Important Articles for UPSC Polity: A Complete Guide

The Indian Constitution is a fundamental document that defines the legal framework, rights, duties, and the functioning of various government bodies in India. For UPSC aspirants, especially those preparing for the Polity section, understanding the key articles of the Constitution is essential. This comprehensive guide covers all the important articles that you need to know for UPSC Polity.

Overview of the Indian Constitution

The Indian Constitution, adopted on January 26, 1950, is one of the longest written constitutions in the world. It originally had 395 articles divided into 22 parts, along with 8 schedules. Over time, the number of articles has increased to 448, divided into 25 parts and 12 schedules, through various amendments. Understanding these articles is crucial for UPSC Polity as questions related to them frequently appear in the exam.

List of Important Articles for UPSC Polity

Here is a detailed list of the most significant articles of the Indian Constitution, categorized according to their relevance for UPSC Polity:

Part I: The Union and Its Territory (Articles 1 – 4)

• Article 1: Name and territory of the Union
• Article 2: Admission or establishment of new states
• Article 3: Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries, and names of existing states
• Article 4: Laws made under Articles 2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of the First and the Fourth Schedule and supplemental, incidental, and consequential matters

Part II: Citizenship (Articles 5 – 11)

• Article 5: Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution
• Article 6: Rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India from Pakistan
• Article 10: Continuance of the rights of citizenship
• Article 11: Parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law

Part III: Fundamental Rights (Articles 12 – 35)

• Article 12: Definition of the State
• Article 13: Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the fundamental rights

Right to Equality (Articles 14 – 18)

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

Right to Freedom (Articles 19 – 22)

• Article 19: Protection of six rights, including freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession
• Article 20: Protection in respect of conviction for offenses
• Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty
• Article 22: Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases

Right Against Exploitation (Articles 23 – 24)

• Article 23: Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labor
• Article 24: Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines

Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25 – 28)

• Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion
• Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs
• Article 27: Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion
• Article 28: Freedom from attending religious instruction

Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29 – 30)

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

Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)

• Article 32: Remedies for enforcement of fundamental rights

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

• Article 36: Definition
• Article 37: Application of DPSPs
• Article 39A: Equal justice and free legal aid
• Article 40: Organization of village panchayats
• Article 41: Right to work, to education, and to public assistance in certain cases
• Article 43: Living wages for workers
• Article 43A: Participation of workers in management of industries
• Article 44: Uniform civil code for the citizens
• Article 45: Provision for free and compulsory education for children
• Article 46: Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other weaker sections
• Article 47: Duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health
• Article 48: Organization of agriculture and animal husbandry
• Article 49: Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance
• Article 50: Separation of judiciary from the executive
• Article 51: Promotion of international peace and security

Part IVA: Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)

• Article 51A: Specifies 11 fundamental duties of every citizen

Part V: The Union (Articles 52 – 151)

• Article 52: The President of India
• Article 53: Executive power of the Union
• Article 54: Election of the President
• Article 61: Procedure for impeachment of the President
• Article 63: The Vice-President of India
• Article 64: The Vice-President to be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States
• Article 66: Election of the Vice-President
• Article 72: Pardoning power of the President
• Article 74: Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President
• Article 76: Attorney General of India
• Article 79: Constitution of Parliament
• Article 80: Composition of Rajya Sabha
• Article 81: Composition of Lok Sabha
• Article 83: Duration of Houses of Parliament
• Article 93: The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the People
• Article 105: Powers, privileges, and immunities of Parliament and its members
• Article 109: Special procedure in respect of Money Bills
• Article 110: Definition of Money Bills
• Article 112: Annual financial statement (Budget)
• Article 114: Appropriation Bills
• Article 123: Powers of the President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Parliament
• Article 124: Establishment of the Supreme Court
• Article 125: Salaries of Judges
• Article 126: Appointment of acting Chief Justice
• Article 127: Appointment of ad-hoc Judges
• Article 128: Attendance of retired Judges at sittings of the Supreme Court
• Article 129: Supreme Court to be a court of record
• Article 130: Seat of the Supreme Court
• Article 136: Special leave petition to the Supreme Court
• Article 137: Review of judgments or orders by the Supreme Court
• Article 141: Law declared by the Supreme Court to be binding on all courts
• Article 148: Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
• Article 149: Duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General

Part VI: The States (Articles 152 – 237)

• Article 153: Governors of States
• Article 154: Executive power of the State
• Article 161: Pardoning powers of the Governor
• Article 165: Advocate-General of the State
• Article 213: Power of Governor to promulgate ordinances
• Article 214: High Courts for States
• Article 215: High Courts to be courts of record
• Article 226: Power of High Courts to issue certain writs
• Article 233: Appointment of District Judges
• Article 235: Control over Subordinate Courts

Part VIII: The Union Territories (Articles 239 – 242)

These articles govern the administration and governance of Union Territories.

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

• Article 243A: Gram Sabha
• Article 243B: Constitution of Panchayats

Part IXA: The Municipalities (Articles 243P – 243ZG)

These articles govern the urban local governance system in India, including municipalities and municipal corporations.

Part IXB: Co-operative Societies (Articles 243ZH – 243ZT)

These articles deal with the incorporation, regulation, and winding up of cooperative societies.

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

These articles provide for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas in India.

Part XI: Relations between the Union and the States (Articles 245 – 263)

• Article 245: Extent of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States
• Article 246: Subject-matter of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States

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

• Article 266: Consolidated Fund and Public Account Fund
• Article 267: Contingency Fund of India
• Article 280: Finance Commission
• Article 300A: Right to property

Part XIII: Trade, Commerce, and Intercourse within the Territory of India (Articles 301 – 307)

• Article 301: Freedom of trade, commerce, and intercourse
• Article 302: Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce, and intercourse

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

• Article 312: All India Services
• Article 315: Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States
• Article 320: Functions of Public Service Commissions

Part XIVA: Tribunals (Articles 323A – 323B)

• Article 323A: Administrative Tribunals
• Article 323B: Tribunals for other matters

Part XV: Elections (Articles 324 – 329)

• Article 324: Superintendence, direction, and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission
• Article 325: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in or to claim to be included in a special electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex
• Article 326: Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage

Part XVI: Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes (Articles 330 – 342)

• Article 338: National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
• Article 340: Appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes

Part XVII: Official Language (Articles 343 – 351)

• Article 343: Official languages of the Union
• Article 345: Official languages or languages of States
• Article 348: Language to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts
• Article 351: Directive for the development of the Hindi language

Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions (Articles 352 – 360)

• Article 352: Proclamation of Emergency (National Emergency)
• Article 356: State Emergency (President’s Rule)
• Article 360: Financial Emergency

Part XIX: Miscellaneous (Articles 361 – 367)

• Article 361: Protection of President and Governors from legal action

Part XX: Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368)

• Article 368: Powers of Parliament to amend the Constitution

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

• Article 370: Special provision for Jammu and Kashmir (now abrogated)
• Article 371A: Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland
• Article 371J: Special status for the Hyderabad-Karnataka region

Part XXII: Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi, and Repeals (Articles 393 – 395)

• Article 393: Short title – This Constitution may be called the Constitution of India

Schedules of the Indian Constitution

The Indian Constitution contains 12 schedules, each detailing specific areas such as allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha, administration of tribal areas, and more.

1. First Schedule: States and Union Territories
2. Second Schedule: Provisions related to the President, Governors, Judges, etc.
3. Third Schedule: Oaths and affirmations
4. Fourth Schedule: Allocation of Rajya Sabha seats
5. Fifth Schedule: Administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Tribes
6. Sixth Schedule: Administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram
7. Seventh Schedule: Union, State, and Concurrent Lists
8. Eighth Schedule: Official languages
9. Ninth Schedule: Acts and regulations (land reforms, etc.) exempt from judicial review
10. Tenth Schedule: Anti-defection provisions
11. Eleventh Schedule: Powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats
12. Twelfth Schedule: Powers, authority, and responsibilities of Municipalities

Conclusion

Mastering the key articles of the Indian Constitution is essential for acing the Polity section of the UPSC exam. This comprehensive guide covers all the significant articles you need to study, helping you build a strong foundation in Indian Polity. Remember, understanding these articles will not only aid you in the UPSC exam but also provide a deeper insight into the functioning of the Indian government and your rights as a citizen.

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