Important Articles of Indian Constitution: The Short Answer
The articles asked most in SSC, railway and bank exams are Article 14 (equality before law), Article 17 (abolition of untouchability), Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty), Article 21A (right to education), Article 32 (constitutional remedies), Article 44 (Uniform Civil Code), Article 51A (fundamental duties), Article 72 (President's pardoning power), Article 110 (money bill), Article 123 (ordinances), Article 280 (Finance Commission), Article 324 (Election Commission), Articles 352, 356 and 360 (emergencies) and Article 368 (amendment). The full list below groups articles by part, so you can learn them in blocks.
Key takeaway for exams: Learn the part ranges first (Part III = 12–35, Part IV = 36–51, Part V = 52–151, Part VI = 152–237), then the "famous numbers" inside each range. Article numbers follow the text of the Constitution as amended up to October 2026.
For the detailed rights articles see fundamental rights articles 12 to 35; for where these ideas came from, see sources of Indian Constitution.
Parts of the Constitution and Their Article Ranges
| Part | Subject | Articles |
|---|---|---|
| I | The Union and its territory | 1–4 |
| II | Citizenship | 5–11 |
| III | Fundamental Rights | 12–35 |
| IV | Directive Principles of State Policy | 36–51 |
| IV-A | Fundamental Duties | 51A |
| V | The Union (President, Parliament, Supreme Court, CAG) | 52–151 |
| VI | The States | 152–237 |
| VIII | Union Territories | 239–242 |
| IX | Panchayats | 243–243O |
| IX-A | Municipalities | 243P–243ZG |
| XI | Centre–state relations | 245–263 |
| XII | Finance, property, contracts and suits | 264–300A |
| XIV | Services under the Union and states | 308–323 |
| XV | Elections | 324–329 |
| XVIII | Emergency provisions | 352–360 |
| XX | Amendment of the Constitution | 368 |
Important Articles on Fundamental Rights and Duties
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| 12 | Definition of "the State" |
| 13 | Laws inconsistent with fundamental rights are void |
| 14 | Equality before law and equal protection of laws |
| 15 | No discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth |
| 16 | Equality of opportunity in public employment |
| 17 | Abolition of untouchability |
| 18 | Abolition of titles |
| 19 | Six freedoms (speech, assembly, association, movement, residence, profession) |
| 20 | Protection in respect of conviction for offences |
| 21 | Protection of life and personal liberty |
| 21A | Right to education (6–14 years), added by the 86th Amendment, 2002 |
| 22 | Protection against arbitrary arrest and detention |
| 23 | Prohibition of human trafficking and forced labour |
| 24 | Prohibition of child labour in factories (below 14 years) |
| 25–28 | Freedom of religion |
| 29–30 | Cultural and educational rights of minorities |
| 32 | Right to constitutional remedies (writs by the Supreme Court) |
| 51A | Fundamental duties (11 duties) |
Exam line: Dr B. R. Ambedkar called Article 32 the "heart and soul" of the Constitution.
Important Articles on DPSP (Articles 36 to 51)
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| 39A | Equal justice and free legal aid |
| 40 | Organisation of village panchayats |
| 41 | Right to work, education and public assistance in certain cases |
| 43 | Living wage for workers |
| 44 | Uniform Civil Code for citizens |
| 45 | Early childhood care and education for children below 6 years |
| 46 | Promotion of educational and economic interests of SCs, STs and weaker sections |
| 47 | Raise nutrition and public health; prohibit intoxicating drinks |
| 48 | Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry |
| 48A | Protection of environment, forests and wildlife |
| 49 | Protection of monuments of national importance |
| 50 | Separation of judiciary from executive |
| 51 | Promotion of international peace and security |
Read directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties for the full classification.
Important Articles on the President, Parliament and Supreme Court
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| 52 | There shall be a President of India |
| 53 | Executive power of the Union vests in the President |
| 54 | Election of the President |
| 61 | Impeachment of the President |
| 63 | Vice-President of India |
| 72 | President's power to grant pardons |
| 74 | Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President |
| 75 | Appointment of the Prime Minister and ministers |
| 76 | Attorney General of India |
| 79 | Constitution of Parliament |
| 80 | Composition of the Rajya Sabha |
| 81 | Composition of the Lok Sabha |
| 85 | Sessions, prorogation and dissolution |
| 93 | Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha |
| 108 | Joint sitting of both Houses |
| 110 | Definition of money bill |
| 112 | Annual financial statement (Union Budget) |
| 123 | President's power to promulgate ordinances |
| 124 | Establishment of the Supreme Court |
| 143 | Power of the President to consult the Supreme Court |
| 148 | Comptroller and Auditor General of India |
Important Articles on States, Local Bodies and Centre–State Relations
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| 153 | Governors of states |
| 155 | Appointment of the Governor |
| 161 | Governor's power to grant pardons |
| 163 | Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor |
| 165 | Advocate General for the state |
| 168 | State legislatures |
| 213 | Governor's power to promulgate ordinances |
| 214 | High Courts for states |
| 226 | High Courts' power to issue writs |
| 239AA | Special provisions for Delhi |
| 243G | Powers of panchayats |
| 246 | Subject matter of laws by Parliament and states (Seventh Schedule) |
| 249 | Parliament's power to legislate on a State List subject in the national interest |
| 262 | Adjudication of inter-state water disputes |
| 263 | Inter-State Council |
Important Articles on Finance, Elections, Emergency and Amendment
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| 265 | No tax without the authority of law |
| 266 | Consolidated Fund and Public Accounts |
| 267 | Contingency Fund |
| 279A | GST Council (added by the 101st Amendment, 2016) |
| 280 | Finance Commission |
| 300A | Right to property (a legal right since the 44th Amendment, 1978) |
| 312 | All India Services |
| 315 | Public Service Commissions (UPSC and state PSCs) |
| 324 | Election Commission |
| 326 | Elections on the basis of adult suffrage |
| 330A | Reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha (106th Amendment, 2023) |
| 338 | National Commission for Scheduled Castes |
| 338A | National Commission for Scheduled Tribes |
| 338B | National Commission for Backward Classes (102nd Amendment, 2018) |
| 343 | Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union |
| 352 | National emergency |
| 356 | President's rule in states |
| 360 | Financial emergency |
| 368 | Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution |
| 370 | Temporary provisions for Jammu and Kashmir (made inoperative in August 2019) |
See the important constitutional amendments list for the amendments named above.
Tricks to Remember Important Articles
- "14-15-16-17-18" run in order: equality → no discrimination → jobs → untouchability → titles.
- "21 is life, 21A is learning."
- "32 = courts' doors": you go to the Supreme Court under 32 and the High Court under 226.
- "72 for the President, 161 for the Governor": pardon powers.
- "123 for the President, 213 for the Governor": ordinances (both end in 3).
- "352, 356, 360 = emergency trio": national, state, financial.
- "110 money, 112 budget": money bill and annual financial statement.
- "148 audits, 280 shares, 324 votes": CAG, Finance Commission, Election Commission.
Common Mistakes on Constitution Articles
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| Article 32 for High Court writs | Article 32 = Supreme Court; Article 226 = High Courts |
| Article 356 = national emergency | Article 352 = national emergency; 356 = President's rule |
| Article 51 = fundamental duties | Article 51A = fundamental duties (51 is international peace) |
| Right to property is a fundamental right | It is a legal right under Article 300A |
| Article 110 = budget | Article 110 = money bill; 112 = annual financial statement |
| Article 76 = Advocate General | 76 = Attorney General; 165 = Advocate General |
Important Articles MCQs (with Answers)
1. Which article abolishes untouchability? Article 17.
2. The right to education is in which article? Article 21A.
3. Which article deals with the Uniform Civil Code? Article 44.
4. The President's power to grant pardons is under: Article 72.
5. Which article defines a money bill? Article 110.
6. Financial emergency is declared under: Article 360.
7. The Election Commission is provided for in: Article 324.
8. The GST Council was created under: Article 279A.
9. Which article provides for the Finance Commission? Article 280.
10. Parliament's power to amend the Constitution is in: Article 368.
Important Articles of Indian Constitution FAQs
Which are the most important articles of the Indian Constitution?
Articles 14, 17, 19, 21, 21A, 32, 44, 51A, 72, 110, 123, 280, 324, 352, 356, 360 and 368 are asked most often in SSC, railway and bank exams.
Which article is called the heart and soul of the Constitution?
Article 32, the right to constitutional remedies, as described by Dr B. R. Ambedkar.
What is the difference between Article 32 and Article 226?
Article 32 lets a person approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights. Article 226 lets High Courts issue writs for fundamental rights and for other legal rights, so its scope is wider.
Which articles deal with emergency provisions?
Article 352 (national emergency), Article 356 (failure of constitutional machinery in a state, or President's rule) and Article 360 (financial emergency).
Which article contains the fundamental duties?
Article 51A in Part IV-A, added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. There are 11 duties now; the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment, 2002.
How many parts and schedules does the Constitution have?
The original Constitution had 22 parts and 8 schedules. It now has 12 schedules; new parts such as IV-A, IX-A and IX-B were added by amendments.
Practice Next
- Mock tests: SSC CGL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 04, SSC CHSL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 02, RRB NTPC General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01 and SSC CGL General Awareness Mini Mock Test 01.
- Related notes: sources of Indian Constitution, fundamental rights articles 12 to 35, important constitutional amendments list and 12 schedules of the Indian Constitution trick.
- Exam details: SSC CGL 2026 and RRB NTPC 2026.
- Browse all study notes.