Indian Constitution Articles Questions for SSC CGL

Structure of the Constitution — Parts and Articles Overview

The Indian Constitution has 25 Parts (originally 22, now expanded) and 448 Articles (originally 395). Each Part covers a broad theme. SSC CGL rarely tests the full list but loves to trap you on Part numbers linked to famous articles. Think of Parts as chapters of a book and Articles as page numbers within each chapter.

• Part I (Art 1-4): Union and its territory. Art 1 calls India a Union of States.
• Part III (Art 12-35): Fundamental Rights — most heavily tested Part.
• Part IV (Art 36-51): Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs).
• Part IVA (Art 51A): Fundamental Duties — added by 42nd Amendment 1976.
• Part V (Art 52-151): Union Executive, Parliament, Supreme Court.
• Part XVIII (Art 352-360): Emergency Provisions.

Fundamental Rights — Articles 12 to 35

Part III is the most tested section. Six Fundamental Rights are guaranteed to citizens (and some to all persons). Article 13 is the guardian — it makes any law violating FRs void. Remember: Right to Property was removed from FRs by the 44th Amendment 1978 and shifted to Art 300A as a legal right.

• Art 14: Equality before law and equal protection of laws.
• Art 19: Six freedoms (speech, assembly, movement, residence, profession, etc.).
• Art 21: Right to Life and Personal Liberty — most litigated article in India.
• Art 21A: Right to Education (6-14 years) — added by 86th Amendment 2002.
• Art 32: Right to Constitutional Remedies — Dr. Ambedkar called it the heart and soul of the Constitution.
• Art 25-28: Right to Freedom of Religion.
• Art 15: Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth.

Directive Principles of State Policy — Articles 36 to 51

DPSPs are non-justiciable (cannot be enforced in court) but are fundamental in governance. SSC CGL frequently asks which article relates to which DPSP. A classic trick question: DPSPs are borrowed from the Irish Constitution, not the UK or USA.

• Art 39A: Equal justice and free legal aid.
• Art 40: Organisation of Village Panchayats (Gandhian principle).
• Art 44: Uniform Civil Code — most debated DPSP.
• Art 45: Early childhood care and education (originally free education, now modified after Art 21A).
• Art 48A: Protection of environment, forests and wildlife — added by 42nd Amendment.
• Art 51: Promotion of international peace and security.

Fundamental Duties — Article 51A

Originally 10 duties, a 11th was added by the 86th Amendment 2002 (duty of parents to provide education to children aged 6-14). Borrowed from the Soviet Constitution. SSC CGL asks the total count and specific duties. Easy 1-mark question if memorised.

• Total 11 Fundamental Duties now.
• Added by 42nd Amendment 1976 on recommendation of Swaran Singh Committee.
• Non-justiciable but legally relevant (courts use them as guidance).
• Duty to protect environment, uphold constitution, promote harmony are common PYQ themes.
• 11th duty: Parent or guardian to provide education to child between 6 and 14 years.

Union Executive and Parliament — Articles 52 to 123

Key articles here relate to the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Parliament. SSC CGL loves the emergency articles and powers of the President. Art 74 (Council of Ministers to aid President) and Art 75 (PM appointed by President) are classic picks.

• Art 52: There shall be a President of India.
• Art 63: There shall be a Vice President of India.
• Art 74: Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President.
• Art 76: Attorney General of India.
• Art 108: Joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.
• Art 112: Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget).
• Art 123: Ordinance-making power of the President.

Supreme Court and High Courts — Articles 124 to 227

Art 124 establishes the Supreme Court. Key concepts are jurisdiction types: original, appellate, advisory (Art 143). High Courts are under Art 214-231. SSC CGL often asks about writs — all five writs are issued under Art 32 (SC) and Art 226 (HC). Note: HC under Art 226 has wider writ jurisdiction than SC.

• Art 124: Establishment of Supreme Court.
• Art 143: Advisory jurisdiction of Supreme Court (President can seek SC opinion).
• Art 214: High Courts for each State.
• Art 226: Power of High Courts to issue writs (broader than Art 32).
• Five writs: Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo Warranto.

Emergency Provisions — Articles 352 to 360

Three types of emergencies are a favourite SSC CGL topic. Know the article numbers, grounds, and effects cold. National Emergency (Art 352) has been proclaimed 3 times: 1962, 1971, 1975.

• Art 352: National Emergency — grounds: war, external aggression, armed rebellion.
• Art 356: President Rule (State Emergency) — failure of constitutional machinery in a state.
• Art 360: Financial Emergency — threat to financial stability of India.
• During National Emergency, FRs under Art 19 are suspended automatically.
• Art 358 vs 359: Art 358 suspends Art 19; Art 359 suspends other FRs by Presidential order.

Other High-Frequency Articles

Several articles outside the big zones appear regularly in SSC CGL because of their political or social importance. Memorise these as standalone facts.

• Art 1: India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.
• Art 17: Abolition of Untouchability.
• Art 44: Uniform Civil Code.
• Art 368: Amendment procedure of the Constitution.
• Art 370: (historically tested) Special status of J and K — now abrogated in 2019.
• Art 343: Hindi as official language of the Union.
• Art 324: Election Commission of India.

• Confusing Art 32 (SC writs) with Art 226 (HC writs). Remember: HC has WIDER writ power under 226.
• Mixing up Art 352, 356, 360 — many aspirants swap President Rule (356) with Financial Emergency (360). Use the simple order: National, State, Financial = 352, 356, 360.
• Thinking Right to Property is still a Fundamental Right — it was removed in 1978 (44th Amendment) and is now only a legal right under Art 300A.
• Stating 10 Fundamental Duties when the correct answer is 11 (11th added by 86th Amendment 2002).
• Confusing DPSPs source (Irish Constitution) with FRs source (US Constitution) — a deliberate SSC trap.

• PEARL for 5 Writs: Prohibition, Extra (Certiorari), Appearance (Habeas Corpus), Release (Quo Warranto), Law-enforcement (Mandamus).
• 3 Emergencies in order: 352-356-360 = National-State-Financial. Think NSF = No Safe Finance during emergencies.
• FRs order mnemonic: Every Educated Person Can Respect Culture — Equality, Education(21A), Personal Liberty(21), Constitutional Remedies(32), Religion(25-28), Cultural rights(29-30).
• 42nd Amendment 1976 is the MEGA amendment — added DPSPs Art 48A, Fundamental Duties, changed Preamble (added Socialist, Secular, Integrity). Call it the Mini Constitution amendment.

• SSC CGL typically asks 2-4 direct factual questions on Constitution articles per exam. They are pure memory marks — do not skip this topic.
• Recent PYQ pattern: questions ask which article abolishes untouchability (17), which article deals with UCC (44), which article empowers SC with advisory jurisdiction (143).
• Negative marking is 0.5 — if you know the Part but not the exact article, eliminate wrong options using Part logic (e.g., emergency articles are always in the 350-360 range).
• Questions on amendments (42nd, 44th, 86th) are increasingly common in Tier 1. Link each amendment to its article change for faster recall.
• Do not waste time on obscure articles above 300 except 324 (Election Commission), 343 (Hindi), 352-360 (Emergencies), 368 (Amendment). The first 100 articles and Part III give maximum return on investment.