Articles of Indian Constitution: Complete List and Explanations

The Articles of Indian Constitution form the backbone of India's governing framework and represent one of the most critical topics for RAS Prelims and Mains examinations. The Indian Constitution currently contains 448 Articles (originally 395 articles at adoption) organized into 25 Parts and 12 Schedules (originally 22 Parts and 8 Schedules), and understanding these articles is non-negotiable for aspirants targeting RPSC recruitment.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the structure, categorizes the major articles, and provides exam-focused explanations that will help you master this pillar subject for your 2025-26 RAS preparation.

Structure of Articles of Indian Constitution

The Articles of Indian Constitution are organized into 25 Parts (originally 22 Parts), with each part dealing with specific aspects of governance:

Part I: Union and Its Territory

Articles 1-4 define India as a sovereign democratic republic and enumerate the territories that comprise the Union.

• Article 1: Defines India as the Union of States
• Article 2: Grants Parliament power to admit new states
• Article 3: Empowers Parliament to form, alter, or abolish states
• Article 4: Makes consequential amendments to Schedules when states are altered

Part II: Citizenship

Articles 5-11 govern citizenship provisions. This was particularly important post-independence and remains relevant for RAS questions on historical constitutional provisions.

RAS Exam Tip: Part II is less frequently asked but watch for questions on citizenship acquisition and loss methods, especially in Mains GS-II.

Part III: Fundamental Rights (Articles 12-35)

The Articles of Indian Constitution Part III contains the most frequently tested content for RAS aspirants:

Article 12 defines the State in constitutional context—broader than government, includes Parliament, courts, and local bodies.

Article 13 declares that any law inconsistent with Fundamental Rights is void. This is the basis for judicial review in India.

Articles 14-18: Equality Rights

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

Articles 19-22: Rights to Freedom

• Article 19: Freedom of speech, assembly, association, movement, and profession (6 freedoms; Article 19(1)(g) allows reasonable restrictions)
• Article 20: Protection against retrospective criminal laws
• Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty (interpreted expansively by courts to include right to privacy, dignity, education)
• Article 21-A: Right to free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 (added by 86th Amendment, 2002)
• Article 22: Protection against arbitrary arrest and detention

Articles 23-24: Rights Against Exploitation

• Article 23: Prohibition of human trafficking and forced labor
• Article 24: Prohibition of employment of children in hazardous work

Articles 25-28: Rights to Freedom of Religion

• Article 25: Freedom to profess, practice, propagate religion
• Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs
• Article 27: Freedom from payment of taxes for religion
• Article 28: Freedom from religious instruction in state-funded institutions

Articles 29-30: Cultural and Educational Rights

• Article 29: Protection of interests of minorities
• Article 30: Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions

Articles 31-35: Miscellaneous Rights

• Article 31: Originally contained Right to Property; now deleted by 44th Amendment (1978)
• Article 32: Right to Constitutional Remedies (writs: habeas corpus, mandamus, certiorari, prohibition, quo warranto)
• Article 33: Parliament's power to restrict FR of armed forces
• Article 34: Parliament's power to restrict FR during martial law
• Article 35: Parliament to make laws for implementing Fundamental Rights

Fundamental Rights

• Right to Equality (14-18)
  • Equality before law
  • Prohibition of discrimination
• Right to Freedom (19-22)
  • Six freedoms (Art. 19)
  • Protection against arrest/detention (Art. 22)
• Right against Exploitation (23-24)
  • Prohibition of human trafficking, child labour
• Right to Freedom of Religion (25-28)
  • Freedom to profess and propagate religion
• Cultural and Educational Rights (29-30)
  • Protection of minority interests
• Right to Constitutional Remedies (32)
  • Writs: habeas corpus, mandamus, certiorari, etc.

Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36-51)

The Articles of Indian Constitution Part IV contains non-justiciable directions to the state, though their importance has grown through judicial interpretation:

• Article 36: Definition of "State"
• Article 37: Directive Principles are non-enforceable in courts
• Articles 38-39: Social and economic rights, prohibition of concentration of wealth
• Articles 40-44: Local governance and uniform civil code
• Article 45: Education provision (now superseded by Article 21-A)
• Articles 46-47: Protection of weaker sections and public health
• Article 48: Agricultural organization and animal husbandry
• Articles 49-51: Protection of monuments, international peace, and friendly relations

For RAS 2025-26: DPSP frequently appears in Mains questions on social policy and governance priorities.

Part V: The Union (Articles 52-151)

President and Vice-President (Articles 52-62)

• Article 52: President of India (head of state, ceremonial role in parliamentary democracy)
• Article 53: Executive power vests in President
• Article 54: Election of President (Electoral College: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies)
• Article 56: Term and removal of President (5 years; impeachment under Article 61)
• Article 57: Re-election eligibility
• Article 58: Qualifications for President
• Article 60: President's oath of office
• Articles 61-62: Impeachment and immunity

Executive (Articles 74-78)

• Article 74: Council of Ministers headed by Prime Minister
• Article 75: Composition and tenure of Council
• Article 77: Conduct of Government business
• Article 78: Prime Minister's duties

Parliament (Articles 79-123)

This section is extensively tested in RAS Prelims and Mains:

• Article 79: Composition of Parliament (President, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha)
• Article 80: Rajya Sabha composition (250 members: 238 elected + 12 nominated)
• Article 81: Lok Sabha composition (maximum 550 members: up to 530 from states + up to 20 from UTs; the 2 nominated Anglo-Indian seats were ended by the 104th Amendment, 2020)
• Article 84: Qualifications for Parliament membership
• Article 85: Summoning and prorogation of Parliament
• Article 93: Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
• Article 100: Voting in Parliament (simple majority, except constitutional amendments)
• Article 110: Definition of Money Bills
• Article 123: President's ordinance-making power (when Parliament not in session)

RAS Exam Focus: Articles 110 (Money Bills) and 123 (Ordinances) are frequently asked in Prelims MCQs.

Part VI: The States (Articles 152-237)

These articles provide similar structure for state governments:

• Article 153: Governor as head of state
• Article 155: Appointment of Governor
• Article 160: Discharge of the Governor's functions in certain contingencies
• Article 163: Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor, headed by the Chief Minister
• Article 168: State Legislative Assembly composition
• Article 169: State Legislative Council (optional; can be abolished by state)
• Article 214: A High Court for each state
• Article 217: Appointment of High Court judges
• Article 226: Writ jurisdiction of High Courts
• Article 229: Officers, servants and expenses of a High Court

Note: The Union Judiciary (Supreme Court) is actually covered earlier, in Part V, Chapter IV (Articles 124-147) — not as a separate "Part VIII."

Part VII: States in Part B (repealed)

The original Part VII dealt with the now-abolished "Part B States" (former princely-state unions). It was omitted by the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956, which reorganised states on linguistic lines.

Part VIII: Union Territories (Articles 239-242)

Deals with the administration of Union Territories, including Article 239 (administration by the President, usually through an Administrator) and Articles 239A-239AA (special provisions for Puducherry and Delhi).

Part IX: The Panchayats (Articles 243-243O)

Added by 73rd Amendment (1992)—landmark provision for local governance:

• Article 243A: Gram Sabha
• Article 243B: Constitution of Panchayats at village, intermediate and district levels
• Article 243C: Composition of Panchayats (directly elected representatives)
• Article 243D: Reservation of seats (SC, ST, women)
• Article 243E: Duration of Panchayats (5 years)
• Article 243F: Disqualification for membership
• Article 243G: Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats
• Article 243K: Elections to Panchayats (conducted by the State Election Commission)

Critical for RAS Mains: Questions on Panchayat Raj institutions and rural governance are increasingly common in GS-II.

Part IX-A: The Municipalities (Articles 243P-243ZG)

Added by 74th Amendment (1992)—urban governance structure:

• Article 243P: Definitions
• Article 243Q: Constitution of Municipalities
• Article 243R: Composition of Municipalities (directly elected + nominated + ex-officio)
• Article 243S: Constitution and composition of Wards Committees
• Article 243T: Reservation of seats
• Article 243U: Duration of Municipalities (5 years) with provisions for supersession
• Article 243W: Powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities

Part X: The Scheduled and Tribal Areas (Articles 244-244A)

These articles address governance in tribal-majority regions:

• Article 244: Application of Constitution in scheduled and tribal areas
• Article 244A: Power of Parliament to create, by law, an autonomous State within Assam (comprising certain Sixth Schedule tribal areas), with its own local Legislature or Council of Ministers

Rajasthan Context: Important for understanding tribal governance, though Rajasthan has limited scheduled areas compared to central India.

Part XI: Relations Between Union and States (Articles 245-263)

• Article 245: Legislative jurisdiction (Union laws, state laws)
• Article 246: Distribution of legislative powers (Union List, State List, Concurrent List)
• Article 249: Parliament's power to legislate on a State List subject in the national interest, on a Rajya Sabha resolution passed by a 2/3 majority (not an emergency provision)
• Article 250: Parliament's power to legislate on State List subjects while a Proclamation of National Emergency is in operation
• Article 252: State legislature can request Parliament to legislate on state matters
• Article 256: States must comply with Union directives
• Article 257: Union's control over state administration
• Article 263: Establishment of an Inter-State Council to recommend on disputes and cooperation between the Union and states

Three Lists Structure (Article 246, Seventh Schedule):

• Union List: currently about 100 subjects (originally 97) — defense, foreign affairs, currency, taxation
• State List: currently about 61 subjects (originally 66) — police, public order, agriculture, education
• Concurrent List: currently about 52 subjects (originally 47) — criminal law, civil procedure, labor, education

Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts, and Suits (Articles 264-300A)

• Article 264: Prohibition on taxation without authority
• Article 268-288: Tax distribution between Union and states
• Article 292: Borrowing powers of Union
• Article 293: Borrowing powers of states
• Article 298: Powers of Union to enter contracts
• Article 299: Contracts in name of Union/states
• Article 300A: Protection of property rights (right to property is no longer a fundamental right after 44th Amendment)

Part XIII: Trade, Commerce, and Intercourse Within Indian Territory (Articles 301-307)

• Article 301: Free movement of goods, capital, and persons within India (with exceptions)
• Article 302: Parliament can impose reasonable restrictions
• Article 303: Restrictions on state taxation
• Article 304: Restrictions on state regulation of trade

Part XIV: Services Under the Union and the States (Articles 308-323)

• Article 309: Recruitment and conditions of service of persons serving the Union or a state
• Article 310: Tenure of office held "during the pleasure of the President/Governor"
• Article 311: Safeguards against arbitrary dismissal, removal or reduction in rank
• Article 312: All-India Services (IAS, IPS, etc.)
• Article 315: Constitution of Public Service Commissions for the Union and for each state (UPSC/SPSC, including RPSC)
• Article 316: Appointment and term of office of PSC members
• Article 320: Functions of the Public Service Commissions (recruitment, examination, advice on service matters)
• Article 323: Reports of the UPSC/State PSCs to be placed before Parliament/the State Legislature

RAS Connection: RPSC is Rajasthan's State Public Service Commission, constituted under this Part; questions on PSCs' constitutional role appear frequently.

Part XIV-A: Tribunals (Articles 323A-323B)

Added by the 42nd Amendment (1976). Article 323A allows Parliament to set up Administrative Tribunals for service matters; Article 323B allows Parliament/state legislatures to set up tribunals for other specified matters (tax, land reforms, elections, etc.).

Part XV: Elections (Articles 324-329)

• Article 324: Election Commission's powers and functions (superintendence, direction, conduct of elections)
• Article 325: No person ineligible for inclusion in, or claim to a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex
• Article 326: Adult suffrage (all citizens 18+ have voting rights)
• Article 329: Bars courts from calling elections in question outside an election petition; established as near-absolute in N.P. Ponnuswami v. Returning Officer (1952)

For RAS 2025-26: Election Commission's autonomy and powers are increasingly tested in constitutional law questions.

Part XVI: Special Provisions (Articles 330-342)

• Articles 330-334: Reservation for SC/ST in Lok Sabha and state assemblies
• Articles 335-342: Special provisions for Anglo-Indians, minorities, and scheduled tribes

Part XVII: Languages (Articles 343-351)

• Article 343: Official language (Hindi in Devanagari script)
• Article 344: Language Commission
• Article 345: State language
• Article 348: Supreme Court and High Court language
• Article 351: Promotion of Hindi language

Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions (Articles 352-360)

The most frequently tested articles in RAS exams:

• Article 352: National Emergency (President can declare if state security threatened)

• Triggered by external aggression or armed rebellion

• Must be approved by Parliament within 1 month (since the 44th Amendment, 1978)

• Can continue indefinitely with 6-monthly renewal

• Last declared: 1962 (China), 1971 (Pakistan), 1975 (Internal Emergency under PM Indira Gandhi)

• Article 356: President's Rule in states

• Issued when state machinery fails

• Maximum 6 months initially; can extend to 3 years with presidential assent

• Now restricted by S.R. Bommai judgment (1994)—requires material evidence of constitutional breakdown

• Article 360: Financial Emergency

• Declared when financial stability threatened

• All Money Bills reserved for President's consideration

• Central government can direct states on finances

RAS Exam Alert: Emergency provisions are tested in almost every Prelims paper with MCQs on triggers, duration, and constitutional safeguards.

Part XIX: Miscellaneous (Articles 361-367)

• Article 361: Protection of President and Governor from legal proceedings
• Article 363: Effect of treaties and agreements with Indian States (now historical)
• Article 366: Definitions used throughout Constitution
• Article 367: Interpretation provisions

Part XX: Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368)

Article 368 is crucial for RAS candidates:

• Defines constitutional amendment process

• Requires:

• Special majority (2/3 of members present and voting, which must also be a majority of total membership) in both Houses of Parliament

• Ratification by the legislatures of not less than half the states, but only for the specific federal provisions listed in the Article 368(2) proviso (e.g., election of the President, Supreme Court/High Court provisions, distribution of legislative powers, representation of states in Parliament) — not for amendments generally

• Presidential assent (mandatory for Article 368 amendments; cannot be withheld or returned)

• Basic Structure Doctrine: Certain features cannot be amended (Kesavananda Bharati judgment, 1973)

• Supremacy of Constitution

• Democratic form of government

• Federalism

• Separation of powers

• Secularism

• Individual rights

• Parliamentary system

Data Point: 106 Constitutional Amendments have been passed since 1950 — the most recent being the 106th Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023), reserving one-third of Lok Sabha and state assembly seats for women.

Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions (Articles 369-392)

• Article 370: Special status of Jammu and Kashmir (abrogated by Presidential Order, August 5, 2019)
• Article 371: Special provisions for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, etc.
• Article 391: Originally a transitional provision; it was later repealed and no longer has effect

Part XXII: Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text, Repeals and Amendment (Articles 393-395)

• Article 393: Short title (Constitution of India, 1950)
• Article 394: Commencement (January 26, 1950)
• Article 395: Repeal of the Indian Independence Act, 1947 and the Government of India Act, 1935

Key Amendments Affecting Articles (2025-26 Exam Relevance)

Common Confusions About Articles Clarified for RAS Aspirants

Q: What's the difference between Articles 14 and 15?

Article 14 provides equality before law (formal equality—state cannot discriminate arbitrarily). Article 15 provides prohibition of discrimination (substantive equality—state cannot discriminate on specific grounds: religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth). Article 15(4) allows affirmative action for SCs/STs/OBCs.

Q: Why was Article 31 deleted?

The 44th Amendment (1978) removed Right to Property from Fundamental Rights because:

• It was used to challenge land reform legislation
• Private property owners obtained injunctions against state land ceiling laws
• Removal facilitated socialist agenda of land redistribution

Q: Can President refuse to sign a bill?

Technically yes, but practically limited. If President returns a bill for reconsideration and Parliament passes it again with simple majority, President must sign (Article 111). President's power is largely ceremonial on matters of law.

Practice Strategy for RAS 2025-26

Based on the recurring focus areas of RPSC question papers over the years:

1. High-Priority Articles: 12, 13, 14-22, 32, 52-56, 74-78, 79-123, 226, 246, 352-360, 368
2. Medium Priority: 25-30, 153-163, 243-243O, 301-307
3. Low Priority (but know definitions): 36-51, 244-244A, 370 (historical context)

Study Method:

• Create flashcards for each Part with 3-5 key articles
• Link articles to landmark Supreme Court judgments
• Practice previous years' RPSC Prelims papers with focus on article-based MCQs
• For Mains: Write comparative answers on related articles (e.g., Articles 14 vs. 15 vs. 16)

Key Takeaways

• The Articles of Indian Constitution now total 448 (originally 395) and are organized into 25 Parts covering governance, rights, duties, and procedures
• Part III (Fundamental Rights, Articles 12-35) and Part V (Union structure, Articles 52-151) are most frequently tested in RAS Prelims and Mains
• Emergency provisions (Articles 352, 356, 360) are a recurring, high-weightage topic in RPSC papers
• Articles 246 (Legislative Jurisdiction) and 368 (Amendment Process) require deep understanding for Mains-level questions, not just factual recall
• The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992), which added Panchayats (Part IX) and Municipalities (Part IX-A), represent a landmark decentralisation reform and are increasingly featured in current affairs-linked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which articles have been amended the most? A: Articles 15, 16, 19 (relating to Fundamental Rights), and Articles 246-248 (legislative jurisdiction) have undergone multiple amendments. The 44th Amendment significantly changed Articles 21 and 31. For RAS, tracking amendment history of articles helps understand judicial interpretation evolution.

Q: Are all 448 articles equally important for RAS Prelims? A: No. A relatively small set of articles accounts for most exam questions. Articles 12-35 (Fundamental Rights), 52-78 (Union Executive), 79-123 (Parliament), 226 (Writ jurisdiction), 246 (Legislative jurisdiction), and 352-360 (Emergency) are high-frequency topics. Focus here maximizes your score.

Q: How do Articles of Indian Constitution differ from rules or bye-laws? A: Articles are the supreme law's provisions that cannot be contradicted. Rules are subordinate regulations made under Article authority. For example, Parliament makes rules under Article 77 to conduct government business; civil service rules are made under Article 309. Articles are binding; rules can be changed through proper procedure without full constitutional amendment.

Q: What is the significance of Article 21 for modern India? A: Originally meant only "life and liberty," Supreme Court has interpreted Article 21 expansively to include: right to privacy (Justice Puttaswamy judgment, 2017), right to education, right to clean environment, right to information, and right to dignity. This evolutionary interpretation makes Article 21 the most litigated and dynamically interpreted article in Indian constitutional law.

Q: Can Parliament amend articles related to state power through simple majority? A: It depends on the provision. Articles 2, 3 and 4 (admission/formation/alteration of states and their boundaries) can be changed by an ordinary law passed by simple majority, outside Article 368 altogether. Amendments to federal provisions — such as the election of the President, Union-State legislative distribution (Articles 245-246), or the Supreme Court/High Courts — need the special Article 368 procedure: 2/3 majority in Parliament and ratification by at least half the state legislatures, under the proviso to Article 368(2).

Practice Questions

1. Which of the following are non-justiciable but serve as guiding principles of state policy?

a) Fundamental Rights under Article 12-35
b) Directive Principles of State Policy under Articles 36-51
c) Constitutional Remedies under Article 32
d) Citizenship provisions under Articles 5-11

Answer: b) Directive Principles of State Policy under Articles 36-51

Explanation: Article 37 explicitly states that Directive Principles are not enforceable in courts but Article 36-51 guide the state toward socioeconomic justice. The Supreme Court has, however, held that DPSP can be used for interpreting Fundamental Rights and testing legislation's constitutional validity (in questions of interpretation). This makes them foundational to constitutional purpose, though non-justiciable in character.

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2. Article 356 of the Indian Constitution has been significantly constrained by judicial intervention. Which landmark Supreme Court judgment established that President's Rule cannot be imposed arbitrarily and requires material evidence of constitutional breakdown?

a) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)
b) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)
c) S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)
d) Sukhdev Singh v. Bhagat Ram (1975)

Answer: c) S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)

Explanation: The S.R. Bommai judgment established that mere loss of majority in state legislature doesn't automatically justify dismissal under Article 356. The President must have constitutional evidence that the constitutional machinery of the state has broken down. Post-1994, this judgment has made arbitrary dismissals difficult, requiring notification of specific constitutional violations. This judgment strengthened federalism by checking executive overreach.

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3. Which article of the Indian Constitution defines "State" for the purpose of testing laws against Fundamental Rights, and makes this definition broader than government alone?

a) Article 11 (Definition in Citizenship)
b) Article 12 (Definition in Fundamental Rights)
c) Article 36 (Definition in DPSP)
d) Article 366 (General Definitions)

Answer: b) Article 12 (Definition in Fundamental Rights)

Explanation: Article 12 defines "State" to include Parliament, state legislatures, executives, courts, local authorities, and any body constituted by law. This broader definition ensures that Fundamental Rights cannot be violated even by autonomous bodies or universities receiving state aid. For RAS, this is critical: it means a private university receiving government grants can be challenged on Article 15 grounds, while a purely private entity generally cannot.

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Last Updated

October 2026 | Verified for 2025-26 RAS examination cycle | Next review: April 2027