Indian Constitution Articles: Numbers, Types, and Important Articles

Total Articles in Indian Constitution

Parts

Articles

Details

Preamble

Part I: The Union and its Territory

1-4

defines the name and territory of India, as well as the admission, establishment, or alteration of new states and union territories.

Part II: Citizenship

5-11

Deals with provisions relating to citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution and empowers Parliament to regulate citizenship through law.

Part III: Fundamental Rights

12-35

Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, Right to Constitutional Remedies

Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy 

36-51

These principles are guidelines for governance. Though not enforceable by law, they are fundamental in directing state policy towards social and economic justice.

Part IVA: Fundamental Duties

51A

Added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976, this article lists the duties of citizens, including respecting the Constitution, protecting the environment, and promoting harmony.

Part V: The Union

52-151

explains the structure and powers of the Union Executive (President, Vice President, Council of Ministers, Prime Minister), Parliament, and the Union Judiciary (Supreme Court).

Part VI: The States

152-237

Defines the role of Governors, State Legislatures, State Executives, and High Courts.

Part VIII: Union Territories

239-242

deals with the administration of Union Territories (UTs)

Part IX: Panchayats

243-243O

provides constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Part IXA: Municipalities

243P-243ZG

Introduced by the 74th Amendment Act, 1992, it empowers municipalities in urban governance.

Part X: Scheduled and Tribal Areas

244-244A

Provides special provisions for the administration and welfare of the Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas.

Part XI: Relations between Union and States

245-263

Explains the distribution of legislative, administrative, and financial powers between the Union and the States.

Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts, and Suits

264-300A

Covers matters related to the distribution of revenue, taxation, borrowing, and property of the Union and States.

Part XIII: Trade and Commerce within India

301-307

Ensures freedom of trade, commerce, and intercourse across the country.

Part XIV: Services under the Union and States

308-323

Deals with Public Services, including Public Service Commissions.

Part XV: Elections

324-329A

Provides for the Election Commission and its role in conducting free and fair elections.

Part XVI: Special Provisions relating to Certain Classes

330-342

Safeguards for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Anglo-Indians.

Part XVII: Official Language

343-351

Declares Hindi as the official language while protecting linguistic diversity.

Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions

352-360

Specifies three types of emergencies—National Emergency, State Emergency, and Financial Emergency.

Part XIX: Miscellaneous

361-367

Covers miscellaneous provisions like privileges of the President and Governors, protection of civil servants, etc.

Part XX: Amendment of the Constitution

368

Provides the procedure for amending the Constitution.

Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional, and Special Provisions

369-392

Includes provisions related to temporary measures and special provisions for some states.

Part XXII: Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi, and Repeals

393-395

contains concluding provisions, including its short title ("Constitution of India"), the date of commencement (January 26, 1950), the authoritative Hindi text of the Constitution, and the repeal of prior significant legislation

New Parts added through Amendments: Part IXB, Part XXIIIA

243ZH-243ZT, 323A-323B

Important Articles of Indian Constitution

Name

Important Articles

Fundamental Rights

• Article 14 – Equality before law
  
  
• Article 15 – Prohibition of discrimination
  
  
• Article 19 – Freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession
  
  
• Article 21 – Right to life and personal liberty
  
  
• Article 21A – Right to education (86th Amendment, 2002)
  
  
• Article 25-28 – Freedom of religion
  
  
• Article 32 – Right to constitutional remedies

Directive Principles of State Policy

• Article 39(b) & (c) – Distribution of resources and prevention of wealth concentration
  
  
• Article 40 – Organisation of village panchayats
  
  
• Article 44 – Uniform Civil Code (Directive Principle, not enforceable)
  
  
• Article 48A – Protection of the environment

Fundamental Duties

Article 51A – Duties of citizens like respecting the national flag, safeguarding public property, and developing a scientific temper.

Structure of Government

• Article 74 – Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President
  
  
• Article 76 – Attorney General of India
  
  
• Article 110 – Money Bill
  
  
• Article 112 – Union Budget
  
  
• Article 123 – Ordinance-making power of the President
  
  
• Article 143 – Power of President to consult the Supreme Court

Judiciary

• Article 124 – Establishment of Supreme Court
  
  
• Article 131 – Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
  
  
• Article 136 – Special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court
  
  
• Article 141 – Law declared by Supreme Court binding on all courts
  
  
• Article 226 – Power of High Courts to issue writs

Emergency Provisions

• Article 352 – National Emergency
  
  
• Article 356 – President’s Rule in a state
  
  
• Article 360 – Financial Emergency

Elections

• Article 324 – Superintendence of elections vested in the Election Commission
  
  
• Article 326 – Elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies based on adult suffrage

Special Provisions

Article 371A-371J – Special provisions for different states like Nagaland, Maharashtra, Karnataka, etc.