Part A — Foundation

CLAT exam structure & weightage: Constitutional Law, particularly Fundamental Rights and Articles, routinely form the backbone of the law portion. Fundamental Rights and related Articles together account for ~40–50% of the law section.

Why Fundamental Rights matter: They are the most frequently tested area in CLAT because they blend constitutional theory with fact-based scenario analysis.

What you\’ll learn

• Exact Article-by-Article breakdown for CLAT relevance
• Scenario-based solutions mapped to exam patterns
• 25–30 most-asked Articles with mnemonics
• 35 CLAT-style MCQs with explanations
• Printable 1-page quicknotes

Part B — Constitution Basics

Preamble — 5 core values: SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLIC.

Priority Articles for CLAT: 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25–30, 32, 35, 226.

6 Categories: EFECRR — Equality, Freedom, Exploitation, Conscience (Religion), Culture, Remedies.

Article 12 — State Definition

Decides whether constitutional rights can be enforced. The functional test brings quasi-governmental bodies within Article 12\’s ambit.

Part C — 6 Fundamental Rights Categories

Category 1 — Right to Equality (Articles 14–18)

Article 14 permits reasonable classification. CLAT tests the two-step approach: intelligible differentia + rational nexus.

Category 2 — Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22)

Articles 19 & 21 most tested. Scenario material on competing interests.

Category 3 — Right Against Exploitation (Articles 23–24)

Straightforward but important. Prohibition of forced labour and child labour.

Category 4 — Freedom of Religion (Articles 25–28)

Tension: Individual religious freedom vs. public order/health/morality.

Category 5 — Cultural & Educational Rights (Articles 29–30)

Minority institution autonomy vs equality rules.

Category 6 — Right to Constitutional Remedies (Articles 32, 226)

Writs and remedies tested in virtually every paper.

Part D — Priority Articles

The 5 Writs

1. Habeas Corpus: \”Produce the body\” — unlawful detention
2. Mandamus: Compel public official to perform duty
3. Prohibition: Prevent lower courts from exceeding jurisdiction
4. Certiorari: Quash orders/decisions made without jurisdiction
5. Quo Warranto: Challenge a person\’s right to hold public office

Part E — Landmark Cases

Part F — Key Amendments

1st Amendment (1951)

Added \”reasonable restrictions\” to Article 19(2).

24th Amendment (1971)

Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution (overturned Golaknath).

42nd Amendment (1976)

Added \”Socialist\”, \”Secular\” to Preamble. Added Article 51A — Fundamental Duties.

44th Amendment (1978)

Post-Emergency correction. Restored judicial review and FR strength.

86th Amendment (2002)

Right to free & compulsory education (6–14 years).

103rd Amendment (2019)

10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

Part G — Scenario-Based Learning

Scenario 1 — Freedom of Speech vs Sedition

Fact: Student criticizes CM on Instagram; police file sedition charges. Analysis: Article 19(1)(a) protects criticism. Conclusion: Action unconstitutional.

Scenario 2 — Privacy & Data Protection

Fact: State requires mandatory biometric attendance. Test: Legality → Necessity → Proportionality. Conclusion: Disproportionate → unconstitutional.

Scenario 3 — Job Reservation for Locals

Fact: State reserves 75% private-sector jobs for locals. Issue: Violates Article 19(1)(g) & 14.

Scenario 4 — Religious Practice vs Public Order

Fact: Group insists on ritual with firecrackers during exams. Conclusion: Restriction by admin is valid.

Scenario 5 — Minority College Admissions

Fact: Minority college refuses non-minority students. Analysis: Article 30 autonomy vs Article 14 equality. Conclusion: Policy partially valid.

Scenario 6 — PIL Eligibility

Fact: Retired teacher files PIL for street children safety. Conclusion: Petition maintainable.

Scenario 7 — Habeas Corpus

Fact: Journalist detained without FIR. Remedy: Habeas Corpus under Article 32/226.

Scenario 8 — Forced Labour

Fact: Migrant workers forced to work without pay. Violation: Article 23 → compensation + criminal liability.

Scenario 9 — School Prayer Mandate

Fact: Government school forces morning prayer. Article: Article 28. Conclusion: Unconstitutional.

Scenario 10 — Right to Die

Fact: Terminally ill patient requests withdrawal of life support. Conclusion: Passive euthanasia allowed under strict conditions.

Part H — Exam Strategy

High Priority (80% time)

• Article 12 (State)
• Article 14 (Equality)
• Article 19 (Restrictions)
• Article 21 (Dignity, privacy)
• Writs (5 types)
• PIL concepts
• 103rd Amendment (EWS)

Memory Aids

• EFECRR → Equality, Freedom, Exploitation, Conscience, Culture, Remedies
• HMPQC → Habeas, Mandamus, Prohibition, Quo Warranto, Certiorari
• Core 5 → 12, 14, 19, 21, 32

Exam Process

Scenario → Identify Article → Apply Restriction → Case → Conclusion

• Eliminate obviously unconstitutional options first
• Target: 45–60 seconds per question
• Articles 19 & 21 usually in same passage — read restrictions first

Part I — CLAT-Style MCQs

Part J — Visual Diagrams

Constitutional Hierarchy

CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
│
├── Legislature (Parliament)
│     ├── Makes laws
│     └── Amendments (Art 368)
│
├── Executive (Government)
│     └── Implements laws
│
└── Judiciary (Supreme Court & High Courts)
      └── Enforces FRs (Art 32, 226)

Fundamental Rights Flowchart

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS (Part III)
│
├── Equality (14-18)
├── Freedom (19-22)
├── Exploitation (23-24)
├── Religion (25-28)
├── Culture/Education (29-30)
└── Remedies (32, 226, 35)

Articles 14 vs 15 vs 16

The 5 Writs

HABEAS CORPUS   → Release person unlawfully detained  
MANDAMUS        → Force duty  
PROHIBITION     → Stop lower court  
CERTIORARI      → Quash order  
QUO WARRANTO    → Challenge authority

Scenario-to-Article Decision Tree

If → Speech issue  → Go to Art 19  
If → Personal dignity → Art 21  
If → Job/reservation → Arts 14/16  
If → Detention → Art 22  
If → Religious practice → Arts 25-28  
If → Institution autonomy → Arts 29-30

50-Point Revision Checklist

• Art 12: State definition
• Art 14: Classification test
• Art 15: Protected classes
• Art 16: Reservations
• Art 19 freedoms
• Art 19(2) restrictions
• Art 20 rights
• Art 21 dignity
• Art 21 privacy
• Art 22 detention
• Art 25–28 religion
• Art 29–30 minority
• Art 32 SC writ
• Art 226 HC writ
• 5 writs
• PIL rules
• 1st Amendment
• 24th Amendment
• 42nd Amendment
• 44th Amendment
• 86th Amendment
• 103rd Amendment
• Maneka Gandhi
• Kesavananda
• Puttaswamy
• Shreya Singhal
• Reasonable restrictions
• Proportionality test
• Privacy test
• Mock test timing

1-Page QuickNotes

CORE 5 ARTICLES → 12, 14, 19, 21, 32  

TOP FREEDOMS → Speech, Assembly, Association, Movement, Residence, Profession  

RESTRICTIONS → Public order, Security, Decency, Morality, Defamation, Contempt  

ART 21 EXPANDS → Privacy, Dignity, Health, Livelihood, Education  

5 WRITS → HC, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo Warranto  

MINORITY RIGHTS → 29–30  

RELIGION RIGHTS → 25–28  

AMENDMENTS → 1st, 24th, 42nd, 44th, 86th, 103rd  

LANDMARK CASES → Maneka, Kesavananda, Puttaswamy, SP Gupta, Shreya Singhal