📄 From your Polity Notes PDF
📜 1. The 22 Parts of the Constitution
Memory aid: "You can fly directly from the United States using a para-military-created special rocket; foreign tours sound too expensive; she owns expensive hats" — the italicised words cue Union & Territory, Citizenship, Fundamental Rights, DPSP, the Union, the States, Union Territories, Panchayats, Municipalities, Scheduled Areas, Centre-State Relations, Finance, Trade & Commerce, Services, Elections, Special Provisions, Official Languages, and Emergency Provisions, roughly in order.
| Part | Subject-matter | Articles |
|---|
| I | Union and its territory | 1–4 |
| II | Citizenship | 5–11 |
| III | Fundamental Rights | 12–35 |
| IV | Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) | 36–51 |
| IV-A | Fundamental Duties | 51A |
| V | The Union | 52–151 |
| VI | The States | 152–237 |
| VII | Repealed — omitted by the 7th Amendment, 1956 | — |
| VIII | The Union Territories | 239–242 |
| IX | The Panchayats | 243–243O |
| IX-A | The Municipalities | 243P–243ZG |
| IX-B | The Co-operative Societies | 243ZH–243ZT |
| X | The Scheduled and Tribal Areas | 244–244A |
| XI | Relations between the Union and the States | 245–263 |
| XII | Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits | 264–300A |
| XIII | Trade, Commerce and Intercourse within India | 301–307 |
| XIV | Services under the Union and the States | 308–323 |
| XIV-A | Tribunals | 323A–323B |
| XV | Elections | 324–329A |
| XVI | Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes | 330–342A |
| XVII | Official Languages | 343–351 |
| XVIII | Emergency Provisions | 352–360 |
| XIX | Miscellaneous | 361–367 |
| XX | Amendment of the Constitution | 368 |
| XXI | Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions | 369–392 |
| XXII | Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text and Repeals | 393–395 |
⚖️ 2. Fundamental Rights, DPSP & Fundamental Duties — Key Articles
Union and its Territory (Arts. 1–4)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 1 | Name and territory of the Union |
| 2 | Admission or establishment of new States |
| 3 | Formation of new States; alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States |
Citizenship (Arts. 5–11)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 5 | Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution |
| 11 | Parliament's power to regulate the right of citizenship by law |
Fundamental Rights (Arts. 12–35)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 12 | Definition of 'the State' for Part III |
| 13 | Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of Fundamental Rights |
| 14 | Equality before law |
| 15 | Prohibition of discrimination |
| 16 | Equality of opportunity in public employment |
| 17 | Abolition of untouchability |
| 18 | Abolition of titles |
| 19 | Protection of six freedoms, incl. speech and expression |
| 20 | Protection in respect of conviction for offences |
| 21 | Protection of life and personal liberty |
| 21A | Right to education |
| 22 | Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases |
| 23 | Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour |
| 24 | Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc. |
| 25 | Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion |
| 26 | Freedom to manage religious affairs |
| 27 | Freedom from taxation for promotion of any religion |
| 28 | Freedom from religious instruction/worship in certain institutions |
| 29 | Protection of interests of minorities |
| 30 | Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions |
| 31 | Repealed (right to property, by the 44th Amendment, 1978) |
| 31A | Saving of laws providing for acquisition of estates |
| 31B | Validation of certain Acts and Regulations (Ninth Schedule) |
| 31C | Saving of laws giving effect to certain Directive Principles |
| 32 | Right to constitutional remedies (writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court) |
| 33 | Power of Parliament to modify FR for the armed forces |
| 34 | Restriction on FR while martial law is in force |
| 35 | Legislation to give effect to the provisions of Part III |
Directive Principles of State Policy (Arts. 36–51)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 36 | Definition of 'the State' for Part IV |
| 37 | Application of the Directive Principles |
| 38 | State to secure a social order for the welfare of the people |
| 39 | Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State |
| 39A | Equal justice and free legal aid |
| 40 | Organisation of village panchayats |
| 41 | Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases |
| 42 | Just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief |
| 43 | Living wage, etc., for workers |
| 43A | Workers' participation in management of industries |
| 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 SC/ST and weaker sections |
| 47 | Duty to raise nutrition, standard of living and public health |
| 48 | Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry |
| 48A | Protection and improvement of environment, forests and wildlife |
| 49 | Protection of monuments and places of national importance |
| 50 | Separation of the judiciary from the executive |
| 51 | Promotion of international peace and security |
Fundamental Duties (Art. 51A) — added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976, on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee; a further duty (for parents/guardians to provide education, Art. 51A(k)) was added by the 86th Amendment, 2002, taking the total to eleven.
🏛️ 3. Union Executive & Parliament — Key Articles
President and Vice-President (Arts. 52–73)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 52 | The President of India |
| 53 | Executive power of the Union |
| 54–60 | Election, term, re-election, qualification, conditions of office and oath of the President |
| 61 | Procedure for impeachment of the President |
| 63 | The Vice-President of India |
| 67–69 | Term, vacancy and oath of the Vice-President |
| 72 | Pardoning power of the President |
Union Council of Ministers & Attorney General (Arts. 74–78)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 74 | Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President |
| 76 | Attorney General for India |
| 78 | Duties of the PM re: furnishing information to the President |
Parliament (Arts. 79–123)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 79 | Constitution of Parliament (Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha) |
| 81 | Composition of the Lok Sabha |
| 87 | Special address by the President |
| 89 | The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha |
| 93 | The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha |
| 94 | Vacation and removal from the office of Speaker/Deputy Speaker |
| 95 | Deputy Speaker to act as, or perform duties of, Speaker |
| 96 | Speaker/Deputy Speaker not to preside while a resolution for removal is considered |
| 97 | Salaries of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Speaker and Deputy Speaker |
| 108 | Joint sitting of both Houses |
| 110 | Definition of 'Money Bills' |
| 111 | Assent to Bills by the President |
| 112 | The annual financial statement (Budget) |
| 113 | Procedure in Parliament with respect to estimates |
| 114 | Appropriation Bills |
| 116 | Votes on account, votes of credit and exceptional grants |
| 117 | Special provisions as to financial Bills |
| 118 | Rules of procedure of each House |
| 120 | Language to be used in Parliament |
| 122 | Courts not to inquire into proceedings of Parliament |
| 123 | Power of the President to promulgate ordinances |
🏢 4. State Executive & State Legislature — Key Articles
Governor (Arts. 152–162)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 153 | Governors of States |
| 154 | Executive power of the State |
| 155–159 | Appointment, term, qualification, conditions of office and oath of the Governor |
| 161 | Pardoning power of the Governor |
State Council of Ministers & Advocate General (Arts. 163–167)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 163 | Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor |
| 165 | Advocate General for the State |
| 167 | Duties of the CM re: furnishing information to the Governor |
State Legislature (Arts. 168–213)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 168 | Constitution of State Legislatures |
| 169 | Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils |
| 170 | Composition of the Legislative Assembly |
| 176 | Special address by the Governor |
| 178 | Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (cf. Art. 89) |
| 182 | Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council (cf. Art. 93) |
| 183–186 | Vacation, removal and salary of presiding officers (cf. Arts. 94–97) |
| 199 | Definition of 'Money Bills' in a State (cf. Art. 110) |
| 200 | Assent to Bills by the Governor (cf. Art. 111) |
| 202 | Annual financial statement of a State (cf. Art. 112) |
| 203–204 | Procedure on estimates; Appropriation Bills (cf. Arts. 113–114) |
| 206–207 | Votes on account/credit; special provisions for financial Bills (cf. Arts. 116–117) |
| 208 | Rules of procedure in State Legislature (cf. Art. 118) |
| 210 | Language to be used in the State Legislature (cf. Art. 120) |
| 212 | Courts not to inquire into proceedings of the State Legislature (cf. Art. 122) |
| 213 | Power of the Governor to promulgate ordinances (cf. Art. 123) |
⚖️ 5. Judiciary — Key Articles
Supreme Court (Arts. 124–147)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 124 | Establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court |
| 124A | National Judicial Appointments Commission — inserted by the 99th Amendment (2014); struck down as unconstitutional in 2015 for violating the basic structure (independence of the judiciary) |
| 125 | Salaries of judges |
| 126 | Appointment of an acting Chief Justice of India |
| 127 | Appointment of ad hoc judges |
| 128 | Attendance of retired judges at sittings of the Supreme Court |
| 131 | Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court |
| 132–134 | Appellate jurisdiction — constitutional, civil and criminal matters |
| 137 | Review of its own judgments by the Supreme Court |
| 139A | Transfer of certain cases |
| 141 | Law declared by the Supreme Court binding on all courts |
| 143 | Power of the President to consult the Supreme Court |
High Courts (Arts. 214–232)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 214 | High Courts for States |
| 216 | Constitution of High Courts |
| 217 | Appointment and conditions of office of a High Court judge |
| 221 | Salaries of judges |
| 223 | Appointment of an acting Chief Justice of a High Court |
| 224 | Appointment of additional and acting judges |
| 224A | Appointment of retired judges at sittings of High Courts |
| 226 | Power of High Courts to issue certain writs |
| 228 | Transfer of certain cases to a High Court |
Subordinate Courts & CAG (Arts. 148–151, 233–237)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 233 | Appointment of district judges |
| 148 | Comptroller and Auditor General of India |
| 149 | Duties and powers of the CAG |
| 150 | Form of accounts of the Union and of the States |
| 151 | Audit reports |
🤝 6. Centre-State Relations, Services & Public Service Commissions
Legislative Relations (Arts. 245–255)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 245 | Extent of laws made by Parliament and by State Legislatures |
| 246 | Subject-matter of laws: Union, State and Concurrent Lists |
| 246A | Special provision with respect to Goods and Services Tax |
| 248 | Residuary powers of legislation |
| 249 | Parliament's power to legislate on a State-List matter in the national interest |
| 250 | Parliament's power to legislate on a State-List matter during a national emergency |
| 251 | Inconsistency between Union laws (under Arts. 249/250) and State laws |
| 252 | Parliament's power to legislate for two or more States by their consent |
| 253 | Legislation for giving effect to international agreements |
| 254 | Inconsistency between laws made by Parliament and by State Legislatures |
Administrative & Financial Relations
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 256 | Obligation of States and the Union |
| 262 | Adjudication of disputes relating to inter-State waters |
| 263 | Provisions with respect to an Inter-State Council |
| 265 | Taxes not to be imposed save by authority of law |
| 266 | Consolidated Funds and public accounts |
| 268–281 | Distribution of tax revenues between Union and States (incl. corporation tax, estate duty, agricultural income tax) |
| 280 | The Finance Commission |
| 300A | Right to property (a constitutional, not Fundamental, right since the 44th Amendment, 1978) |
Trade, Commerce & Services
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 301 | Freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse throughout India |
| 302–307 | Restrictions Parliament/State Legislatures may impose on that freedom |
| 312 | All-India Services |
| 315 | Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States |
| 316 | Appointment of members of a Public Service Commission |
| 323A | Administrative tribunals |
| 323B | Tribunals for other matters |
🏘️ 7. Local Government & Special Areas — Key Articles
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 239 | Administration of Union Territories |
| 239A | Creation of local legislatures/Councils of Ministers for certain UTs |
| 239AA | Special provisions for the National Capital Territory of Delhi |
| 239B | Power of the Administrator to promulgate ordinances |
| 243 | Definitions (Panchayats) |
| 243A | Gram Sabha |
| 243B | Constitution of Panchayats |
| 243P | Definitions (Municipalities) |
| 243Q | Constitution of Municipalities |
| 243ZH–243ZI | Definitions and incorporation of co-operative societies (added by the 97th Amendment, 2011) |
| 244 | Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas |
| 244A | Formation of an autonomous State comprising certain tribal areas in Assam |
🗳️ 8. Elections, Special Provisions, Languages, Emergency & Misc.
Elections (Arts. 324–329A)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 324 | Superintendence, direction and control of elections to vest in the Election Commission |
| 326 | Elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies on the basis of adult suffrage |
| 327 | Parliament's power to make provisions with respect to elections |
| 328 | State Legislature's power to make provisions on elections (subject to Art. 327) |
Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes (Arts. 330–342A)
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 330 | Reservation of seats for SC/ST in the Lok Sabha |
| 331 | Nomination of Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha — removed by the 104th Amendment, 2020 |
| 332 | Reservation of seats for SC/ST in State Legislative Assemblies |
| 334 | Sunset clause on such reservation (periodically extended) |
| 335 | Claims of SC/ST to services and posts |
| 336 | Special provision for certain services for Anglo-Indians (transitional) |
| 338 | National Commission for Scheduled Castes |
| 338A | National Commission for Scheduled Tribes |
| 338B | National Commission for Backward Classes |
| 339 | Union control over administration of Scheduled Areas and welfare of Scheduled Tribes |
| 340 | Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes |
| 341–342 | Definition/notification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes |
| 342A | Socially and educationally backward classes (added by the 102nd Amendment, 2018) |
Official Languages, Emergency & Misc.
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 343 | Official language of the Union |
| 345 | Official language(s) of a State |
| 348 | Language to be used in the Supreme Court and High Courts |
| 350 | Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities |
| 351 | Directive for development of the Hindi language |
| 352 | Proclamation of National Emergency (war, external aggression or armed rebellion); effect at Art. 353 |
| 355 | Duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance |
| 356 | Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in a State ('President's Rule') |
| 358 | Suspension of Article 19 during a National Emergency |
| 360 | Financial Emergency |
| 361 | Protection of the President and Governors |
| 361A | Protection of publication of proceedings of Parliament and State Legislatures |
| 365 | Effect of a State's failure to comply with Union directions |
📝 9. Amendment & Temporary/Transitional Provisions
Article 368 lays down the amendment procedure, covering three routes: simple parliamentary majority, special majority of Parliament, and special majority plus ratification by at least half the State Legislatures for federal provisions.
| Article(s) | Subject-matter |
|---|
| 369 | Temporary power to Parliament to legislate on certain State-List matters as if in the Concurrent List |
| 370 | Temporary provisions for J&K — its special status was abrogated by a Presidential Order in August 2019 |
| 373 | President's power in respect of preventive detention in certain cases |
| 376 | Provisions as to judges of High Courts |
| 377 | Provisions as to the Comptroller and Auditor General |
| 378 | Provisions as to the Public Service Commissions |
Article 393 gives the Constitution its short title; Article 394 deals with commencement; Article 395 repealed the Indian Independence Act, 1947 and the Government of India Act, 1935.
📖 10. Constitutional Terms — Not Mentioned in the Constitution
Everyday constitutional-law and parliamentary-practice terms that do not appear anywhere in the constitutional text — they evolved through convention, judicial interpretation, or House rules.
Basic Structure • Judicial Review • Federation / Federal • Budget • Whip • Zero Hour • Question Hour • Leader of the House • Leader of the Opposition • Minority Government • Cabinet Committee
📖 11. Constitutional Terms — Mentioned but Not Defined
The Constitution uses these terms without spelling out a precise definition, leaving the detail to Parliament, later law, or judicial interpretation.
Words and phrases left undefined
Office of Profit • Public Order • Public Interest • Reasonable Restriction • Socialist • Secular • Untouchability • Domicile • Martial Law • Violation of the Constitution • Contempt of Court • Scheduled Caste • Scheduled Tribe • OBC • Uniform Civil Code
Procedural gaps left to convention or later law
No fixed time-frame for a State Legislature to act on a law reserved by the Governor for the President's consideration • No specified grounds for removal of the Vice-President • No clear procedure for the selection/appointment of the Prime Minister or the Attorney General • 'Poverty', 'social justice' and 'minority' used in the Preamble/DPSP without definition
Emoluments, tenure & procedure left unspecified
Emoluments of the Vice-President • Strength of the Supreme Court/High Courts (left to Parliament) • Conditions of service of Election Commission and UPSC members • Legal responsibility of Ministers • Size and classification of the Council of Ministers • Term of Rajya Sabha members (implied, not fixed in the text) • No procedure to declare an election void where a disqualified person was elected • No provision for pension of Members of Parliament • Procedure for a Governor to grant assent to a State Bill • Minimum age/tenure for appointment as a Supreme Court/High Court judge • Transfer procedure for judges • Qualifications, membership and term for the Election Commission and State Public Service Commissions • Strength of the UPSC and State PSCs • Official language of a High Court • Code of conduct for civil servants (comes from service rules, not the Constitution) • Salary, allowances and privileges for many constitutional posts • Removal procedure for several special constitutional offices • Mode of declaring caste status (SC/ST/OBC) for an individual
📖 12. Constitutional Terms — Mentioned and Defined
Anglo-Indian • Borrow • Misbehaviour • Debt • Cabinet • High Court • Indian State • Article • Corporation Tax • Estate Duty • Agricultural Income • Guarantee • Federal Court • Existing Law • Corresponding Province • Goods and Services Tax
🏛️ 13. The Basic Structure Doctrine
'Basic structure' is itself a judicial creation — the phrase appears nowhere in the constitutional text. It was articulated by the Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973), which held that Parliament's amending power under Article 368 cannot be used to alter the Constitution's basic structure, however wide that power otherwise is. Since no single judgment lists it exhaustively, its features have been read out case by case; commonly cited elements include:
Supremacy of the Constitution • Sovereign, democratic and republican character of the Indian polity • Secular character of the Constitution • Separation of powers between legislature, executive and judiciary • Unity and integrity of the nation • The welfare state (socio-economic justice) • Judicial review • Freedom and dignity of the individual • Parliamentary system of government • Rule of law • Harmony and balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles • Principle of equality • Free and fair elections • Independence of the judiciary • Limited power of Parliament to amend the Constitution • Effective access to justice • The principles/essence underlying the Fundamental Rights
The writ/constitutional powers most often invoked to enforce these features sit at Articles 32, 136, 141 and 142 for the Supreme Court, and Articles 226 and 227 for High Courts.
⚡ 14. Quick Revision Snapshot
| Item | Detail |
|---|
| Total Parts | 22 (plus Parts IV-A, IX-A, IX-B, XIV-A as inserted sub-Parts) |
| Total Articles (original) | 395, in 8 Schedules — both have grown substantially through amendment |
| Longest Part | Part V — The Union (Arts. 52–151) |
| Basic Structure originates in | Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) |
| Fundamental Duties added by | 42nd Amendment, 1976 (Swaran Singh Committee); extended by the 86th Amendment, 2002 |
| Right to Property status | Downgraded from a Fundamental Right to a constitutional right (Art. 300A) by the 44th Amendment, 1978 |
🎯 Exam Angle
This is the single highest-yield page for Prelims — article-number matching questions draw directly from tables like these. For Mains, Section 10–13 (constitutional terms and the Basic Structure Doctrine) are the ones examiners like to test conceptually — e.g. "Discuss how the Basic Structure Doctrine limits Parliament's amending power" or "Distinguish between constitutional terms that are defined, undefined, and unmentioned." Always cross-check article numbers against the bare Constitution text or a standard reference (e.g. Laxmikanth) before a final revision pass, since several Parts/Articles have been renumbered or inserted by amendment over the years.
