Important Articles, Amendments & Constitutional Reference
Compact UPSC cheatsheet — 60 most-tested articles, 30 key amendments, Three Lists, 12 Schedules, constitutional bodies, and table of precedence. Maximum facts, minimal prose. Designed for last-minute revision and Prelims 2025.
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1. 60 Most-Tested Articles — Quick Reference
| Article | Subject & Key Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Name & territory of India — "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States" |
| 3 | Formation of new States — Parliament by law (President's recommendation required before introduction) |
| 12 | Definition of "State" — includes Parliament, state legislatures, all local/other authorities (for Part III) |
| 13 | Laws inconsistent with Fundamental Rights are void — basis for judicial review of legislation |
| 14 | Equality before law & equal protection — applies to citizens AND foreigners |
| 15 | Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth (citizens only) |
| 16 | Equality of opportunity in public employment — permits reservations (Art. 16(4), 16(4A), 16(4B)) |
| 17 | Abolition of untouchability — offence under Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 |
| 19 | 6 Freedoms (speech, assembly, association, movement, residence, profession) — citizens only; reasonable restrictions |
| 20 | Protection against conviction for offences — ex post facto law, double jeopardy, self-incrimination |
| 21 | Protection of life and personal liberty — most expansive FR; Maneka Gandhi, K.S. Puttaswamy cases |
| 21A | Right to Education (6–14 years) — inserted by 86th Amendment 2002; free and compulsory |
| 22 | Protection against arbitrary arrest — right to be informed of grounds; legal aid; 24-hour magistrate rule (exception: preventive detention) |
| 32 | Right to Constitutional Remedies — "heart and soul of the Constitution" (Ambedkar); 5 writs; cannot be suspended except Art. 359 |
| 37 | DPSPs non-justiciable but fundamental to governance; State shall keep in mind while making laws |
| 44 | DPSP — Uniform Civil Code; still unimplemented; Shah Bano, Sarla Mudgal cases |
| 48A | DPSP — Protection of environment & wildlife; inserted by 42nd Amendment 1976 |
| 51A | Fundamental Duties (11 duties) — inserted by 42nd Amdt; 11th duty on education added by 86th Amdt 2002 |
| 52 | There shall be a President of India |
| 54 | Election of President — Electoral College: elected MPs + elected MLAs (not nominated members) |
| 61 | Impeachment of President — by Parliament with 2/3 majority of total membership of each House |
| 66 | Election of Vice-President — both elected MPs (RS + LS) vote; not MLAs; simple majority |
| 72 | President's pardoning power — pardon, commute, reprieve, respite, remit (including death sentence) |
| 74 | Council of Ministers with PM at head aids & advises President — advice is binding (44th Amdt) |
| 75 | PM appointed by President; other ministers on PM's advice; CoM collectively responsible to LS |
| 76 | Attorney General of India — highest law officer; appointed by President; right of audience in all courts |
| 79 | Constitution of Parliament — President + Council of States + House of the People |
| 80 | Composition of Rajya Sabha — 250 max (238 elected + 12 nominated by President for art/science/literature/social service) |
| 81 | Composition of Lok Sabha — 550 max (530 States + 20 UTs); current strength 543 |
| 83 | Duration of Houses — LS 5 years; RS permanent (1/3 members retire every 2 years) |
| 85 | Sessions of Parliament — summoned by President; gap between sessions max 6 months; prorogation vs dissolution |
| 108 | Joint sitting of both Houses — only for ordinary bills; deadlock or bill lapses; Speaker of LS presides |
| 109 | Special procedure for Money Bills — cannot be introduced in RS; RS can only recommend (not amend); 14-day rule |
| 110 | Definition of Money Bill — 7 matters; Speaker's decision is final; no joint sitting for Money Bills |
| 112 | Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget) — must be laid before both Houses; no separate vote needed for charged expenditure |
| 123 | President's Ordinance-making power — when Parliament not in session; same force as Act of Parliament; 6-week life after re-assembly |
| 124 | Establishment of Supreme Court — CJI & judges appointed by President; collegium system (Three Judges Cases) |
| 131 | Original jurisdiction of SC — disputes between States, or State vs Union (exclusive; not with HC) |
| 136 | Special Leave Petition (SLP) — discretionary appellate jurisdiction of SC; against any court/tribunal except military |
| 141 | Law declared by SC is binding on all courts in India — ensures uniformity of law |
| 142 | SC may pass orders necessary to do complete justice — wide residuary power ("plenary power") |
| 143 | Advisory jurisdiction of SC — President may refer questions of law/fact of public importance; SC opinion not binding |
| 148 | Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) — guardian of public purse; reports to President/Governor; independent of executive |
| 151 | CAG submits audit reports to President (Union) / Governor (State) who lays them before Parliament/Legislature |
| 155 | Appointment of Governor — by President; holds office during pleasure of President |
| 161 | Governor's pardoning power — can pardon, reprieve, remit; but cannot pardon death sentences (unlike President) |
| 163 | Council of Ministers with CM at head aids & advises Governor; Governor can act in discretion in certain matters |
| 164 | CM appointed by Governor; other ministers on CM's advice; Council collectively responsible to Vidhan Sabha |
| 165 | Advocate General of State — State's law officer; appointed by Governor |
| 200 | Governor's assent to State Bills — can give assent, withhold, reserve for President's consideration |
| 213 | Governor's Ordinance-making power — when state legislature not in session; same as Art. 123 for states |
| 226 | High Court writ jurisdiction — can issue writs to any person/authority in state (broader than SC Art. 32) |
| 239AA | Special status for Delhi (NCT) — Legislature, Council of Ministers; LG has special role; public order/police/land with Union |
| 243 | Definitions for Panchayats (73rd Amendment 1992) — Gram Sabha, Panchayat, Panchayat area |
| 244 | Scheduled & Tribal Areas — 5th Schedule (Scheduled Areas) and 6th Schedule (Tribal Areas NE) |
| 246 | Distribution of legislative powers — Parliament on Union List, State on State List, both on Concurrent; Union prevails in conflict |
| 248 | Residuary powers — Parliament has exclusive power to legislate on matters NOT in any list |
| 249 | Parliament can legislate on State List if RS passes resolution by 2/3 majority (national interest) |
| 253 | Parliament can legislate on any subject to implement international treaties/agreements |
| 262 | Inter-state water disputes — Parliament may provide for adjudication; SC/HC jurisdiction excluded (River Disputes Act) |
| 263 | Inter-State Council — President may establish for coordinating policies between states; advisory body |
| 265 | No tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law — foundation of tax law |
| 279A | GST Council — inserted by 101st Amendment 2016; CM/FM representation; decisions by 3/4 weighted majority |
| 280 | Finance Commission — constituted every 5 years; recommends Centre-State tax devolution |
| 300A | Right to property — constitutional right (not FR after 44th Amdt 1978); no deprivation except by authority of law |
| 311 | Dismissal, removal, reduction of civil servants — two-stage: penalty and opportunity of being heard |
| 312 | All India Services — RS can create new AIS by 2/3 majority resolution (national interest) |
| 315 | Public Service Commissions — UPSC for Union; SPSC for States; joint PSC possible |
| 320 | Functions of PSC — recruitment, promotion, disciplinary matters; advice is ordinarily binding |
| 323A | Administrative Tribunals — Parliament can establish (inserted by 42nd Amdt); Central/State Administrative Tribunals |
| 324 | Election Commission — superintendence, direction, control of elections; independent body |
| 326 | Adult suffrage — elections to LS and State Assemblies based on universal adult franchise (18 years: 61st Amdt) |
| 330 | Reservation of seats for SC/ST in Lok Sabha — proportional to population |
| 334 | Reservation of seats for SC/ST and Anglo-Indians — originally 10 years; extended; 104th Amdt extended to 2030 |
| 338 | National Commission for Scheduled Castes — constitutional body; investigates safeguards; annual report to President |
| 338A | National Commission for Scheduled Tribes — separate commission (carved out from NCSC by 89th Amendment 2003) |
| 338B | National Commission for Backward Classes — inserted by 102nd Amendment 2018; constitutional status |
| 341 | Scheduled Castes — notified by President; Parliament amends the list; SC list is state-specific |
| 342A | Socially & Educationally Backward Classes — inserted by 102nd Amendment 2018; President/Parliament to notify |
| 343 | Official language of Union — Hindi in Devanagari script; English to continue for 15 years from commencement |
| 348 | Language of SC, HCs, authoritative texts of laws — English; Parliament may by law authorise use of Hindi |
| 350B | Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities — appointed by President; reports to President |
| 352 | National Emergency — President's proclamation if security of India threatened by war/external aggression/armed rebellion; approved by Parliament within 1 month by 2/3 majority |
| 356 | President's Rule (State Emergency) — failure of constitutional machinery in state; imposed by President; approved by Parliament |
| 360 | Financial Emergency — Art. 360; threat to financial stability/credit of India; never used so far |
| 365 | Failure to comply with directions of Union may lead to imposition of President's Rule |
| 368 | Power to amend Constitution — Parliament by special majority; some provisions require state ratification (1/2 of states) |
| 370 | Special provisions for J&K — abrogated by Presidential Order 2019; upheld by SC in December 2023 |
2. 30 Key Amendments — Quick Reference
| No. | Year | What Changed (One Line) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1951 | Added 9th Schedule; reasonable restrictions on FRs (Art. 19); inserted Art. 31A & 31B to protect land reform laws |
| 7th | 1956 | Reorganised states on linguistic basis; abolished Part A/B/C/D states; created Union Territories |
| 24th | 1971 | Affirmed Parliament's power to amend any part of Constitution including FRs (response to Golak Nath 1967) |
| 25th | 1971 | Limited right to property; inserted Art. 31C — laws giving effect to DPSP Arts 39(b)(c) not void even if violating Art. 14/19 |
| 26th | 1971 | Abolished privy purses and privileges of former rulers of princely states |
| 38th | 1975 | Made President/Governor Ordinance proclamation non-justiciable (Emergency era; largely reversed by 44th) |
| 39th | 1975 | Election disputes of PM, President, VP to be decided by Parliament-constituted body (struck down by SC in Indira Gandhi case) |
| 42nd | 1976 | "Mini-Constitution" — added Fundamental Duties, Preamble words (socialist, secular, integrity), Art. 323A, moved Education/Forests/Weights & Measures to Concurrent List |
| 44th | 1978 | Restored many pre-Emergency provisions; removed Right to Property from FRs (Art. 300A); restored Art. 74 advice binding; Art. 352 — "armed rebellion" replaces "internal disturbance" |
| 52nd | 1985 | Anti-defection law — added 10th Schedule; defection from party leads to disqualification from membership |
| 61st | 1989 | Voting age reduced from 21 to 18 years (Art. 326) |
| 69th | 1991 | Special status to Delhi (NCT) — Art. 239AA; legislature with limited jurisdiction; LG as administrator |
| 71st | 1992 | Added Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali to 8th Schedule (3 languages added) |
| 73rd | 1992 | Panchayati Raj — added Part IX and 11th Schedule; constitutional status to 3-tier PRIs; 1/3 reservation for women |
| 74th | 1992 | Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities) — added Part IX-A and 12th Schedule; constitutional status; 18 functions |
| 77th | 1995 | Inserted Art. 16(4A) — reservation in promotion for SCs/STs in services under State |
| 84th | 2001 | Froze delimitation of LS/Assembly seats based on 1971 Census until 2026 (extended by 87th Amdt to 2001 Census) |
| 86th | 2002 | Right to Education (Art. 21A) for 6–14 years; added Art. 51A(k) — duty of parents to provide education; 11th Fundamental Duty |
| 89th | 2003 | Split NCSC into two bodies — NCSC (Art. 338) for SCs and NCST (Art. 338A) for STs |
| 91st | 2003 | CoM capped at 15% of LS strength; disqualified member (10th Schedule) cannot be minister |
| 92nd | 2003 | Added 4 languages to 8th Schedule — Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali (total 22 languages now) |
| 97th | 2011 | Right to form cooperative societies — added as FR (Art. 19(1)(c)); added Part IX-B for cooperative societies |
| 99th | 2014 | National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) — struck down by SC in 2015 (Fourth Judges Case); collegium restored |
| 100th | 2015 | Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh — transferred enclaves; amended First Schedule |
| 101st | 2016 | Goods & Services Tax (GST) — inserted Art. 246A, 269A, 279A; GST Council; concurrent power to levy GST |
| 102nd | 2018 | Constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes (Art. 338B); inserted Art. 342A |
| 103rd | 2019 | 10% EWS reservation in education & employment for economically weaker sections of general category |
| 104th | 2020 | Extended SC/ST reservation in LS and State Assemblies by 10 more years (till 2030); removed Anglo-Indian nominated seats |
| 105th | 2021 | Restored States' power to identify OBCs for reservations (after Maratha SC judgment); amended Arts 338B, 342A |
| 106th | 2023 | 33% reservation for women in LS and State Assemblies (Art. 330A, 332A) — operative only after delimitation post-Census (NOT yet in force) |
UPSC Trap: 106th Amendment passed September 2023 but is NOT yet in force — it kicks in only after fresh delimitation following the next Census.
3. Three Lists — 7th Schedule (Art. 246)
Diagram A — Three Lists under 7th Schedule; Union prevails in case of conflict with Concurrent List
Union List — 15 Key Subjects
| 1. Defence & Armed Forces |
| 2. Foreign Affairs |
| 3. Atomic Energy |
| 4. Banking & Insurance |
| 5. Currency & Coinage |
| 6. Railways |
| 7. Airways |
| 8. Citizenship |
| 9. Inter-State Trade |
| 10. Income Tax |
| 11. Customs & Excise |
| 12. Patents & Copyright |
| 13. Post & Telegraph |
| 14. CBI, NIA |
| 15. Residuary powers |
State List — 15 Key Subjects
| 1. Public Order & Police |
| 2. Land & Revenue |
| 3. Agriculture |
| 4. Local Government |
| 5. Public Health |
| 6. Irrigation & Canals |
| 7. State Roads & Bridges |
| 8. State Taxes (VAT etc.) |
| 9. Prisons |
| 10. Betting & Gambling |
| 11. Fisheries |
| 12. Gas & Gas-works |
| 13. Pilgrimages within India |
| 14. Intoxicating Liquors |
| 15. Markets & Fairs |
Concurrent List — 15 Key Subjects
| 1. Criminal Law & Procedure |
| 2. Civil Procedure |
| 3. Marriage & Divorce |
| 4. Education* |
| 5. Forests* |
| 6. Labour & Welfare |
| 7. Factories & Boilers |
| 8. Electricity |
| 9. Bankruptcy & Insolvency |
| 10. Contracts & Partnerships |
| 11. Population Control* |
| 12. Drugs & Poisons |
| 13. Price Control |
| 14. Newspapers & Books |
| 15. Stamp Duties |
* moved from State List by 42nd Amdt 1976
Key Rule: If Parliament and State legislature both make a law on a Concurrent subject, Parliament's law prevails (Art. 254). Exception: if State law has President's assent, it prevails in that State.
4. All 12 Schedules — Quick Reference
Diagram B — All 12 Schedules with content summary; 9th–12th Schedules are later additions
| Schedule | Content | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Names of States & UTs | Amended when new State created (Art. 3); currently 28 states, 8 UTs |
| 2nd | Salaries & allowances | Covers President, VP, Governors, LS/RS Speaker/Dy Speaker, SC/HC Judges, CAG |
| 3rd | Forms of oaths | Required for constitutional officeholders before assuming office |
| 4th | RS seats for States/UTs | 238 elected members; seats roughly proportional to population — PYQ 2018 |
| 5th | Scheduled Areas (non-NE) | Tribes Advisory Council; Governor's special powers; currently 10 States |
| 6th | Tribal Areas (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram) | Autonomous District/Regional Councils with legislative, judicial powers |
| 7th | Three Lists (Union 97, State 66, Concurrent 52) | Art. 246; residuary = Union (Art. 248); Union prevails in conflict on Concurrent |
| 8th | 22 Official Languages | Originally 14; 92nd Amdt added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali (now 22) |
| 9th | Laws protected from FR challenge | Added by 1st Amdt; Coelho 2007 — laws added after 24 Apr 1973 subject to basic structure test |
| 10th | Anti-defection provisions | Added by 52nd Amdt 1985; Speaker/Chairman decides; SC review possible (Kihoto Hollohan 1993) |
| 11th | 29 functions of Panchayats | 73rd Amendment 1992; agriculture, primary education, sanitation, rural roads, etc. |
| 12th | 18 functions of Municipalities | 74th Amendment 1992; urban planning, regulation of land use, public health, markets — PYQ 2021 |
5. Constitutional Bodies — Quick Reference
Diagram C — 5 most-tested constitutional bodies: article, appointment, key note
| Body | Article | Appointed by | Reports to | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | Art. 52–62 | Electoral College | — | Nominal head; acts on CoM advice (Art. 74) |
| Vice-President | Art. 63–71 | Elected MPs (both Houses) | — | Ex-officio Chairman of RS; no MLAs in election |
| Prime Minister | Art. 75 | President | Lok Sabha | Real executive; leader of majority party in LS |
| Speaker (LS) | Art. 93 | Elected by LS members | — | Decides Money Bill, anti-defection; removal by LS majority |
| CAG | Art. 148 | President | Parliament | "Guardian of public purse"; not re-eligible; removed like SC judge |
| UPSC Chairman | Art. 316 | President | Parliament (Art. 323) | Ineligible for further Govt service; independent |
| CJI | Art. 124 | President (collegium) | — | Removed by impeachment; Three Judges Cases (collegium) |
| CEC | Art. 324 | President | Parliament | Removed like SC judge; CEC & ECs after 2023 Amdt — Law Committee recommends |
| Finance Commission Chair | Art. 280 | President | President / Parliament | Constituted every 5 years; 16th FC (2024) under Arvind Panagariya |
| AG of India | Art. 76 | President | Parliament | Highest law officer; audience in all courts; not full-time |
| NCSC Chairman | Art. 338 | President | President / Parliament | Investigates SC safeguards; annual report |
| NCST Chairman | Art. 338A | President | President / Parliament | Carved from NCSC by 89th Amdt 2003 |
| NCBC Chairman | Art. 338B | President | President / Parliament | Constitutional status via 102nd Amdt 2018 |
| Lokpal Chair | Lokpal Act 2013 | President (on Committee's recommendation) | Parliament | Statutory, not constitutional body; first Lokpal: Pinaki Chandra Ghose 2019 |
| NHRC Chair | PHRA 1993 | President | Parliament | Statutory body; retired CJI is Chairperson |
6. Table of Precedence — Top 10
| Position | Dignitary | Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | President of India | Head of State; highest constitutional office |
| 2 | Vice-President of India | Ex-officio Chairman, Rajya Sabha |
| 3 | Prime Minister | Head of Government; real executive |
| 4 | Governors of States (within their states) | Constitutional head of state; outside home state, rank below Cabinet Ministers |
| 5 | Former Presidents; Deputy PM (when exists) | Deputy PM rank equivalent to Cabinet Minister when no Former PM |
| 6 | Chief Justice of India & Speaker of Lok Sabha | UPSC Trap: CJI and Speaker are at the same level (Position 6) |
| 7 | Cabinet Ministers of Union; Chief Ministers of States (within their states); Deputy Chairman RS; Dy Speaker LS | Cabinet Ministers rank above CM of state outside that state |
| 8 | Chief Ministers of States (outside their states); Governors (outside their states) | — |
| 9 | Judges of Supreme Court | Equivalent to Cabinet Ministers |
| 10 | Former Prime Ministers; Leaders of Opposition (LS & RS) | Former PMs granted precedence equivalent to Cabinet Ministers |
Note: The Table of Precedence is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is not part of the Constitution. Positions 4 and 7 have within-state / outside-state variations for Governors and CMs.
7. Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Prelims 2019
With reference to the 9th Schedule of the Constitution of India, consider: "Laws included in 9th Schedule cannot be challenged before any court." — This statement is incorrect after which case?
Answer: I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007) — SC held that laws added to 9th Schedule after 24 April 1973 (Kesavananda date) can be challenged if they violate the basic structure. 9th Schedule is NOT immune.
Prelims 2021
Which of the following functions/powers are included in the 12th Schedule of the Constitution (relating to Municipalities)?
Answer: 18 subjects including urban planning, land use regulation, economic & social development, roads and bridges, water supply, public health, safeguarding of interests of weaker sections. (74th Amendment 1992)
Prelims 2024
With reference to the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, which statement is correct?
Answer: It provides for 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. However, it will come into force only after fresh delimitation exercise following the next Census — it is NOT currently operative.
Prelims 2022
Which of the following subjects was transferred from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment 1976?
Answer: Education, Forests, Weights & Measures, Protection of wild animals and birds, Administration of Justice (certain matters). Education was in State List before 1976 — now in Concurrent List (Entry 25).
Prelims 2018
The 4th Schedule of the Constitution deals with:
Answer: Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha for States and Union Territories. (Not to be confused with 6th Schedule which deals with tribal areas in North-East.)
8. Revision Box — 4 UPSC Traps
Must-Remember: 4 Common UPSC Traps in This Topic
- 9th Schedule is NOT immune from judicial review — I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007): any law added to 9th Schedule after 24 April 1973 (Kesavananda Bharati date) can be challenged if it violates the basic structure of the Constitution. Statements saying "9th Schedule laws cannot be challenged" are WRONG.
- 106th Amendment (33% women reservation) is NOT yet in force — Passed by Parliament in September 2023, it will become operative only after fresh delimitation exercise, which requires completion of the next Census. Current LS still has no women's reservation quota under this amendment.
- Education is in the Concurrent List, NOT the State List — Before the 42nd Amendment 1976, Education was in the State List. The 42nd Amendment moved it to the Concurrent List (Entry 25). Any question suggesting states have exclusive power over education is incorrect.
- CJI and Speaker of Lok Sabha are at the same level in Table of Precedence (Position 6) — Both occupy position 6; neither ranks above the other. Also note: Governors rank 4 within their state but fall below Cabinet Ministers outside their state.