 280. Finance Commission.

Article 300A. Persons not to be deprived of property save by authority of law.

 

Part XIII: Trade, Commerce and Intercourse within the Territory of India (Article 301 to 307)

Article 301. Freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse.

Article 302. Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse.

 

Part XIV: Services Under the Union and the States (Article 308 to 323)

Article 312. All-India services.

Article 315. Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States.

 

Part XIVA: Tribunals (Article 323A to 323B)

Article 323A. Administrative tribunals.

Article 323B. Tribunals for other matters.

 

Part XV: Elections (Article 324 to 329)

Article 324. Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission.

Article 326. Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage.

 

Part XVI: Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes (Article 330 to 342A)

 

Part XVII: Official Language (Article 343 to 351)

Article 351. Directive for development of the Hindi language.

 

Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions (Article 352 to 360)

Article 352. Proclamation of Emergency.

Article 356. Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in States.

Article 357. Exercise of legislative powers under Proclamation issued under article 356.

Article 358. Suspension of provisions of article 19 during emergencies.

Article 359. Suspension of the enforcement of the rights conferred by Part III during emergencies.

Article 360. Provisions as to financial emergency.

 

Part XIX: Miscellaneous (Article 361 to 367)

Article 361. Protection of President and Governors and Rajpramukhs.

 

Part XX: Amendment of the Constitution

Article 368. Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure therefor.

Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions (Article 369 to 392)

 

Part XXII: Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals (Article 392 to 395)

 

Schedules of the Indian Constitution & their important Articles:

Schedules	Articles of the Indian Constitution
First Schedule	Article 1 & 4
Second Schedule	Articles - 59, 65, 75, 97, 125, 148, 158, 164, 186, 221
Third Schedule	Articles - 75, 84, 99, 124,146, 173, 188, 219
Fourth Schedule	Article 4 & 80
Fifth Schedule	Article 244
Sixth Schedule	Article 244 & 275
Seventh Schedule	Article 246
Eighth Schedule	Article 344 & 351
Ninth Schedule	Article 31-B
Tenth Schedule	Article – 102 & 191
Eleventh Schedule	Article 243G
Twelfth Schedule	Article 243W

 

Articles of the Indian Constitution are a very important part of the Indian Polity. Indian Polity play a major role in UPSC Prelims & Mains General Studies II. Aspirants can get the UPSC Prelims & Mains General Studies II Strategy for the current trending questions.

 

Source: Government of India