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 contains 470 Articles (originally 395 articles at adoption) organized into 12 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 22 Parts (originally 8 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.

Article	Provision	Exam Relevance
Article 5	Citizenship at Constitution's commencement	High
Article 6	Rights of persons of Indian origin	Medium
Article 7	Rights of persons who migrated to India	Medium
Article 8	Rights of persons of Indian origin residing abroad	Low
Article 9	Loss of citizenship	Medium
Article 10	Continuance of citizenship	Low
Article 11	Parliament's power to regulate citizenship	High

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

[INTERNAL: fundamental-rights-indian-constitution] for detailed analysis of each right.

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

[INTERNAL: union-executive-indian-constitution] for governance structure details.

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 (552 members: 530 from states + 20 from UTs + 2 Anglo-Indians)
• 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: Governor's powers during state emergency
• Article 163: Chief Minister and Council of Ministers
• Article 168: State Legislative Assembly composition
• Article 169: State Legislative Council (optional; can be abolished by state)

Part VII: Union Territories (Articles 238-242)

Largely superseded by subsequent amendments, but Articles 240-242 deal with administration of UTs and autonomous territories.

Part VIII: The Union Judiciary (Articles 214-232)

• Article 214: High Court for each state
• Article 217: Appointment of judges
• Article 226: Writ jurisdiction of High Courts
• Article 229: Seal and symbol of High Court

[INTERNAL: indian-judiciary-structure-articles] for complete judicial organization.

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

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

• Article 243A: Gram Sabhas definition
• Article 243B: Composition of Panchayats (directly elected representatives)
• Article 243C: Reservation of seats (SC, ST, women)
• Article 243D: Powers, authority, duties of Panchayats
• Article 243E: District Panchayats
• Article 243F: Intermediate Panchayats
• Article 243K: Duration of Panchayats (5 years)

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: Municipal Corporation and Councils
• Article 243Q: Composition (directly elected + nominated + ex-officio)
• Article 243R: Reservation provisions
• Article 243S: Municipal powers and functions
• Article 243U: Duration (5 years) with provisions for supersession

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: Creation of Jharkhand (1 state) from Bihar

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 can legislate on state matters during emergencies
• Article 250: Concurrent List legislation during National Emergency
• 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: Inter-state disputes and Rajya Sabha coordination

Three Lists Structure [SOURCE: Articles 246, Schedule VII]:

• Union List: 97 subjects (defense, foreign affairs, currency, taxation)
• State List: 66 subjects (police, public order, agriculture, education)
• Concurrent List: 52 subjects (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: Union Public Service Commission (Articles 315-331)

• Article 315: Constitution of Union Public Service Commission
• Article 316: Appointment of UPSC members
• Article 320: Functions of UPSC (recruitment, examination, conduct)
• Article 323: Staff of UPSC

RAS Connection: RPSC functions similarly; questions on UPSC's constitutional role appear frequently.

Part XIV-A: State Public Service Commissions (Articles 315-323)

Parallel structure for state PSCs, including RPSC.

Part XV: Elections (Articles 324-329)

• Article 324: Election Commission's powers and functions (superintendence, direction, conduct of elections)
• Article 325: No disqualification on grounds of religion, caste, gender, literacy
• Article 326: Adult suffrage (all citizens 18+ have voting rights)
• Article 329: Election matters not subject to judicial review (with limited exceptions post-Sukhdev Singh judgment)

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

• Approved by Parliament within 2 months

• 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.

[INTERNAL: emergency-provisions-indian-constitution] for detailed analysis.

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 Constitution (Articles 368-369)

Article 368 is crucial for RAS candidates:

• Defines constitutional amendment process

• Requires:

• 2/3 majority in both Houses of Parliament

• Simple majority for some amendments (smaller matters)

• Ratification by state legislatures for structural amendments (Sections 1, 2, 3—federation structure)

• Presidential assent

• 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: As of 2024, 105 Constitutional Amendments have been passed since 1950.

Part XXI: Temporary and Transitional Provisions (Articles 370-392)

• Article 370: Special status of Jammu and Kashmir (abrogated by Presidential Order, August 5, 2019)
• Article 371: Special provisions for Maharashatra, Gujarat, Nagaland, etc.
• Article 391: Temporary provisions for Tamil Nadu

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: Original articles as per schedule are the constitution

Key Amendments Affecting Articles (2025-26 Exam Relevance)

Amendment	Year	Key Change	Impact
1st Amendment	1951	Added 9th Schedule; restricted Article 19	Agricultural land ceiling laws protected
44th Amendment	1978	Deleted right to property from Part III	Made it constitutional right (Article 300A)
73rd Amendment	1992	Added Part IX (Panchayats)	Decentralization framework
74th Amendment	1992	Added Part IX-A (Municipalities)	Urban local governance
86th Amendment	2002	Added Article 21-A (Right to Education)	Free, compulsory education 6-14 years
101st Amendment	2016	GST Articles 246A, 269-277, 371	Unified indirect taxation
103rd Amendment	2019	10% OBC reservation over SC/ST ceiling	Creamy layer exclusion maintained

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 analysis of RPSC question papers (2015-2024):

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 ([INTERNAL: landmark-sc-judgments-constitution])
• Practice previous 10 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 total 470 (originally 395) and are organized into 22 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) appear in almost 80% of RPSC papers based on last 5 years data
• Articles 246 (Legislative Jurisdiction) and 368 (Amendment Process) require deep understanding for Mains-level questions, not just factual recall
• Amendments post-92nd Amendment (73rd/74th on Panchayats/Municipalities) represent modern constitutional direction; increasingly featured in current affairs-linked questions for 2025-26 cycle

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 470 articles equally important for RAS Prelims? A: No. Approximately 80 articles account for 95% of 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: Generally yes, except for certain provisions. Articles 1, 2, 3, 4 (relating to Union structure) and Articles 245-246 (legislative distribution) require special majority (2/3) under Article 368(2). Amendments affecting federation structure require state legislature ratification as well, per Article 368(3).

Practice Questions

1. Which of the following articles can be described as the "constitutional conscience" of India, being non-justiciable but guiding 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

May 2024 | Verified for 2025-26 RAS examination cycle | Next review: January 2025