Indian constitution

THE
CONSTITUTION
OF INDIA

THE
CONSTITUTION
OF INDIA
(As modified up to the 1st December, 2007)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE

PREFACE
Constitution is a living document, an instrument which makes the
government system work. Its flexibility lies in its amendments. In this edition,
the text of the Constitution of India has been brought up-to-date by
incorporating therein all amendments made by Parliament up to and including
the Constitution (Ninety-fourth Amendment) Act, 2006. The footnotes below
the text indicate the Constitution Amendment Acts by which such amendments
have been made.
The Constitution applies to the State of Jammu and Kashmir with certain
exceptions and modifications as provided in article 370 and the Constitution
(Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954. This Order has been
included in Appendix I for facility of reference. Appendix II contains a
re-statement of the exceptions and modifications.
The text of the constitutional amendments relating to the Constitution
(Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, the Constitution (Eighty-sixth
Amendment) Act, 2002 and the Constitution (Eighty-eighth Amendment) Act,
2003, which have not yet come into force, have been provided in the text at
the appropriate places wherever or otherwise in the footnote.
N
EW DELHI;DR. K.N. CHATURVEDI,
1st December 2007.Secretary to the Government of India

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED
Art., arts. ...........................................................forArticle, articles.
Cl., cls............................................................ “Clause, clauses.
C.O............................................................ “ Constitutiion Order.
Ins. ........................................................... “ Inserted.
P., pp. ...........................................................“ Page, pages.
Pt. ...........................................................“ Part.
Rep............................................................ “ Repealed.
Sec., ss............................................................ “Section, sections.
Sch. ...........................................................“ Schedule.
Subs. ...........................................................“ Substituted.
w.e.f............................................................ “with effect from.

THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
CONTENTS
PAGES
PREAMBLE................................................................................................................................. 1
PA RT I
THE UNION AND ITS TERRITORY
A
RTICLES
1.Name and territory of the Union................................................................... 2
2.Admission or establishment of new States................................................ 2
2A.[Repealed.] .............................................................................................................. 2
3.Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names
of existing States................................................................................................ 2 - 3
4.Laws made under articles 2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of
the First and the Fourth Schedules and supplemental, incidental and
consequential matters....................................................................................... 3
PA RT I I
CITIZENSHIP
5.Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution.......................... 4
6.Rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India
from Pakistan...................................................................................................... 4
7.Rights of citizenship of certain migrants to Pakistan............................. 5
8.Rights of citizenship of certain persons of Indian origin residing
outside India....................................................................................................... 5
9.Persons voluntarily acquiring citizenship of a foreign State not to be
citizens................................................................................................................... 5
10.Continuance of the rights of citizenship..................................................... 5
11.Parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law........................... 5
PART III
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
General
12.Definition.............................................................................................................. 6
13.Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the fundamental rights. ...... 6
Right to Equality
14.Equality before law........................................................................................... 6
15.Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex
or place of birth.................................................................................................. 7

ARTICLES...........................................................................................................PAGES
16.Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.................. 7 - 8
17.Abolition of Untouchability............................................................................ 8
18.Abolition of titles............................................................................................... 8 - 9
Right to Freedom
19.Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc..............9-10
20.Protection in respect of conviction for offences........................................ 1 0
21.Protection of life and personal liberty.......................................................... 1 0
21A.Right to education............................................................................................. 11
22.Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases........................ 11-12
Right against Exploitation
23.Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour ..................... 1 3
24.Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc......................... 1 3
Right to Freedom of Religion
25.Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation
of religion .............................................................................................................. 1 3
26.Freedom to manage religious affairs...........................................................13-14
27.Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular
religion................................................................................................................... 1 4
28.Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship
in certain educational institutions................................................................ 1 4
Cultural and Educational Rights
29.Protection of interests of minorities............................................................. 1 4
30.Right of minorities to establish and administer educational
institutions...........................................................................................................14-15
31.[Repealed.] .............................................................................................................. 1 5
Saving of Certain Laws
31A.Saving of Laws providing for acquisition of estates, etc. .....................15-17
31B.Validation of certain Acts and Regulations............................................... 1 7
31C.Saving of laws giving effect to certain directive principles...................17-18
31D.[Repealed.] .............................................................................................................. 1 8
Right to Constitutional Remedies
32.Remedies for enforcement of rights conferred by this Part................... 1 8
32A.[Repealed.] .............................................................................................................. 1 8
33.Power of Parliament to modify the rights conferred by this Part in
their application to Forces, etc....................................................................... 1 9
34.Restriction on rights conferred by this Part while martial law is in
force in any area................................................................................................. 1 9
35.Legislation to give effect to the provisions of this Part..........................19-20
Contents (ii)

PA RT I V
DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY
ARTICLES...........................................................................................................PAGES
36.Definition.............................................................................................................. 2 1
37.Application of the principles contained in this Part............................... 2 1
38.State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the
people.................................................................................................................... 2 1
39.Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State........................21-22
39A.Equal justice and free legal aid ...................................................................... 2 2
40.Organisation of village panchayats............................................................. 2 2
41.Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain
cases....................................................................................................................... 2 2
42.Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity
relief........................................................................................................................ 2 2
43.Living wage, etc., for workers........................................................................22-23
43A.Participation of workers in management of industries.......................... 2 3
44.Uniform civil code for the citizens................................................................ 2 3
45.Provision for free and compulsory education for children.................... 2 3
46.Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections............................................. 2 3
47.Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of
living and to improve public health............................................................. 2 3
48.Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry............................... 2 3
48A.Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of
forests and wild life........................................................................................... 2 4
49.Protection of monuments and places and objects of national
importance........................................................................................................... 2 4
50.Separation of judiciary from executive....................................................... 2 4
51.Promotion of international peace and security......................................... 2 4
PA RT I VA
FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
51A.Fundamental duties.......................................................................................... 2 5
PA RT V
THE