The Bar Council of India does not permit advocates to solicit work or advertise. By clicking "I Agree" below, you confirm that:
We, the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity...
A plain-language resource on the Constitution of India and the everyday laws that shape citizens' rights — built for general awareness, not as a substitute for professional legal advice.
The Constitution is organised into Parts, each dealing with a distinct aspect of the state and the citizen. Tap any Part to read it in full.
The justiciable rights every citizen can enforce directly in court. They bind the State and cannot ordinarily be taken away by ordinary legislation — any law inconsistent with them is void to the extent of the inconsistency (Art. 13).
Guidelines for the State in policy-making — not enforceable in any court, but declared "fundamental in the governance of the country," meaning it is the State's duty to apply them in making laws (Art. 37). They shape much of India's welfare legislation.
Added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee, and modelled in part on Article 29 of the erstwhile USSR constitution. There are eleven duties, none of which is directly enforceable by a court, but courts have referred to them while interpreting other laws. Every citizen of India shall:
The mechanism by which a citizen enforces a Fundamental Right — directly before the Supreme Court under Article 32, or before a High Court under Article 226, which is wider still since it also covers "any other purpose" beyond Fundamental Rights. Both courts can issue five kinds of writs, borrowed from English common law:
Over time, the Supreme Court has relaxed the traditional rule of "locus standi" (that only an affected person can approach the court), giving rise to Public Interest Litigation (PIL) — allowing any public-spirited citizen to move the court on behalf of those who cannot approach it themselves.
Tap any heading to read the full section — property, family, work, and disputes.
Criminal law defines what counts as an offence against the State or society, and lays down the procedure for investigating, prosecuting, and punishing it. From 1 July 2024, India replaced its colonial-era codes: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaces the Indian Penal Code, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaces the CrPC.
Civil law governs disputes between private parties — over property, money, contracts, or personal rights — where the remedy sought is usually compensation, injunction, or specific performance, not punishment. The Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), 1908 lays down how such suits are filed, heard, and decided.
Family law in India is largely governed by personal laws that vary by religion, alongside secular options that apply to everyone. It covers marriage, divorce, maintenance, guardianship of children, adoption, and inheritance.
Property law governs how ownership and interests in land and buildings are created, transferred, and protected — through sale, gift, mortgage, lease, or inheritance.
The Indian Contract Act, 1872 is the backbone of nearly every commercial and everyday agreement — from employment offers to purchase orders to rental agreements.
India's numerous older labour statutes are being consolidated into four labour codes (Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety), which are being rolled out in phases across states.
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 gives consumers a fast, relatively low-cost forum to seek redress for defective goods, deficient services, or unfair trade practices — without needing to go through ordinary civil litigation.
The RTI Act, 2005 lets any citizen seek information from a "public authority" — government departments, PSUs, and bodies substantially financed by the government — making governance more transparent and accountable.
The Information Technology Act, 2000 (as amended) is India's primary law governing electronic records, digital signatures, and cybercrime — increasingly relevant as more of daily life moves online.
Three areas of law that generate the most everyday confusion for salaried employees, retirees, and consumers — explained here purely for awareness.
The Central Administrative Tribunal, set up under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, hears disputes relating to recruitment and service conditions of central government employees — an alternative to approaching the High Court directly.
Pension for central government employees is governed by the CCS (Pension) Rules; gratuity, commutation, and family pension each follow distinct computation rules that are frequently misunderstood.
Wage disputes, wrongful termination, and defective-goods or deficient-service complaints each have dedicated, citizen-friendly forums designed to avoid the delay of ordinary civil litigation.
This portal is maintained to make constitutional and legal concepts accessible to the general public in plain language. The content here is educational in nature and reflects the areas of law that come up most often in everyday life.
It is not a substitute for individual legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts — for guidance on a specific situation, consult a qualified advocate.