Under the Constitution of India, Article 17 deals with which specific fundamental rights related subject?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Abolition of Untouchability as a social practice.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Article 17 of the Constitution of India is one of the most significant provisions in the chapter on Fundamental Rights, because it directly targets a deeply rooted social evil in Indian society. The question asks you to remember which subject is covered by Article 17. This is an important topic for competitive exams, as it links the legal framework of the Constitution with the broader goal of social justice and equality, especially for historically oppressed communities.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The question specifically mentions Article 17 of the Constitution of India.
  • All the options refer to well known constitutional themes such as privacy, duties, untouchability and constitutional remedies.
  • We assume the standard structure of Part III of the Constitution, which lists Fundamental Rights from Article 12 to Article 35.
  • The task is to match the article number with the correct constitutional subject.


Concept / Approach:
Each article within the Fundamental Rights chapter addresses a particular right or prohibition. Article 14 deals with equality before law, Article 15 prohibits discrimination, Article 16 provides equality of opportunity in public employment, and Article 17 specifically abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form. Therefore, the most efficient approach is to recall the exact topic of Article 17 and then select the option that refers to the abolition of untouchability. It also helps to quickly confirm that the other options relate to different parts or provisions of the Constitution, so they cannot be correct here.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Article 17 is located within Part III, the part dealing with Fundamental Rights. Step 2: Remember that Article 17 declares that untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. Step 3: Look through the options. Option C clearly says Abolition of Untouchability as a social practice, which matches the language and purpose of Article 17. Step 4: Option A refers to the Right to Privacy, which has been read into Article 21 by judicial interpretation, not Article 17. Step 5: Option B talks about fundamental duties, which are contained in Part IV A of the Constitution, not in Article 17. Step 6: Option D mentions the Right to Constitutional Remedies, which is primarily associated with Article 32, not Article 17. Step 7: Since only option C correctly identifies the subject of Article 17, it is the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify the answer is to recall the sequence of equality related articles. Articles 14 to 18 together form a cluster that deals with equality. Article 14 provides equality before the law, Article 15 prohibits discrimination, Article 16 talks about equal opportunity in public employment, Article 17 abolishes untouchability, and Article 18 abolishes titles like Rai Bahadur and other hereditary distinctions. Placing Article 17 in this logical sequence helps you remember that it specifically combats social inequality caused by the practice of untouchability. This reinforcement confirms that the abolition of untouchability is the correct subject for Article 17.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: Right to Privacy is an important right recognised mainly under Article 21 by the Supreme Court and is not the express subject of Article 17.
Option B: Fundamental duties are covered in Part IV A under Article 51A and are not the focus of Article 17.
Option D: The Right to Constitutional Remedies, including writ petitions to enforce Fundamental Rights, is associated with Article 32 and not with Article 17.


Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake in polity questions is to mix up article numbers because many rights are clustered close together. Learners sometimes confuse Article 17 with the article on abolition of titles or with the broad idea of equality. To avoid such confusion, it is useful to group the equality articles in memory and link Article 17 specifically with untouchability, which was a major social problem that the framers of the Constitution wanted to eradicate. Another pitfall is to assume that newly recognised rights such as privacy were always explicitly listed, even though they were read into existing articles. Clear mapping between article numbers and their headings is essential for scoring well in exams.


Final Answer:
Abolition of Untouchability as a social practice.

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