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Q94 (IAS/2020) Polity & Governance › Fundamental Rights, DPSP & Fundamental Duties › Fundamental Rights framework Official Key

Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporates protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination ?

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 4: Right to Equality. Under the Indian Constitution, the Right to Equality is a cluster of fundamental rights spanning from Articles 14 to 18. Specifically, Article 17 expressly abolishes "Untouchability" and forbids its practice in any form, making it a punishable offense.

The classification is as follows:

  • Right to Equality (Articles 14–18): Includes Article 17, which protects individuals from discrimination based on untouchability.
  • Right against Exploitation (Articles 23–24): Deals with human trafficking and forced labor, not caste-based social exclusion.
  • Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22): Covers liberties like speech and movement.
  • Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32): Provides the mechanism to approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of rights but is not the substantive right itself.

Since Article 17 falls squarely within the 14–18 bracket, protection against untouchability is categorized under the Right to Equality.

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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporates protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination ? …
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 2.5/10
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Statement 1
Does the Right against Exploitation under the Fundamental Rights of the Constitution of India include protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Right to Equality 14. Equality before law. 15. Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. 16. Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. 17. Abolition of Untouchability."
Why this source?
  • This is an official Constitution text listing Part III fundamental rights by article numbers.
  • Under 'Right to Equality' it explicitly lists '17. Abolition of Untouchability', placing untouchability within Right to Equality.
  • If abolition of untouchability is a provision of Right to Equality, it is not placed under the separate 'Right against Exploitation' in this source.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"They are as follows: 1. Right to Equality 2. Right to freedom 3. Right against exploitation 4. Right to freedom of Religion"
Why this source?
  • Lists the six fundamental rights as distinct categories, including both 'Right to Equality' and 'Right against exploitation' separately.
  • Shows that 'Right against exploitation' is a separate fundamental-right heading (so untouchability would be addressed under the listed 'Right to Equality' rather than under 'Right against exploitation').
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"there are six basic Fundamental Rights of Indian Citizens, which are right to equality, right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, right to freedom, right to constitutional remedies and right against exploitation."
Why this source?
  • Summarizes the six basic fundamental rights and names 'right to equality' and 'right against exploitation' as distinct items.
  • Supports the view that untouchability (abolition) would fall under the Right to Equality category rather than under Right against Exploitation.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 8: Fundamental Rights > D I Abolition of Untouchability > p. 84
Strength: 5/5
“Article 17 abolishes 'untouchability' and forbids its practice in any form. The enforcement of any disability arising out of untouchability shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law. In 1976, the Untouchability (Offences) Act has been comprehensively amended and renamed as the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 to enlarge the scope and make penal provisions more stringent. The act defines civil right as any right accruing to a person by reason of the abolition of untouchability by Article 17 of the Constitution. The term 'untouchability' has not been defined either in the Constitution or in the Act. However, the Mysore High Court held that the subject matter of Article 17 is not untouchability in its literal or grammatical sense but the 'practice as it had developed historically in the country'.”
Why relevant

Specifies Article 17 abolishes untouchability and makes its enforcement an offence, identifying untouchability as a distinct constitutional provision.

How to extend

A student can check which Fundamental Right grouping contains Article 17 to see whether untouchability is placed under Right to Equality or another group.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > III I Fundamental Rights > p. 30
Strength: 5/5
“Part III of the Indian Constitution guarantees six fundamental rights to all the citizens: • (a) Right to Equality Articles 14-18) • (b) Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22) • (c) Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24) • (d) Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28) • (e) Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30) and • (f) Right to Constitutional Remedy (Article 32) Originally, the Constitution provided for seven Fundamental Rights. However, the Right to Property (Article 31) was deleted from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment Act of J978. It is made a legal right under Article 300-A in Part XII of the constitution.”
Why relevant

Lists the Right to Equality as covering Articles 14–18 (the range that includes Article 17).

How to extend

Combine this grouping with Article 17 (from snippet 10) to infer untouchability is treated under Right to Equality rather than under Right against Exploitation.

Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA > p. 138
Strength: 4/5
“Article 23: Right against Exploitation. As an adjunct to the guarantee of personal liberty and the prohibition against discrimination, our Constitution lays down certain provisions to prevent exploitation of the weaker sections of the society by unscrupulous individuals or even by the state. Article 23 says: Prohibition of Traffic in Human Beings and Forced Labour. (1) Traffic in human beings and begar and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law. (2) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from imposing compulsory service for public purposes, and in imposing such service the State shall not make any discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste or class or any of them.”
Why relevant

Describes the scope of Article 23 (Right against Exploitation): prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour, and notes non-discrimination in state-imposed compulsory service on grounds including caste.

How to extend

Use this to see that Right against Exploitation addresses specific practices (traffic, forced labour) and not explicitly untouchability, suggesting untouchability may belong elsewhere.

Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS > Right against E against E against Exploitation > p. 83
Strength: 4/5
“Right against E t against Et against Exploitation Once the right to liberty and equality is granted, it follows that every citizen has a right not to be exploited. Yet the Constitution makers thought was necessary to write down certain clear provisions to prevent exploitation of the weaker sections of the society. The Constitution mentions three specific evils and declares these illegal. First, the Constitution prohibits 'traffic in human beings'. Traffic here means selling and buying of human beings, usually women, for immoral purposes. Second, our Constitution also prohibits forced labour or begar in Begar is a practice where the worker is forced to render service to the 'master' free of charge or at a nominal remuneration.”
Why relevant

Explains that the Right against Exploitation enumerates three specific evils (traffic in human beings, forced labour, begar), giving a pattern of narrowly defined prohibitions under that right.

How to extend

A student can compare these specific evils with the practice of untouchability to judge whether untouchability fits the pattern covered by Right against Exploitation.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > 2020 TEST PAPER > p. 758
Strength: 3/5
“1 Select the correct answer using the code given below: Ca) I and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only Ce) 1,2 and 3 only Cd) 1,2 and 4 only • 4. Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporates protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination? • (a) Right against Exploitation• (b) Right to Freedom • (c) Right to Constitutional Remedies • (d) Right to Equality • 5. In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by • (a) the Preamble of the Constitution • (b) a Directive Principle of State Policy • Cc) the Seventh Schedule • (d) the conventional practice • (t.”
Why relevant

Presents a direct exam-style question asking which Fundamental Right incorporates protection against untouchability, listing Right against Exploitation and Right to Equality as options — indicating this is a recognized point of classification.

How to extend

A student can treat this as a prompt to check the constitutional placement of Article 17 and the thematic scope of the two candidate rights to resolve the question.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

NDA-I · 2014 · Q83 Relevance score: 2.81

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 may be seen as giving effect to which of the following Fundamental Rights? 1. Equality before the Law 2. Right against Discrimination 3. Abolition of Untouchability 4. Right to Freedom of Religion Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IAS · 2017 · Q97 Relevance score: 2.69

Which of the following are envisaged by the Right against Exploitation in the Constitution of India ? 1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour 2. Abolition of untouchability 3. Protection of the interests of minorities 4. Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines Select the correct answer using the code given below :

CDS-II · 2011 · Q79 Relevance score: 2.49

Which of the following are envisaged as being part of the ‘Right against Exploitation’ in the Constitution of India ? 1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour. 2. Abolition of untouchability. 3. Protection of the interests of the minorities. 4. Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

CDS-I · 2021 · Q26 Relevance score: 2.16

Which among the following fundamental rights is/are available to non-citizens ? 1. Freedom of speech 2. Protection against self-incrimination 3. Freedom of conscience 4. Non-discrimination in matters of employment Select the correct answer using the code given below :

CDS-II · 2015 · Q94 Relevance score: 2.14

Which of the following Fundamental Rights is/are available to non-citizens? 1. Equality before Law 2. Right against Discrimination 3. Equality of Opportunity 4. Protection of Life and Personal Liberty Select the correct answer using the code given below.