Article 14-18 — Right to Equality

Two friends apply for the same government clerk post in Thane. One is from a family that has never had a government job; the other's father is a senior officer. Should the recruitment treat them identically? What if a seat is kept only for women, or only for a backward class? Equality in the Constitution does not mean everyone is treated the same; it means the State may not treat people differently without a good reason. Articles 14 to 18 set out where that line falls.

In two minutes

Articles 14 to 18 guarantee equality before the law and equal protection (Art. 14), ban discrimination on specified grounds (Art. 15), ensure equal opportunity in public jobs (Art. 16), abolish untouchability (Art. 17) and abolish titles (Art. 18), with carefully drawn room for affirmative action.

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