Polity questions in SSC, banking, railway and state exams often name an Article number and ask what it deals with, or the other way round. You do not need all 395+ Articles: about 60 cover most questions. Here they are, part by part.
Constitution at a glance
Fact
Detail
Adopted
26 November 1949 (celebrated as Constitution Day / Samvidhan Diwas)
Came into force
26 January 1950 (Republic Day)
Original structure
395 Articles, 22 Parts, 8 Schedules
Present structure (approx)
~470 Articles, 25 Parts, 12 Schedules
Drafting Committee chairman
Dr B.R. Ambedkar
Constituent Assembly president
Dr Rajendra Prasad
Time taken
2 years, 11 months, 18 days
Preamble and Part I: The Union and its territory
Article
Subject
1
India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States
2
Admission or establishment of new states
3
Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names
Part II: Citizenship (Articles 5–11)
Article
Subject
5
Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution
11
Parliament to regulate citizenship by law
Part III: Fundamental Rights (Articles 12–35)
Article
Subject
12
Definition of “the State”
13
Laws inconsistent with Fundamental Rights are void (basis of judicial review)
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 arrest and detention
23
Prohibition of human trafficking and forced labour
24
Prohibition of child labour in factories (below 14)
25–28
Freedom of religion
29–30
Cultural and educational rights of minorities
32
Right to constitutional remedies (“heart and soul” of the Constitution, said Ambedkar)
Article 20 and Article 21 cannot be suspended even during a national emergency (44th Amendment).
Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36–51)
Article
Subject
39A
Equal justice and free legal aid
40
Organisation of village panchayats
44
Uniform Civil Code
45
Early childhood care and education (below 6 years)
48
Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry; protection of cows
48A
Protection of environment, forests and wildlife
50
Separation of judiciary from executive
51
Promotion of international peace and security
Part IVA: Fundamental Duties
Article
Subject
51A
11 Fundamental Duties (10 added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976 on the Swaran Singh Committee recommendation; the 11th added by the 86th Amendment, 2002)
Part V: The Union
Article
Subject
52
There shall be a President of India
54
Election of the President
61
Impeachment of the President
63
Vice-President of India
72
President’s power to pardon
74
Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President
76
Attorney General of India
79
Constitution of Parliament
80 / 81
Composition of Rajya Sabha / Lok Sabha
108
Joint sitting of both Houses
110
Definition of Money Bill
112
Annual Financial Statement (Budget)
123
President’s power to promulgate ordinances
124
Establishment of the Supreme Court
143
President’s power to consult the Supreme Court (advisory jurisdiction)
148
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
Part VI: The States
Article
Subject
153
Governor of each state
161
Governor’s power to pardon
165
Advocate General of the state
213
Governor’s power to promulgate ordinances
214
High Courts for states
226
Power of High Courts to issue writs
Parts VIII to XI
Article
Subject
239AA
Special provisions for Delhi
243–243O
Panchayats (Part IX, added by the 73rd Amendment)
243P–243ZG
Municipalities (Part IXA, added by the 74th Amendment)
243ZH–243ZT
Co-operative societies (Part IXB, added by the 97th Amendment)
262
Adjudication of inter-state water disputes
263
Inter-State Council
Finance, services and elections
Article
Subject
265
No tax without authority of law
266
Consolidated Fund and Public Accounts of India
267
Contingency Fund of India
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 (voting age 18 after the 61st Amendment)
Special provisions, language and emergency
Article
Subject
330 / 332
Reservation of seats for SC/ST in Lok Sabha / state assemblies
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 as the official language of the Union
350A
Instruction in mother tongue at primary stage
352
National emergency
356
President’s Rule in states (state emergency)
360
Financial emergency (never imposed so far)
368
Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution
370
Temporary provisions for J&K (made inoperative in August 2019)