1. Right to Equality (Articles 14-18)
Article 14: Guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws.
Article 15: Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
Article 16: Ensures equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and prevents the state from discriminating against anyone in matters of employment on the grounds mentioned in Article 15.
Article 17: Abolishes "untouchability" and forbids its practice in any form.
Article 18: Abolishes all titles except military and academic distinctions.
2. Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22)
Article 19: Guarantees the freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession.
Article 20: Protects individuals from conviction for offenses in certain retrospective laws, double jeopardy, and self-incrimination.
Article 21: Provides the right to life and personal liberty. Over time, through expansive judicial interpretations, this right has been extended to include the right to live with dignity, right to privacy, and more.
Article 21A: Introduced by the 86th Amendment in 2002, it mandates the state to provide free and compulsory education to children aged six to fourteen years.
Article 22: Provides protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
3. Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24)
Article 23: Prohibits human trafficking, begar (forced labor), and other similar forms of forced labor.
Article 24: Forbids the employment of children (below 14 years of age) in factories, mines, or other hazardous activities.
4. Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28)
Article 25: Guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion.
Article 26: Allows every religious denomination the right to establish and manage its religious affairs.
Article 27: Ensures that no one can be compelled to pay taxes for the promotion of a particular religion.
Article 28: Deals with freedom from attending religious instruction or religious ceremonies in certain educational institutions.
5. Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30)
Article 29: Protects the interests of minorities by ensuring their right to conserve their language, script, or culture.
Article 30: Grants minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
6. Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)
This right is fundamental in itself as it ensures the protection of all other Fundamental Rights. It allows individuals to approach the Supreme Court directly in case of any infringement of their Fundamental Rights.
It's essential to note that while these rights are fundamental, they are not absolute. The state can impose reasonable restrictions on most of these rights in the interest of general public order, national security, and social welfare. The balance between individual freedoms and societal needs is maintained through these provisions.
