Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporate protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?
Contents9
- ARight against Exploitation
- BRight to Freedom
- CRight to Constitutional Remedies
- DRight to Equality
Show answer
Answer: (D) Right to Equality
The question asks which Fundamental Right protects against untouchability.
The answer is the Right to Equality (Articles 14-18):
- Article 14: Equality before law
- Article 15: No discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth
- Article 16: Equal opportunity in public employment
- Article 17: ABOLISHES UNTOUCHABILITY and forbids its practice in any form
- Article 18: Abolishes titles
Article 17 specifically abolishes untouchability. Since Article 17 falls under the Right to Equality (Articles 14-18), the protection against untouchability comes under this category.
The other options are unrelated:
- Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24): Deals with trafficking, forced labor, child labor.
- Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22): Deals with speech, assembly, movement, etc.
- Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32): Deals with enforcing fundamental rights through writs.
Answer: D (Right to Equality).
Key Takeaway: Untouchability abolished under Article 17, which is part of Right to Equality (Articles 14-18).
Article 17 specifically abolishes untouchability and falls under the Right to Equality category (Articles 14-18), making it the only fundamental right that directly addresses this form of discrimination.
Students often confuse this with Right against Exploitation because both deal with social evils, but untouchability is specifically about equality before law rather than forced labor or trafficking.
Right to Equality (Articles 14-18)
Indian Polity Right to Equality untouchability discrimination
Right to Equality: Articles 14-18 & Constitutional Protection
Article 17 specifically abolishes untouchability under Right to Equality
Right to Equality covers Articles 14-18 with 5 distinct provisions
Article 14 provides equality before law and equal protection of laws
Article 15 prohibits discrimination on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth
Constitutional Framework
The Right to Equality forms the cornerstone of India's commitment to social justice, covering five fundamental provisions that ensure equal treatment and opportunity for all citizens.
Complete Breakdown of Articles 14-18
Article | Provision | Key Protection | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
Article 14 | Equality before law | Equal treatment by state | All persons within India |
Article 15 | Prohibition of discrimination | No discrimination on 5 grounds | Religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth |
Article 16 | Equal opportunity in employment | Merit-based public employment | All citizens for government jobs |
Article 17 | Abolition of untouchability | Complete ban on untouchability | Any form of untouchability practice |
Article 18 | Abolition of titles | No titles except military/academic | State cannot confer titles |
Article 17: Untouchability Provisions
Completely abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form
Makes untouchability punishable by law - enforceable through Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
Self-executing provision - no need for separate legislation to make it effective
Covers both direct and indirect forms of untouchability practice
Violation is both a constitutional wrong and a criminal offense
Question Connection
This question directly tests knowledge of which Fundamental Right category contains Article 17. Since Article 17 (abolition of untouchability) falls under Articles 14-18, the protection against untouchability comes under Right to Equality, not any other Fundamental Right category.
Trap: Confusing Article 17 (untouchability) with Article 23 (Right against Exploitation) - both deal with social evils but are in different categories
Trap: Thinking untouchability falls under Right to Freedom because it involves social freedom - wrong category entirely
Common Error: Memorizing Article 17 content but forgetting it belongs to Articles 14-18 (Right to Equality)
UPSC Pattern: Questions often test which category contains specific articles rather than just article content
Six Categories of Fundamental Rights
Indian Polity Right against Exploitation Right to Freedom Right to Constitutional Remedies
Six Categories of Fundamental Rights: Complete Classification
Six categories of Fundamental Rights covering Articles 12-35
Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32) called 'Heart and Soul' by Dr. Ambedkar
Right against Exploitation covers trafficking, forced labor, child labor
Complete Classification of Fundamental Rights
Category | Articles | Key Provisions | Core Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
Right to Equality | 14-18 | Equality before law, Non-discrimination, Abolition of untouchability | Equal treatment |
Right to Freedom | 19-22 | Speech, assembly, movement, profession, life & liberty | Individual liberty |
Right against Exploitation | 23-24 | Prohibition of trafficking, forced labor, child labor | Human dignity |
Right to Freedom of Religion | 25-28 | Conscience, practice, propagation, religious institutions | Religious liberty |
Cultural & Educational Rights | 29-30 | Minorities' language, script, culture, educational institutions | Minority protection |
Right to Constitutional Remedies | 32 | Writs against state for FR violation | Enforcement mechanism |
Fundamental Rights Structure
# Fundamental Rights (Articles 12-35)
## Right to Equality (14-18)
- Equal treatment
- Non-discrimination
- Untouchability abolished
- Merit in employment
## Right to Freedom (19-22)
- Six freedoms under Art 19
- Life & liberty Art 21
- Protection in arrest Art 22
## Right against Exploitation (23-24)
- No trafficking
- No forced labor
- No child labor below 14
## Constitutional Remedies (32)
- Five writs
- Direct Supreme Court access
- Heart and soul of ConstitutionKey Distinguishing Features
Right to Constitutional Remedies is the enforcement mechanism for all other Fundamental Rights
Right against Exploitation specifically targets economic and social exploitation of vulnerable groups
Right to Freedom covers positive liberties (what citizens can do) while Right to Equality covers negative equality (what state cannot do)
Only Right to Equality and Right to Freedom are available to both citizens and non-citizens
Trap: Thinking all social evils fall under Right against Exploitation - untouchability is under Right to Equality
Trap: Confusing Article 32 (Constitutional Remedies) with Article 226 (High Court writs) - both provide writs but different articles
Memory Aid: 'EFCCER' - Equality, Freedom, Cultural, Constitutional Remedies, Exploitation, Religion (not chronological order)
UPSC Trick: Questions ask which category contains specific protections, not just what the protection is