Fundamental Rights (Articles 12–35)

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: Fundamental Rights →

📖 The six Fundamental Rights

Part III of the Constitution (Articles 12-35) guarantees six Fundamental Rights (a seventh, the Right to Property, was downgraded to an ordinary legal right under Article 300A by the 44th Amendment, 1978):

Right to Equality (Art 14-18) — equality before law, prohibition of discrimination, abolition of untouchability and titles.
Right to Freedom (Art 19-22) — six freedoms under Art 19 (speech, assembly, association, movement, residence, profession), protection in respect of conviction (Art 20), protection of life and personal liberty (Art 21), and protection against arrest/detention (Art 22).
Right against Exploitation (Art 23-24) — prohibits human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour in hazardous jobs.
Right to Freedom of Religion (Art 25-28) — freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion.
Cultural and Educational Rights (Art 29-30) — protects minorities' right to conserve their culture and establish/administer educational institutions.
Right to Constitutional Remedies (Art 32) — the right to directly approach the Supreme Court to enforce any Fundamental Right.

⚖️ Article 32 — the "heart and soul"

Dr. Ambedkar called Article 32 the "heart and soul" of the Constitution, because it is itself a Fundamental Right — the right to enforce your other rights. It empowers the Supreme Court to issue five writs: Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, and Quo Warranto. High Courts have a parallel, even wider, power under Article 226.

🧭 Whom do FRs apply against?

Most Fundamental Rights are enforceable against the State (as defined in Article 12) — government and its instrumentalities. But a few — such as Article 15(2), 17, 23 and 24 — are enforceable against private individuals too.

💡 Key Facts

There are currently six Fundamental Rights; Right to Property was removed by the 44th Amendment, 1978.
Article 32 (Right to Constitutional Remedies) was called the "heart and soul" of the Constitution by Dr. Ambedkar.
Five writs under Art 32/226: Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo Warranto.
Some FRs (Art 15(2), 17, 23, 24) apply even against private individuals, not just the State.

🔖 60-Second Revision

6 FRs: Equality, Freedom, against Exploitation, Freedom of Religion, Cultural & Educational, Constitutional Remedies.
Right to Property removed by 44th Amendment → now Art 300A (legal right, not fundamental).
Art 32 = right to enforce rights; 5 writs.
Art 226 (High Court) is wider than Art 32 — covers any legal right, not just FRs.
Most FRs vs the State; a few (15(2),17,23,24) vs private persons too.