Constitution of India - current overview
The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950. It establishes the constitutional framework of the Union and the States, creates the principal institutions of government, distributes legislative and executive powers, guarantees Fundamental Rights and provides constitutional remedies.
The official consolidated text published by the Legislative Department is available as on 1 May 2026. Readers should use the latest official text for authoritative wording, amendments, footnotes and omitted provisions.
Fundamental Rights and constitutional remedies
Part III protects core constitutional freedoms and safeguards. Important provisions include Articles 14-18 on equality, Article 19 on specified freedoms, Articles 20-22 on protections relating to criminal law, life, personal liberty, arrest and detention, Articles 25-30 on religious, cultural and educational rights, and Article 32 on remedies for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
Constitutional writs commonly associated with Articles 32 and 226 include habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari and quo warranto. The maintainability and scope of any writ petition depend on the constitutional provision invoked, the nature of the right or public duty involved, availability of alternative remedies and binding judicial precedent.
Article-wise Constitution index
Preamble, Union, Citizenship and Fundamental Rights
- Preamble and Articles 1-2 - Union, territory and admission or establishment of new States
- Article 3 - Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names
- Article 4 - Laws under Articles 2 and 3; First and Fourth Schedules
- Articles 5-6 - Citizenship at commencement and certain migrants from Pakistan
- Articles 7-8 - Certain migrants to Pakistan and persons of Indian origin abroad
- Articles 9-11 - Foreign citizenship, continuance and Parliament's power over citizenship
- Articles 12-13 - State, Fundamental Rights and inconsistent laws
- Articles 14-15 - Equality before law and prohibition of discrimination
- Articles 16-18 - Public employment, abolition of untouchability and titles
- Articles 19-20 - Freedoms and protection in respect of conviction for offences
- Articles 21-22 - Life and personal liberty; arrest and detention safeguards
- Articles 23-24 - Trafficking, forced labour and child labour protections
- Articles 25-26 - Freedom of conscience, religion and religious affairs
- Articles 27-28 - Religious taxation and religious instruction
- Articles 29-30 - Cultural and educational rights
- Articles 31A-31C - Saving and validation provisions
- Articles 32-33 - Constitutional remedies and modification of rights in specified forces
- Articles 34-35 - Martial law restrictions and Parliamentary legislation
Directive Principles and remaining Articles
- Articles 36-37 - Directive Principles: definition and application
- Articles 38-39 - Social order and principles of State policy
- Articles 39A-40 - Equal justice, free legal aid and village panchayats
- Articles 41-78 - Directive Principles, Fundamental Duties, President and Union executive
- Articles 79-122 - Parliament
- Articles 123-167 - Legislative powers of President; Governors and State executive
- Articles 168-201 - State Legislatures
- Articles 202-237 - State finance, High Courts and subordinate courts
- Articles 238-244A - Part VII omission and Scheduled/Tribal Areas
- Articles 245-281 - Union-State legislative and financial relations
- Articles 282-323 - Finance, property, services, public service commissions and elections
- Articles 323A-360 - Tribunals, special provisions, official language and emergencies
- Articles 361-395 - Miscellaneous, amendment, temporary provisions and repeals
Schedules to the Constitution of India
- First Schedule - States and Union Territories
- Second Schedule - Constitutional offices, emoluments and related provisions
- Third Schedule - Forms of oaths and affirmations
- Fourth Schedule - Allocation of seats in the Council of States
- Fifth Schedule - Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
- Sixth Schedule - Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
- Seventh Schedule - Union, State and Concurrent Lists
- Eighth Schedule - Languages
- Ninth Schedule - Article 31B
- Tenth Schedule - Disqualification on ground of defection
- Eleventh Schedule - Panchayats
- Twelfth Schedule - Municipalities
Constitutional case law and related guides
- Fundamental Rights under the Constitution of India
- Important Supreme Court case law on Fundamental Rights
- Schedules to the Constitution - purpose and overview
- Important Articles and Schedules of the Constitution
- Case law on constitutional amendments held unconstitutional
- Cases and reports leading to constitutional amendments
- Supreme Court case law on validity of constitutional amendments
- Anti-defection law - Tenth Schedule, Articles 102(2) and 191(2)
Using this Constitution index
The links above provide topic-wise access to the existing article and Schedule pages on this website. For the authoritative constitutional text, amendment footnotes and current wording, consult the official Government of India consolidated text linked in the sidebar.
Legal information on this page is for general reference. Constitutional questions often depend on the precise text in force, judicial interpretation and the facts of the particular matter.