Important Articles of Indian Constitution – UPSC

There are 448^* articles in 25 parts, 12 schedules, 5 appendices with more than 100 amendments in the Indian Constitution. Not every article of the Indian Constitution is a must to know for UPSC Exams. Hence, List of Important Articles of Indian Constitution from the IAS exam perspective are given below:

Article 1 – Article 4 (Part 1)

• Article 1 – Name and territory of the union
• Article 2 – Admission and establishment of the new state
• Article 3 – Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries, and name of existing states

Article 5 – Article 11 (Part 2)

• Article 5 – Citizenship at the commencement of the constitution
• Article 6 – Rights of citizenship of a certain person who has migrated to India from Pakistan
• Article 10 – Continuance of rights of citizenship
• Article 11 – Parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law

Article 12 – Article 35 (Part 3)

• Article 12 – Definition of the state
• Article 13 – Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the fundamental rights

Right to Equality: Article 14 to Article 18

• Article 14 – Equality before the law
• Article 15 – Prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth
• Article 16 – Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment
• Article 17 – Abolition of the untouchability
• Article 18 – Abolition of titles

Right to Freedom: Article 19 to Article 22

• Article 19 – Guarantees the six rights to citizens of India
  • Freedom of speech and expression
  • Freedom to assemble peaceably and without arms
  • Freedom to form associations or unions
  • Freedom to move freely throughout the territory of India
  • Freedom to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India
  • Omitted
  • Freedom to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business
• Article 20 – Protection in respect of conviction for offenses
• Article 21 – Protection of life and personal liberty
• Article 22 – Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases

Right against Exploitation: Article 23 to Article 24

• Article 23 – Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labor
• Article 24 – Prohibition of employment of children (Under the age of 14) in factories and mines

Right to Freedom of Religion: Article 25 to Article 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 pay taxes for promotion of any particular religion
• Article 28 – Freedom from attending religious instruction

Cultural and Educational Rights: Article 29 to Article 30

• Article 29 – Protection of interest of minorities
• Article 30 – Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions

Right to Constitutional Remedies: Article 32

• Article 32 – Remedies for enforcement of Fundamental Rights

Directive Principal of States Policy: Article 36 – 51 (Part 4)

• Article 36 – Definition
• Article 37 – Application of DPSP
• Article 39A – Equal justice and free legal aid
• Article 40 – Organization of a village panchayat
• Article 41 – Right to work, to education, and to public assistance in certain cases
• Article 43 – Living Wages, etc. for Workers
• Article 43A – Participation of workers in management of industries
• Article 44 – Uniform civil code ( applicable in Goa only)
• Article 45 – Provision for free and compulsory education for children
• Article 46 – Promotion of educational and economic interest of scheduled castes, ST, and OBC
• Article 47 – Duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health
• Article 48 – Organization of agriculture and animal husbandry
• Article 49 – Protection of monuments and places and objects of natural importance
• Article 50 – Separation of judiciary from the executive
• Article 51 – Promotion of international peace and security

Fundamental Duties: Article 51A (Part 4A)

• Earlier there were 10 Fundamental Duties but after 86th Amendment Act 2002 it became 11 Duties.

Union: Article 52 – 151 (Part 5)

• Article 52 – The President of India
• Article 53 – Executive Power of the union
• Article 54 – Election of President
• Article 61 – Procedure for Impeachment of the President
• Article 63 – The Vice-president of India
• Article 64 – The Vice-President to be ex-officio chairman the council of States
• Article 66 – Election of Vice-president
• Article 72 – Pardoning powers of President
• 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 Rajya Sabha
• Article 81 – Composition of Lok Sabha
• Article 83 – Duration of Houses of Parliament
• Article 93 – The speakers and Deputy speakers of the house of the people
• Article 105 – Powers, Privileges, etc. of the House of Parliament
• Article 108 – Joint sitting of both Houses in certain cases.
• Article 109 – Special procedure in respects of money bills
• Article 110 – Definition of “Money Bills”
• Article 112 – Annual Financial Budget
• Article 114 – Appropriation Bills
• Article 123 – Powers of the President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of parliament
• Article 124 – Establishment of Supreme Court
• Article 125 – Salaries of Judges
• Article 126 – Appointment of acting Chief justice
• Article 127 – Appointment of ad-hoc judges
• Article 128 – Attendance of retired judge at sitting of the Supreme Court
• Article 129 – Supreme Court to be a court of Record
• Article 130 – Seat of the Supreme Court
• Article 136 – Special leaves for an appeal to the Supreme Court
• Article 137 – Review of judgment or orders by the Supreme Court
• Article 141 – Decision of the Supreme Court binding on all the courts
• Article 142 – Enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and unless as to discovery, etc.
• Article 148 – Comptroller and Auditor- General of India
• Article 149 – Duties and Powers of CAG

States: Article 152 – 237 (Part 6)

• Article 153 – Governors of State
• Article 154 – Executive Powers of Governor
• Article 161 – Pardoning powers of the Governor
• Article 165 – Advocate-General of the State
• Article 213 – Power of Governor to promulgate ordinances
• Article 214 – High Courts for states
• Article 215 – High Courts to be a court of record
• Article 226 – Power of High Courts to issue certain writs
• Article 233 – Appointment of District judges
• Article 235 – Control over Subordinate Courts

Repealed: Article 238 (Part 7)

Union Territories: Article 239 – 242 (Part 8)

Panchayats: Article 243 – 243O (Part 9)

• Article 243A – Gram Sabha
• Article 243B – Constitution of Panchayats

Municipalities: Article 243P – 243ZG (Part 9A)

Co-operative Societies: Article 243ZH – 243ZT (Part 9B)

Scheduled and Tribal Areas: Article 244 (Part 10)

Center-State Relations: Article 245 – 263 (Part 11)

Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits: Article 264 – 300A (Part 12)

• Article 266 – Consolidated Fund and Public Accounts Fund
• Article 267 – Contingency Fund of India
• Article 280 – Finance Commission
• Article 300-A – Right to property

Trade, Commerce and Intercourse within the territories of India: Article 301 – 307 (Part 13)

• Article 301 – Freedom to trade, commerce, and intercourse.
• Article 302 – Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce, and intercourse.

Services Under Center and State: Article 308 – 323 (Part 14)

• Article 312 – All-India-Service.
• Article 315 – Public service commissions for the union and for the states
• Article 320 – Functions of Public Service Commission.

Tribunals: Article 323A – 323B (Part 14A)

• Article 323A – Administrative Tribunals

Elections: Article 324 – 329 (Part 15)

• Article 324 – Superintendence, direction and control of Elections to be vested in an Election Commission.
• Article 325 – No person to be ineligible for inclusion in or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex.
• Article 326 – Elections to the house of the people and to the legislative assemblies of states to be on the basis of adult suffrage.

Special Provisions to SC, ST, OBC, Minorities etc.: Article 330 – 342 (Part 16)

• Article 338 – National Commission for the SC, & ST.
• Article 340 – Appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes.

Official Language: Article 343 – 351 (Part 17)

• Article 343 – Official languages of the Union.
• Article 345 – Official languages or languages of states.
• Article 348 – Languages to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts.
• Article 351 – Directive for development of the Hindi languages.

Emergency: Article 352 – 360 (Part 18)

• Article 352 – Proclamation of emergency ( National Emergency).
• Article 356 – State Emergency (President’s Rule)
• Article 360 – Financial Emergency

Miscellaneous: Article 361 – 367 (Part 19)

• Article 361- Protection of President and Governors

Amendment of Constitution: Article 368 (Part 20)

• Article 368 – Powers of Parliaments to amend the constitution

Special, Transitional and Temporary Provisions: Article 369 – 392 (Part 21)

• Article 370 – Special provision of J&K.
• Article 371A – Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland
• Article 371-J – Special Status for Hyderabad-Karnataka region

Short Text, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals : Article 392 – 395 (Part 22)

• Article 393 – Short title – This Constitution may be called the Constitution of India.