Important articles of the Constitution

173 articles that are asked about most often, each in one plain line. Type a number such as 21, or a word such as "election", to find an article.

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Article	What it says, in short	Read more
1	India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.	Salient features of the Constitution
2	Parliament may admit or establish new states.	The Union, its territory and citizenship
3	Parliament may form new states and alter the areas, boundaries or names of existing states.	The Union, its territory and citizenship
4	Laws under Articles 2 and 3 are not treated as amendments of the Constitution.	The Union, its territory and citizenship
5	Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution.	The Union, its territory and citizenship
9	A person who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of a foreign state ceases to be a citizen of India.	The Union, its territory and citizenship
11	Parliament may regulate the right of citizenship by law.	The Union, its territory and citizenship
12	Defines "the State" for the purposes of Fundamental Rights.	Fundamental Rights
13	Laws inconsistent with Fundamental Rights are void.	Fundamental Rights
14	Equality before the law and equal protection of the laws.	Fundamental Rights
15	No discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.	Fundamental Rights
16	Equality of opportunity in public employment.	Fundamental Rights
17	Abolition of untouchability.	Fundamental Rights
18	Abolition of titles.	Fundamental Rights
19	Six freedoms, including freedom of speech and expression.	Fundamental Rights
20	Protection in respect of conviction for offences.	Fundamental Rights
21	Protection of life and personal liberty.	Fundamental Rights
21A	Right to education for children of 6 to 14 years.	Fundamental Rights
22	Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.	Fundamental Rights
23	Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.	Fundamental Rights
24	Prohibition of employment of children below 14 in factories, mines and hazardous work.	Fundamental Rights
25	Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.	Fundamental Rights
26	Freedom to manage religious affairs.	Fundamental Rights
27	Freedom from taxes for the promotion of any particular religion.	Fundamental Rights
28	Freedom from religious instruction in State-funded educational institutions.	Fundamental Rights
29	Protection of the language, script and culture of minorities.	Fundamental Rights
30	Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.	Fundamental Rights
32	Right to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights; the five writs.	Fundamental Rights
33	Parliament may modify Fundamental Rights for the armed forces and similar forces.	Fundamental Rights
36	Definition: "the State" has the same meaning as in Part III.	Directive Principles of State Policy
37	Directive Principles are not enforceable by courts but are fundamental in governance.	Directive Principles of State Policy
38	State to secure a social order for the promotion of the welfare of the people.	Directive Principles of State Policy
39	Livelihood, equal pay for equal work, protection of workers and children.	Directive Principles of State Policy
39A	Equal justice and free legal aid.	Directive Principles of State Policy
40	Organisation of village panchayats.	Directive Principles of State Policy
41	Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases.	Directive Principles of State Policy
42	Just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief.	Directive Principles of State Policy
43	Living wage for workers; promotion of cottage industries.	Directive Principles of State Policy
44	Uniform civil code for the citizens.	Directive Principles of State Policy
45	Early childhood care and education for children below six years.	Directive Principles of State Policy
46	Promotion of the interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.	Directive Principles of State Policy
47	Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and public health.	Directive Principles of State Policy
48	Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry.	Directive Principles of State Policy
48A	Protection of the environment, forests and wildlife.	Directive Principles of State Policy
49	Protection of monuments and places of national importance.	Directive Principles of State Policy
50	Separation of the judiciary from the executive.	Directive Principles of State Policy
51	Promotion of international peace and security.	Directive Principles of State Policy
51A	The eleven Fundamental Duties of citizens.	Fundamental Duties
52	There shall be a President of India.	The President and the Vice-President
53	The executive power of the Union is vested in the President.	The President and the Vice-President
54	Election of the President by an electoral college.	The President and the Vice-President
56	Term of office of the President: five years.	The President and the Vice-President
58	Qualifications for election as President.	The President and the Vice-President
60	Oath or affirmation by the President.	The President and the Vice-President
61	Procedure for the impeachment of the President.	The President and the Vice-President
63	There shall be a Vice-President of India.	The President and the Vice-President
64	The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.	The President and the Vice-President
65	The Vice-President acts as President during a vacancy.	The President and the Vice-President
66	Election of the Vice-President by members of both houses of Parliament.	The President and the Vice-President
72	Power of the President to grant pardons and to suspend, remit or commute sentences.	The President and the Vice-President
73	Extent of the executive power of the Union.	The President and the Vice-President
74	Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President.	The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers
75	Appointment of the Prime Minister and ministers; collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha.	The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers
76	Attorney General for India.	The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers
77	Conduct of business of the Government of India.	The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers
78	Duties of the Prime Minister to furnish information to the President.	The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers
79	Constitution of Parliament: the President and two houses.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
80	Composition of the Rajya Sabha.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
81	Composition of the Lok Sabha.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
83	Duration of the houses of Parliament.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
84	Qualifications for membership of Parliament.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
85	Sessions of Parliament, prorogation and dissolution.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
89	Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
93	Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
100	Voting in the houses and quorum.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
105	Powers and privileges of the houses and their members.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
108	Joint sitting of both houses.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
109	Special procedure for money bills.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
110	Definition of a money bill.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
111	Assent of the President to bills.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
112	Annual financial statement (the budget).	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
114	Appropriation bills.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
120	Language to be used in Parliament.	Parliament: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
123	Power of the President to issue ordinances when Parliament is not in session.	The President and the Vice-President
124	Establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
129	The Supreme Court is a court of record.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
131	Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
136	Special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
137	Review of judgments or orders by the Supreme Court.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
141	Law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
142	Power of the Supreme Court to do complete justice.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
143	Power of the President to consult the Supreme Court.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
148	Comptroller and Auditor General of India.	Constitutional bodies
153	There shall be a Governor for each state.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
154	The executive power of the state is vested in the Governor.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
155	Appointment of the Governor by the President.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
161	Power of the Governor to grant pardons.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
163	Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
164	Appointment of the Chief Minister and ministers; collective responsibility to the assembly.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
165	Advocate General for the state.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
168	Constitution of legislatures in states.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
169	Abolition or creation of legislative councils.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
170	Composition of the legislative assemblies.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
200	Assent of the Governor to bills.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
213	Power of the Governor to issue ordinances.	The state government: Governor, Chief Minister and legislature
214	High Courts for states.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
217	Appointment and conditions of the office of a High Court judge.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
226	Power of High Courts to issue writs.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
227	Power of superintendence of the High Court over all courts and tribunals.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
231	Common High Court for two or more states.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
233	Appointment of district judges.	The Supreme Court and the High Courts
239	Administration of union territories by the President through an administrator.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
239A	Legislature and Council of Ministers for Puducherry.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
239AA	Special provisions for the National Capital Territory of Delhi.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
243A	Gram Sabha.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
243B	Constitution of panchayats at three levels.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
243D	Reservation of seats in panchayats, including one-third for women.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
243E	Duration of panchayats: five years.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
243I	State Finance Commission.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
243K	State Election Commission.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
243Q	Constitution of municipalities.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
244	Administration of scheduled areas and tribal areas.	Union territories, panchayats and municipalities
245	Extent of laws made by Parliament and by state legislatures.	Centre-state relations and finance
246	Subject matter of laws: the Union, State and Concurrent Lists.	Centre-state relations and finance
248	Residuary powers of legislation rest with Parliament.	Centre-state relations and finance
249	Parliament may legislate on a State List subject in the national interest.	Centre-state relations and finance
254	When Union and state laws on a Concurrent subject conflict, the Union law prevails.	Centre-state relations and finance
262	Disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers.	Centre-state relations and finance
263	Inter-State Council.	Centre-state relations and finance
265	No tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law.	Centre-state relations and finance
266	Consolidated Funds and public accounts of India and of the states.	Centre-state relations and finance
267	Contingency Fund.	Centre-state relations and finance
279A	Goods and Services Tax Council.	Centre-state relations and finance
280	Finance Commission.	Centre-state relations and finance
300A	No person shall be deprived of property save by authority of law.	Centre-state relations and finance
301	Freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse.	Centre-state relations and finance
311	Safeguards for civil servants against dismissal, removal or reduction in rank.	Constitutional bodies
312	All India Services.	Centre-state relations and finance
315	Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the states.	Constitutional bodies
320	Functions of Public Service Commissions.	Constitutional bodies
323A	Administrative tribunals.	Constitutional bodies
324	Superintendence, direction and control of elections vested in an Election Commission.	Elections and the Election Commission
325	One general electoral roll; no exclusion on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.	Elections and the Election Commission
326	Elections on the basis of adult suffrage.	Elections and the Election Commission
327	Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections.	Elections and the Election Commission
329	Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.	Elections and the Election Commission
330	Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha.	Official language and special provisions
332	Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in state assemblies.	Official language and special provisions
335	Claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts.	Official language and special provisions
338	National Commission for Scheduled Castes.	Constitutional bodies
338A	National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.	Constitutional bodies
338B	National Commission for Backward Classes.	Constitutional bodies
341	Scheduled Castes.	Official language and special provisions
342	Scheduled Tribes.	Official language and special provisions
343	Official language of the Union: Hindi in the Devanagari script.	Official language and special provisions
345	Official language or languages of a state.	Official language and special provisions
348	Language of the Supreme Court, the High Courts and of Acts and bills.	Official language and special provisions
350A	Facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage.	Official language and special provisions
351	Directive for the development of the Hindi language.	Official language and special provisions
352	Proclamation of national emergency.	Emergency provisions
355	Duty of the Union to protect states against external aggression and internal disturbance.	Emergency provisions
356	President's rule on failure of the constitutional machinery in a state.	Emergency provisions
358	Suspension of the freedoms of Article 19 during an emergency.	Emergency provisions
359	Suspension of the enforcement of Fundamental Rights during an emergency, except Articles 20 and 21.	Emergency provisions
360	Financial emergency.	Emergency provisions
361	Protection of the President and Governors.	Official language and special provisions
368	Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and the procedure for it.	Amendment of the Constitution
370	Temporary provisions with respect to Jammu and Kashmir (special status ended in 2019).	Official language and special provisions
371	Special provisions for Maharashtra and Gujarat; Articles 371A to 371J cover other states.	Official language and special provisions
393	Short title: this Constitution may be called the Constitution of India.	The making of the Constitution
394	Commencement: a few articles came into force on 26 November 1949 and the rest on 26 January 1950.	The making of the Constitution
394A	Authoritative text of the Constitution in the Hindi language.	Official language and special provisions
395	Repeals the Indian Independence Act, 1947 and the Government of India Act, 1935.	The making of the Constitution

About this list

The Constitution has more than 450 articles in force. This list picks the ones that students, exam candidates and newspaper readers meet most often. Each line is a short summary in our own words, not the text of the article. The link at the end of a row opens the page where the article is explained with its neighbours.

Articles everyone should know

Article 14: equality before the law.
Article 19: the six freedoms, including speech.
Article 21: life and personal liberty.
Article 32: the right to go to the Supreme Court to enforce Fundamental Rights.
Article 51A: the Fundamental Duties.
Article 324: the Election Commission.
Article 352, 356 and 360: the three emergencies.
Article 368: amendment of the Constitution.

This page explains the Constitution in simple words for students and general readers. It is not the official text and is not legal advice. The official text is published by the Legislative Department, Government of India (legislative.gov.in). Last checked: 11 November 2026.