Fundamental Rights of Indian Citizens

Fundamental Right is a charter of rights contained in the Constitution of India. Fundamental Rights assured all Indians to ensure that we live in peace and harmony as citizens of India. In this article, we look at the Fundamental Rights of Indian citizens as per the Indian Constitution. Also, know about the Right to Information Act (RTI)

Right to Equality

The Right to equality ensures that every citizen is the same under the law. Hence, any person irrespective of age, gender, caste, creed, religion, language, and social status are considered equal. The Right to equality ensures that all persons are treated equally. The Right to equality discriminates on the grounds of religion, race, caste, gender or place of birth, and equality - illegal in India. The following Articles in the Constitution ensure the Right to equality for all Indians:

Article 14: Equality before the law
Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on grounds only of sex, religion, race, caste, or place of birth.
Article 16: Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment
Article 17: Abolition of untouchability
Article 18: Abolition of titles, Military, and academic distinctions are exempted

Right to Freedom

Indian Citizens enjoy six freedoms as per the Constitution. The Right to freedom ensures that Indian citizens can carry out their daily lives peacefully without undue restriction, harassment, or oversight by the Government. Six fundamental freedom provided under Article 19 of the Constitution are:

Freedom of speech and expression
Freedom to assemble peacefully without arms
Freedom to form associations or unions or co-operative societies
Freedom to move freely throughout the territory of India
Freedom to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India
Freedom to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business

In addition to Article 19 above, the following Articles of the Constitution ensure the Right to freedom for all Indian Citizens:

Article 20: Protection in respect of conviction for offences
Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty
Article 22: Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases

Right against Exploitation

All Indian Citizens enjoy a right against being exploited or misused. The Right against exploitation provided under the Constitution protects children, the vulnerable and the poor from bonded labour, child labour, and human trafficking. The following Articles in the Constitution ensure Right against exploitation for all Indians:

Article 23: Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour
Article 24: Prohibition of employment of children (Employment for the Indian below the age of 14 years is not possible.)

Right to Freedom of Religion

India is a secular country with people of different faiths living in harmony. Indian citizens can practice a religion of choice and perform rituals or activities as per their religious customs. According to the Constitution, all religions are equal before the State, and no religion has a preference over the other. Further, Indian Citizens are free to preach, practise, and propagate any religion of their choice. The following Articles in the Constitution ensure the Right to freedom of religion:

Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion
Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs
Article 27: Freedom to pay tax for promotion of any particular religion - No person is compelled to pay any taxes for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religion or religious denomination
Article 28: Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions

Cultural and Educational Rights

The Cultural and Education Rights in the Constitution protect the rights and customs of the minorities. Further, the Constitution provides for any community that has a language, and a script of its own has the Right to conserve and develop it. The following Articles in the Constitution protect cultural and education rights:

Article 29: Protection of interests of minorities
Article 30: Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions

Right to Constitutional Remedies

Right to Constitution Remedies empowers Indian citizens to approach a court of law, in case of any denial of the fundamental rights. This Right gives also empowers Courts to preserve or safeguard the citizens' fundamental rights as laid out in the Constitution.