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Fundamental Rights – UPSC GS2

This module of the GS Paper 2: Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR course covers articles 12–35: equality, freedoms, life and liberty, exploitation, religion, minorities and writs. It has 5 study lessons and a 40-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. Fundamental Rights: Definition of State and the Right to Equality (Articles 12–18)

Free 8 min

Part III of the Constitution (Articles 12–35) is called the Magna Carta of India. The rights are "fundamental" because they are protected by the Constitution itself, are essential for the all-round development of the individual,…

2. Right to Freedom: Article 19 and Articles 20 and 22

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Article 19 guarantees to all citizens six rights: 19(1)(a) freedom of speech and expression; 19(1)(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms; 19(1)(c) to form associations or unions or co-operative societies (co-operatives added by the 97th…

3. Article 21 and 21A: Life, Personal Liberty and Education

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Article 21: "No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law." It is available to all persons – citizens and foreigners – and, after the 44th…

4. Rights against Exploitation, Freedom of Religion and Minority Rights (Articles 23–30)

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Article 23 prohibits traffic in human beings, begar (forced labour without payment) and other similar forms of forced labour. It protects citizens and non-citizens, and applies against both the State and private persons. "Traffic in…

5. Constitutional Remedies and Writs (Articles 32–35)

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A right without a remedy is meaningless. Article 32 makes the right to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of Fundamental Rights itself a Fundamental Right. Dr Ambedkar called it "the very soul of the…

 Module quiz: Fundamental Rights (40 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

Six cards summarising the six Fundamental Rights and their article ranges
The right to property was removed from Part III in 1978 and is now Article 300A.
Timeline of eight amendments and Supreme Court judgments on reservation from 1951 to 2024
Reservation law has developed through a dialogue between Parliament and the Supreme Court.
Table listing the six Article 19 freedoms, their clauses and the grounds on which each can be restricted
Restrictions must be imposed by law and must be reasonable and proportionate.
Flowchart of five safeguards a person gets after an ordinary arrest under Article 22
These safeguards do not apply to enemy aliens or to preventive detention, which has its own safeguards.
Eight cards each naming a right read into Article 21 and the case that recognised it
Most of these rights flow from the Maneka Gandhi principle that procedure must be just, fair and reasonable.
Five-step test that a law depriving life or liberty must pass under Articles 21, 14 and 19 and proportionality
A law affecting life or liberty must now satisfy Articles 14, 19 and 21 together.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: Fundamental Rights: Definition of State and the Right to Equality (Articles 12–18); Right to Freedom: Article 19 and Articles 20 and 22; Article 21 and 21A: Life, Personal Liberty and Education; Rights against Exploitation, Freedom of Religion and Minority Rights (Articles 23–30); Constitutional Remedies and Writs (Articles 32–35).

Answer: Article 14. Article 14 applies to "any person".

Answer: Ajay Hasia case. Ajay Hasia (1981) laid down the instrumentality tests.

Answer: 103rd Amendment. 103rd Amendment Act, 2019.

Answer: Indra Sawhney. Indra Sawhney (1992).

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