Constitution
of India
Forty-two chapter notes covering the Constitution end-to-end — the Preamble and basic structure, fundamental rights and directive principles, Union and State executives, Parliament and State legislatures, the judiciary, centre-state relations, emergency provisions, and the amendment power under Article 368. Article first, scheme second, leading case third.
The 1950 text — and seventy-five years of its judicial reading.
The Constitution of India is the most-tested subject in any Indian competitive examination — prelims, mains, interviews. Adopted on 26 November 1949 and in force from 26 January 1950, it sets out the framework of the Indian Republic in 395 articles, twelve schedules, and an evolving body of supplementary legislation. Reading the Constitution requires reading two things in parallel — the bare text and the seventy-five years of Supreme Court interpretation, especially the basic-structure cases from Kesavananda Bharati onward.
These notes anchor every chapter to the relevant Article and the leading Constitution Bench decision interpreting it. The four doctrinal anchors that recur across chapters are basic structure (Kesavananda Bharati), the test of reasonableness (Maneka Gandhi), the doctrine of judicial review (Marbury via S.R. Bommai), and the federal balance read through the lens of S.R. Bommai and Bommai.
Each chapter is designed to be read in twelve to fifteen minutes and to leave the reader with the Article number, the scheme in which it sits, the test laid down by the Supreme Court, the distinction from cognate provisions, and the leading authority.
How to read these notes
Start with the Article.
Every chapter opens with the Article number and the bare text of the provision. Read it. Constitutional writing is text-and-precedent led — a question on Article 21, Article 14, or Article 19 expects the bare text first and the leading Constitution Bench reading of it second.
Apply the basic-structure lens.
Every constitutional question that touches on Parliament’s amendment power runs through the Kesavananda basic-structure doctrine. Even non-amendment questions — a fundamental-rights challenge, a centre-state dispute, a presidential-rule case — are now read through this lens by the Supreme Court.
Test on the leading case.
If you can restate the holding of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, or S.R. Bommai v. Union of India in two sentences, you understand the chapter. If not, return to the statutory section and rebuild from there.
All 42 chapters, in 7 groups
Sequenced through the natural structure of the subject — every chapter sits in a doctrinal cluster.Foundations — Preamble & Basic Structure
Articles 1–4 + Preamble + Schedules
The Preamble as guide to the Constitution’s spirit, the territory of India and admission of new States, the citizenship provisions, the basic-structure doctrine from Kesavananda Bharati, and the Twelfth Schedule organisation of the Constitution.
Citizenship & Fundamental Rights I
Articles 5–18 — citizenship + equality
The provisions on citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution, the equality code under Articles 14 to 18 — equality before law, prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion race caste sex or place of birth, equality of opportunity in public employment, abolition of untouchability, and abolition of titles.
Citizenship (Articles 5–11) — Citizenship Act, Acquisition, Loss
CON · 06Fundamental Rights — Concept, Scheme, Suspension During Emergency
CON · 07Article 12 — Definition of "State"; Article 13 — Doctrine of Eclipse, Severability, Waiver
CON · 08Right to Equality (Articles 14–18)
CON · 09Right to Freedom (Article 19) — Six Freedoms and Reasonable Restrictions
Fundamental Rights II — Liberty, Speech, Religion
Articles 19–30 — the substantive freedoms
Article 19 freedoms of speech, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession with reasonable restrictions. Article 20 protections in respect of conviction. Article 21 right to life and personal liberty as expanded by Maneka Gandhi. Articles 25 to 28 freedom of religion. Articles 29 and 30 cultural and educational rights of minorities.
Article 20 — Protection in Respect of Conviction for Offences
CON · 11Article 21 — Protection of Life and Personal Liberty (Expanded Scope)
CON · 12Article 21A — Right to Education
CON · 13Article 22 — Protection Against Arrest and Detention
CON · 14Right Against Exploitation (Articles 23–24)
CON · 15Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25–28)
CON · 16Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29–30)
CON · 17Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32) — Writs
CON · 18Writs — Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo Warranto
CON · 19Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36–51)
Writs, DPSPs & Fundamental Duties
Articles 32, 226 + 36–51 + 51A
The Article 32 writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Article 226 writ jurisdiction of the High Courts. The five writs — habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, quo warranto. The Directive Principles of State Policy under Articles 36 to 51 and the Fundamental Duties under Article 51A.
Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)
CON · 21The Union Executive — President, Vice-President, Council of Ministers
CON · 22The Union Legislature — Parliament, Composition, Powers, Procedure
CON · 23The Union Judiciary — Supreme Court, Jurisdiction, Independence
CON · 24The State Executive — Governor, CM, Council of Ministers
Union Government — Executive, Parliament, Judiciary
Articles 52–124 — the central organs
The President and Vice-President, the Council of Ministers, the Attorney-General, Parliament, the legislative procedure including money bills and ordinary bills, the Comptroller and Auditor-General, the Supreme Court, and the appointment and removal of judges.
State Legislature — Legislative Assembly, Council, Procedure
CON · 26The State Judiciary — High Court, Subordinate Courts
CON · 27Centre-State Legislative Relations (Articles 245–255)
CON · 28Centre-State Administrative Relations (Articles 256–263)
CON · 29Centre-State Financial Relations (Articles 264–293)
CON · 30Distribution of Legislative Powers — Doctrines (Pith and Substance, Colourable Legislation, Repugnancy)
State Government & Centre-State Relations
Articles 152–263 — the federal structure
The Governor and State executives, the State Legislatures, the High Courts and subordinate judiciary, the legislative relations between Union and States including the Seventh Schedule and the rules on residuary powers, the administrative and financial relations, and the Inter-State Council.
Emergency, Amendment & Wrap-Up
Articles 352–368 + reference
The three kinds of emergency under Articles 352, 356, and 360 — national, State, and financial. The Article 368 amendment power and the basic-structure limitation under Kesavananda. The constitutional offices including the Election Commission, UPSC, and Finance Commission. The Schedules and the landmark Constitution Bench cases.