How many parts and articles does the Indian Constitution have?

The Indian Constitution originally had 395 Articles in 22 Parts and 8 Schedules. After multiple amendments, it now has approximately 470+ articles (many original articles deleted, new ones inserted), 25 Parts, and 12 Schedules. It is the longest written constitution in the world.

What is the difference between Fundamental Rights and DPSP?

Fundamental Rights (Part III, Art 12–35): Justiciable — enforceable by courts; protect individual rights against state action; mostly negative obligations on the state (state shall NOT do). DPSP (Part IV, Art 36–51): Non-justiciable — cannot be enforced in courts; positive obligations (state SHALL do); guide state policy for socio-economic justice. However, 42nd Amendment made some DPSPs prevail over some FRs. SC's Minerva Mills (1980) held FRs and DPSPs are complementary — neither can be given absolute precedence.

Which articles deal with Emergency provisions in the Indian Constitution?

Emergency provisions: Art 352 — National Emergency (external aggression or armed rebellion); Art 353 — Effect of National Emergency (Centre gets powers over states); Art 354 — Application of provisions relating to distribution of revenues during Emergency; Art 355 — Duty of Union to protect states; Art 356 — President's Rule (constitutional failure in states); Art 357 — Exercise of legislative powers under proclamation; Art 358 — Suspension of Art 19 during National Emergency; Art 359 — Suspension of enforcement of FRs during Emergency; Art 360 — Financial Emergency.

What are the key articles related to Tamil Nadu in the Constitution?

Articles relevant to Tamil Nadu administration: Art 153 (Governor of State), Art 163 (Council of Ministers to aid Governor), Art 168 (Legislature of states — TN has unicameral legislature), Art 213 (Governor's Ordinance power), Art 214 (High Courts), Art 226 (High Court writ jurisdiction), Art 243B (Panchayats — three tiers in TN), Art 243Q (Municipalities), Art 315 (TNPSC — Public Service Commissions for states), Art 350A (instruction in mother tongue at primary stage).

Important Articles of Indian Constitution — TNPSC Group 1 Reference

About This Reference

This is a quick-lookup reference for TNPSC Group 1. Articles are grouped by Part. For each Part, the most exam-relevant articles are bolded. Read through once, then use the Board Exam Tips table at the end for high-frequency articles.

Total articles in Constitution: ~470+ (after amendments). Articles listed here = the ~120 most tested in TNPSC Group 1.

Part I — The Union and Its Territory (Articles 1–4)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 1	Name and territory of the Union	India = Bharat; Union of States (not "federation")
Art 2	Admission of new states	Parliament can admit/establish new states by law
Art 3	Formation of new states	Parliament can alter boundaries, names of existing states
Art 4	Laws under Art 2 & 3 not amendments	Such laws do not require Art 368 procedure

Part II — Citizenship (Articles 5–11)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 5	Citizenship at commencement	Born in India + domicile
Art 11	Parliament to regulate citizenship	Citizenship Act 1955 made under this

Part III — Fundamental Rights (Articles 12–35)

This is the most tested Part in TNPSC. Study every article here.

Right to Equality (Articles 14–18)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 14	Equality before law / equal protection of laws	Applies to ALL persons (citizens + foreigners)
Art 15	Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth	Citizens only; Art 15(3) — special provisions for women/children; Art 15(4) — OBC/SC/ST
Art 16	Equality of opportunity in public employment	Citizens only; Art 16(4) — reservation for backward classes; Art 16(4A) — SC/ST promotion reservation
Art 17	Abolition of Untouchability	Untouchability offence punishable; Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955
Art 18	Abolition of titles	No titles except military/academic; no foreign titles

Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 19	Six freedoms (originally 7)	(a) Speech & expression; (b) Peaceful assembly; (c) Association/unions; (d) Movement in India; (e) Reside/settle anywhere; (g) Profession/trade. Citizens only.
Art 20	Protection in respect of conviction	No ex post facto law; no double jeopardy; no self-incrimination
Art 21	Protection of life and personal liberty	No deprivation except by procedure established by law; EXPANDED by courts — privacy, livelihood, health
Art 21A	Right to Education	Free and compulsory education for 6–14 years (inserted by 86th Amendment, 2002)
Art 22	Protection against arbitrary arrest	Right to be informed of grounds; right to consult lawyer; produce before magistrate within 24 hours

Right Against Exploitation (Articles 23–24)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 23	Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour	Applies to private individuals too (not just state)
Art 24	Prohibition of child labour	Children below 14 not employed in factories/mines/hazardous occupations

Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25–28)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 25	Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, propagation of religion	Citizens; subject to public order, morality, health
Art 26	Freedom to manage religious affairs	Religious denominations can manage own affairs
Art 27	Freedom from taxation for promotion of religion	No tax for promoting any religion
Art 28	Freedom from religious instruction in state institutions	No religious instruction in state-funded schools

Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29–30)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 29	Protection of interests of minorities	Any section with distinct language/culture can protect it
Art 30	Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions	Religious/linguistic minorities; state aid cannot be denied

Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 32	Right to move Supreme Court for enforcement of FRs	Called "heart and soul" of Constitution by Ambedkar; itself a FR; SC issues 5 writs

Five Writs (under Art 32 — SC, and Art 226 — High Courts)

Writ	Meaning	Issued against
Habeas Corpus	"You shall have the body" — produce detained person before court	Any authority detaining a person
Mandamus	"We command" — order public authority to perform legal duty	Public officials/bodies refusing legal duty
Prohibition	Stop lower court from exceeding jurisdiction	Judicial/quasi-judicial bodies
Certiorari	Quash lower court's order (exceeded jurisdiction/error of law)	Judicial/quasi-judicial bodies
Quo Warranto	"By what authority" — challenge to hold public office	Person holding public office without authority

Art 226 gives High Courts WIDER writ jurisdiction than SC — HCs can issue writs for any purpose (not just FR violations).

Part IV — Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36–51)

Non-justiciable but fundamental to governance. Borrowed from Irish Constitution.

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 38	Secure a social order for welfare	Minimise inequalities of income, status, facilities
Art 39	Certain policy principles	(b) Ownership/control of material resources for common good; (c) No concentration of wealth; (f) Healthy childhood development
Art 39A	Equal justice and free legal aid	Free legal aid to poor; inserted by 42nd Amendment
Art 40	Organisation of village panchayats	Self-governing units
Art 41	Right to work, education, public assistance	Unemployment, old age, sickness
Art 44	Uniform Civil Code	State shall endeavour; one of the most debated DPSPs
Art 45	Early childhood care and education	For children below 6 years (amended by 86th Amendment)
Art 46	Promotion of educational and economic interests of SC/ST	Also weaker sections
Art 48	Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry	Prohibit slaughter of cows/calves; modernise agriculture
Art 48A	Protection and improvement of environment	Inserted by 42nd Amendment
Art 50	Separation of judiciary from executive	Important for judicial independence
Art 51	Promotion of international peace and security	Basis of India's foreign policy; Panchsheel

Part IVA — Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)

Added by 42nd Amendment (1976) — 10 duties. 11th duty added by 86th Amendment (2002).

Clause	Duty
(a)	Abide by Constitution; respect national Flag and Anthem
(b)	Cherish ideals of freedom struggle
(c)	Uphold sovereignty, unity, integrity of India
(d)	Defend the country; render national service
(e)	Promote harmony; renounce practices derogatory to dignity of women
(f)	Value and preserve composite culture
(g)	Protect and improve natural environment
(h)	Develop scientific temper, humanism, spirit of inquiry
(i)	Safeguard public property; abjure violence
(j)	Strive for excellence in individual and collective activity
(k)	Parent/guardian to provide education to child aged 6–14 (86th Amendment)

Part V — The Union (Articles 52–151)

President (Articles 52–62)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 52	President of India	There shall be a President
Art 53	Executive power of Union	Vested in President; exercised directly or through officers subordinate
Art 54	Election of President	Electoral College — elected MPs (both Houses) + elected MLAs (all states + Delhi + Puducherry)
Art 55	Manner of election	Proportional representation by single transferable vote
Art 56	Term of office	5 years; can resign to Vice-President
Art 61	Impeachment of President	By Parliament for violation of Constitution; 2/3 majority + special procedure
Art 72	Power to grant pardons	President: Pardon, reprieve, respite, remit, commute — even in cases of death sentence and court martial

Vice-President (Articles 63–71)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 63	Vice-President	Ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha
Art 65	Acting President	VP acts as President when office is vacant/absent
Art 66	Election of Vice-President	Elected by both Houses of Parliament in joint sitting

Council of Ministers (Articles 74–75)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 74	Council of Ministers to aid and advise President	President acts on advice of CoM headed by PM; advice binding (44th Amendment)
Art 75	Other provisions as to Ministers	PM appointed by President; other ministers on PM's advice; CoM collectively responsible to Lok Sabha

Parliament (Articles 79–122)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 79	Constitution of Parliament	President + Council of States (Rajya Sabha) + House of the People (Lok Sabha)
Art 80	Composition of Rajya Sabha	Max 250 (238 elected + 12 nominated by President); currently 245
Art 81	Composition of Lok Sabha	Max 552 (530 states + 20 UTs + 2 nominated Anglo-Indians — now removed by 104th Amendment)
Art 83	Duration of Houses	Rajya Sabha = permanent (1/3 retire every 2 years); Lok Sabha = 5 years (can be dissolved)
Art 100	Voting in Houses; quorum	1/10 of total membership = quorum
Art 108	Joint sitting of both Houses	Presided by Speaker of Lok Sabha; for deadlock on Bills (NOT Money Bills, Constitutional Amendment Bills)
Art 109	Special procedure for Money Bills	Introduced only in Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha has 14 days; Speaker certifies
Art 110	Definition of Money Bill	Deals with taxation, appropriation, consolidated fund
Art 112	Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget)	Presented by Finance Minister before Parliament each year
Art 123	Power of President to promulgate Ordinances	When Parliament not in session; max 6 weeks after Parliament reassembles; Art 213 = same for Governor
Art 124	Establishment of Supreme Court	Supreme Court of India
Art 125	Salaries of judges	Charged to Consolidated Fund

Comptroller and Auditor General (Articles 148–151)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 148	CAG of India	Appointed by President; removed like SC judge; independent
Art 149	Duties and powers of CAG	Audit of Union + State + any other body/authority
Art 150	Form of accounts of Union and states	Prescribed by President on advice of CAG
Art 151	Audit reports	CAG submits reports to President (Union) or Governor (State) — laid before Parliament/Legislature

Part VI — The States (Articles 152–237)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 153	Governors of States	There shall be a Governor for each state
Art 155	Appointment of Governor	Appointed by President
Art 156	Term of office	5 years; holds office during President's pleasure
Art 161	Power to grant pardons (Governor)	Similar to Art 72 (President) but NO death sentence and NO court martial cases
Art 163	Council of Ministers to aid and advise Governor	Same as Art 74 for states; CM heads CoM
Art 167	Duties of CM	CM must furnish information to Governor as required
Art 168	Constitution of Legislatures in States	Unicameral (one house) or bicameral (two houses); TN = unicameral
Art 213	Power of Governor to promulgate Ordinances	When state legislature not in session
Art 214	High Courts for States	One HC per state (some states share)
Art 226	Power of High Courts to issue writs	HCs can issue all 5 writs for any purpose — wider than SC's Art 32
Art 233	Appointment of District Judges	By Governor in consultation with HC

Part VIII — Union Territories (Articles 239–242)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 239	Administration of UTs	By President through Administrator (LG/Administrator)
Art 239AA	Special provisions for Delhi	Delhi = NCT; Legislative Assembly; but law-and-order with LG

Part IX — Panchayats (Articles 243–243O)

Added by 73rd Amendment (1992).

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 243B	Constitution of Panchayats	Three-tier system in every state with population above 20 lakh
Art 243C	Composition of Panchayats	State Legislature decides
Art 243D	Reservation of seats	SC/ST in proportion to population; 1/3 for women
Art 243E	Duration of Panchayats	5 years; fresh elections before expiry
Art 243G	Powers of Panchayats	State may endow Panchayats with powers for 29 subjects in 11th Schedule
Art 243I	State Finance Commission	Constituted by Governor every 5 years
Art 243K	State Election Commission	Superintendence of Panchayat elections

Part IXA — Municipalities (Articles 243P–243ZG)

Added by 74th Amendment (1992).

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 243Q	Constitution of Municipalities	Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation
Art 243T	Reservation of seats	SC/ST + 1/3 for women
Art 243ZD	District Planning Committees	Consolidate plans of Panchayats and Municipalities

Part XI — Relations Between Union and States (Articles 245–263)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 245	Extent of laws made by Parliament and Legislatures	Parliament = whole or any part of India; State = state territory only
Art 246	Subject matter of laws — 7th Schedule	Parliament = Union List; State = State List; Both = Concurrent List
Art 248	Residuary powers	Parliament has exclusive power over matters not in any list
Art 249	Power of Parliament to legislate on State List in national interest	RS passes resolution by 2/3 majority
Art 253	Legislation for implementing international agreements	Parliament can override state list for treaties
Art 256	Obligation of States to comply with Union laws	States must comply; Union can give directions
Art 263	Inter-State Council	President can establish for coordination

Part XII — Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits (Articles 264–300)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 265	Taxes not levied except by authority of law	No tax without law
Art 266	Consolidated Funds and Public Accounts	Consolidated Fund = all government revenue; withdrawal only by Appropriation Act
Art 267	Contingency Fund of India	For unforeseen emergencies; at disposal of President
Art 270	Distribution of tax proceeds between Union and States	Finance Commission determines formula
Art 275	Grants to States from Union	Charged to Consolidated Fund of India
Art 280	Finance Commission	Constituted by President every 5 years; recommends tax sharing formula
Art 300A	Right to property	A legal right (not FR); no deprivation except by authority of law (44th Amendment)

Part XIV — Services Under the Union and States (Articles 308–323)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 312	All-India Services	Parliament creates All-India Services (IAS, IPS, IFS) applicable to both Union and States
Art 315	Public Service Commissions	UPSC for Union; State PSC (e.g., TNPSC) for each state
Art 320	Functions of PSC	Recruitment; disciplinary matters; advising on service rules
Art 323	Reports of PSC	Annual report to President/Governor → laid before Parliament/Legislature

Part XIVA — Tribunals (Articles 323A–323B)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 323A	Administrative Tribunals	Parliament sets up Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and state tribunals

Part XV — Elections (Articles 324–329)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 324	Election Commission of India	Superintendence, direction, control of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, President, VP
Art 325	No person to be ineligible for inclusion in electoral rolls on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex	Common electoral roll
Art 326	Elections on basis of adult suffrage	Voting age = 18 years (lowered from 21 by 61st Amendment, 1988)
Art 329	Bar to interference by courts	Electoral matters cannot be challenged in courts except by election petition

Part XVI — Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes (Articles 330–342A)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 330	Reservation of seats for SC and ST in Lok Sabha	In proportion to population
Art 332	Reservation of seats in state legislatures	For SC and ST
Art 335	Claims of SC and ST in services	Maintain efficiency while giving reservation
Art 338	National Commission for Scheduled Castes	Constitutional body
Art 338A	National Commission for Scheduled Tribes	Constitutional body
Art 340	OBC Commission	President can appoint commission to investigate backward classes
Art 342A	Central List of OBCs	Inserted by 105th Amendment (2021) — states can maintain own OBC lists

Part XVII — Official Language (Articles 343–351)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 343	Official language of Union	Hindi in Devanagari script; English continues for 15 years from commencement (later continued by Parliament)
Art 345	Official language(s) of States	State legislature may adopt any language
Art 347	Special provision for language spoken by population of a State	President may direct official recognition
Art 350A	Instruction in mother tongue at primary stage	Facilities for instruction in mother tongue to linguistic minorities
Art 350B	Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities	Reports to President
Art 351	Directive for development of Hindi	Union's duty to promote and spread Hindi

Part XVIII — Emergency Provisions (Articles 352–360)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 352	Proclamation of Emergency (National Emergency)	External aggression or armed rebellion; Cabinet must recommend in writing; approved by Parliament within 1 month by 2/3 special majority
Art 353	Effect of Proclamation of Emergency	Centre takes over state legislative and executive powers
Art 355	Duty of the Union to protect States	Against external aggression and internal disturbance
Art 356	Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery (President's Rule)	On Governor's report or otherwise; approved by Parliament within 2 months; maximum 3 years
Art 357	Exercise of legislative powers under proclamation	Parliament can legislate on state subjects during President's Rule
Art 358	Suspension of Art 19 during National Emergency	Art 19 suspended automatically during external aggression emergency
Art 359	Suspension of enforcement of other FRs during Emergency	President's order needed; Art 20 and 21 CANNOT be suspended
Art 360	Provisions as to Financial Emergency	If financial stability/credit threatened; central directions to states

Part XX — Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 368	Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution	Three types: (1) Simple majority — ordinary matters; (2) Special majority (2/3 present + voting AND majority of total membership); (3) Special majority + ratification by ≥ half state legislatures — for federal provisions

Provisions requiring state ratification (Art 368 + state assent):

Election of President (Art 54, 55)
Extent of executive power of Union and States
High Courts in states
Distribution of legislative powers (Arts 245–255)
7th Schedule
Representation of States in Parliament
Art 368 itself

Part XXI — Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions (Articles 369–392)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 370	Special status for J&K	Now inoperative (August 5, 2019 Presidential Order; SC upheld December 2023)
Art 371	Special provisions for Maharashtra and Gujarat	Development boards
Art 371A–371J	Special provisions for Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, AP, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal, Goa, Karnataka	Various special protections

Part XXII — Short Title, Commencement, Hindi Text (Articles 393–395)

Article	Subject	Key Point
Art 394	Commencement	Most provisions came into force January 26, 1950 (Republic Day)

The 12 Schedules — Quick Reference

Schedule	Content
1st	Names of States and Union Territories
2nd	Salaries of President, Governors, Judges, CAG, etc.
3rd	Forms of Oaths and Affirmations
4th	Allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha (state-wise)
5th	Administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
6th	Administration of Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram
7th	Division of powers — Union List (100 entries), State List (61 entries), Concurrent List (52 entries)
8th	Languages — 22 scheduled languages (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Sanskrit, Bengali, etc.)
9th	Acts and Regulations protected from judicial review (added by 1st Amendment)
10th	Anti-Defection Law (added by 52nd Amendment)
11th	Panchayat subjects — 29 items (added by 73rd Amendment)
12th	Municipality subjects — 18 items (added by 74th Amendment)

Board Exam Quick-Reference — Most Tested Articles

Article	One-Line Memory Hook
Art 14	Equality — ALL persons (not just citizens)
Art 15	No discrimination — citizens only
Art 17	Abolish untouchability — punishable offence
Art 19	6 freedoms — citizens only
Art 20	No ex post facto; no double jeopardy; no self-incrimination
Art 21	Life and liberty — "due process" via courts
Art 21A	Free education 6–14 years — 86th Amendment
Art 23	No forced labour — includes private persons
Art 32	"Heart and soul" — right to go to SC for FRs
Art 44	Uniform Civil Code — DPSP (not yet implemented)
Art 51A	Fundamental Duties — 11 duties (42nd + 86th amendments)
Art 72	President's pardon — including death sentence
Art 74	CoM aids President — advice is binding
Art 108	Joint sitting — Speaker presides
Art 110	Money Bill — only in Lok Sabha
Art 112	Union Budget — Annual Financial Statement
Art 123	Presidential Ordinance — when Parliament not in session
Art 148	CAG — removed like SC judge
Art 161	Governor's pardon — NO death sentence, NO court martial
Art 213	Governor's Ordinance — state level
Art 226	HC writs — for any purpose (wider than Art 32)
Art 246	7th Schedule — Union/State/Concurrent Lists
Art 280	Finance Commission — every 5 years
Art 312	All-India Services — IAS, IPS, IFS
Art 315	State PSCs — TNPSC
Art 324	Election Commission — superintendence
Art 326	Adult suffrage — 18 years (61st Amendment)
Art 338	NCSC — constitutional body
Art 338A	NCST — constitutional body
Art 343	Hindi = official language of Union
Art 352	National Emergency — external aggression/armed rebellion
Art 356	President's Rule — failure of constitutional machinery
Art 360	Financial Emergency — financial stability threatened
Art 368	Amendment — three types of procedure
Art 370	J&K special status — inoperative since Aug 5, 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

The highest-priority articles for TNPSC Group 1 are: Art 12–35 (Fundamental Rights), Art 36–51 (DPSP), Art 51A (Fundamental Duties), Art 74 (Council of Ministers aids President), Art 110 (Money Bill definition), Art 112 (Union Budget/Annual Financial Statement), Art 123 (Presidential Ordinance), Art 148 (CAG), Art 280 (Finance Commission), Art 324 (Election Commission), Art 352–360 (Emergencies), Art 368 (Amendment procedure), Art 370 (J&K special status — now abrogated). These appear repeatedly in both Prelims and Mains.