Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 6
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Fundamental Rights are a central feature of the Constitution of India and form an important topic for all competitive examinations. They are not presented as one undivided list; rather, the Constitution arranges them into distinct groups or categories based on the types of freedoms and protections they provide. This question checks whether the learner remembers the correct count of these categories as given in Part III of the Constitution.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The usual classification identifies six groups of Fundamental Rights. These are the Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and Right to Constitutional Remedies. Earlier, there was also the Right to Property, which used to be a Fundamental Right but has now been moved out of Part III and converted into a constitutional legal right. Even after this change, the commonly taught grouping for Fundamental Rights in Part III remains six categories. Therefore, recalling this list gives the correct answer directly.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the groups of Fundamental Rights as studied in Part III of the Constitution.
Step 2: Identify the Right to Equality as the first group, covering Articles related to equality before the law and prohibition of discrimination.
Step 3: Identify the Right to Freedom as the second group, covering freedoms such as speech, movement and occupation.
Step 4: Identify the Right against Exploitation as the third group, with provisions banning trafficking and forced labour.
Step 5: Identify the Right to Freedom of Religion as the fourth group, safeguarding religious freedom and managing religious affairs.
Step 6: Identify Cultural and Educational Rights as the fifth group, protecting the interests of minorities in education and culture.
Step 7: Identify the Right to Constitutional Remedies as the sixth group, enabling individuals to move courts for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
Step 8: Count these groups and observe that there are exactly six categories.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can quickly recall the standard table printed in most polity books where Fundamental Rights are summarised group wise. The table almost always lists six headings corresponding to the groups mentioned above. Another cross check is to remember that older editions of some books used to mention seven rights, including Right to Property, but after amendment that right was removed from Part III. Even then, the grouping of the remaining rights is still shown as six categories. As multiple reputable sources agree on this figure, the answer can be trusted.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
5: This undercounts the groups and would require merging two distinct categories, which is not how the Constitution organises them.
7: This often confuses learners with the earlier list of seven rights including Right to Property, but the question asks about present categories of Fundamental Rights in Part III.
8: There is no standard or constitutional basis for eight categories, so this option is clearly incorrect.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes mix up the older and newer classifications and may still think in terms of seven rights as found in some historical references. Another common pitfall is to count individual Articles rather than the broad groups and become confused by the larger number. To avoid this, candidates should memorise the group names and remember that, after the relevant amendment, the effective grouping of Fundamental Rights in Part III is into six categories. Regular revision of the list ensures that this simple but frequently asked fact is not missed in the examination.
Final Answer:
The Fundamental Rights in the Constitution of India are grouped under six categories in Part III.
Discussion & Comments