Which Fundamental Right in the Constitution of India guarantees that all persons shall be equal before the law and shall be equally protected by the laws of the country?

Introduction / Context:

The question refers to a specific wording in the Constitution of India that says all persons shall be equal before the law and shall be equally protected by the laws of the country. This phrase captures a core democratic principle and is part of a particular group of Fundamental Rights.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The phrase equal before the law and equal protection of the laws is highlighted.

- The options list different clusters of Fundamental Rights, such as Right to Equality and Right to Freedom.

- The learner is expected to know which cluster this phrase belongs to.

Concept / Approach:

Article 14 of the Constitution states that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. Article 14 is part of the group of provisions known collectively as the Right to Equality, which runs from Article 14 to Article 18. Therefore, the Fundamental Right that embodies this phrase is the Right to Equality.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

A quick look at any standard summary of Fundamental Rights shows that the Right to Equality is the first group and that it explicitly includes Article 14. The other rights groups, such as Right to Freedom or Right to Freedom of Religion, begin with different opening Articles and different key phrases, confirming that they do not contain this particular wording.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Right to Freedom, which covers Articles 19 to 22, mainly deals with freedoms such as speech, movement, and protection in respect of conviction for offences, not the general equality clause.

Right against Exploitation, in Articles 23 and 24, prohibits traffic in human beings, forced labour, and child labour in factories, which is important but conceptually separate from equality before law.

Right to Freedom of Religion covers Articles 25 to 28 and focuses on religious liberty, not the overarching principle of legal equality for all persons.

Cultural and Educational Rights, in Articles 29 and 30, protect minority interests in culture and education and do not state the general equality before law principle.

Common Pitfalls:

A common error is to confuse the broad sounding phrase equality before the law with other rights such as protection from discrimination in specific fields or equal opportunity in public employment. While these are also part of the Right to Equality, the precise wording in the question comes from Article 14. Remembering that Article 14 introduces the Right to Equality group helps keep this mapping clear.

Final Answer:

The Fundamental Right that guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws is the Right to Equality.