Which Fundamental Right in the Constitution of India guarantees that every person has the freedom to practice, profess and propagate the religion of their choice?

Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India provides a detailed catalogue of Fundamental Rights that protect the dignity and liberty of individuals. Among them, religious freedom is a crucial component, reflecting India's plural and diverse society. This question checks whether you can correctly associate the phrases “practice, profess and propagate religion” with the specific Fundamental Right under which they are guaranteed.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question explicitly mentions the freedom to practice, profess and propagate religion.
These exact words appear in Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
You must choose which named Fundamental Right bundle contains this guarantee: equality, freedom, freedom of religion or protection against exploitation.

Concept / Approach:
The Fundamental Rights are usually grouped as follows: Right to Equality (Articles 14–18), Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22), Right against Exploitation (Articles 23–24), Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25–28), Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29–30), and Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32). The specific language “practice, profess and propagate religion” is found in Article 25, which is part of the Right to Freedom of Religion. Therefore, the approach is to recall the classification of rights and identify that religious freedom falls under the Right to Freedom of Religion, not under the general Right to Freedom or Equality.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Article 25(1) of the Constitution says that all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality and health. Step 2: Remember that Articles 25 to 28 are grouped under the heading Right to Freedom of Religion. Step 3: Note that the Right to Equality (Articles 14–18) deals with equality before law, prohibition of discrimination, abolition of untouchability and abolition of titles, not religious freedom specifically. Step 4: Recognise that the Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22) focuses on freedoms such as speech, assembly, association, movement, residence and profession, as well as protection in respect of convictions and protection against arbitrary arrest. Step 5: Right against Exploitation (Articles 23–24) deals with prohibiting traffic in human beings, forced labour and child labour in hazardous employment. Step 6: Therefore, only the Right to Freedom of Religion correctly matches the wording about practicing, professing and propagating religion.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify your understanding by looking at how civics textbooks present Fundamental Rights. They usually have a separate heading titled “Right to Freedom of Religion,” which discusses freedom of conscience, religious practices, management of religious affairs, freedom from taxes for promotion of any particular religion and freedom from religious instruction in certain institutions. The exact phrase “practice, profess and propagate” is almost always quoted as part of this section, confirming that it belongs under the Right to Freedom of Religion.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Right to Equality: This guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws, prohibits discrimination on grounds such as religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and addresses issues like untouchability and titles. It does not itself enumerate the freedom to practice, profess and propagate religion, though it protects against discrimination on religious grounds. Right to Freedom: This bundle covers freedoms like speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence and profession, and protections in respect of conviction and arrest. Religious practice is not its explicit focus. Right against Exploitation: This focuses on eliminating human trafficking, begar (forced labour) and child labour. It does not deal with religious freedom.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to confuse the Right to Freedom with the Right to Freedom of Religion because both titles contain the word freedom. Another error is to assume that, since religion is mentioned in non-discrimination clauses under the Right to Equality, that group must be the answer. Always remember that detailed religious freedom clauses, including the phrase “practice, profess and propagate,” belong to Articles 25–28 collectively titled Right to Freedom of Religion.

Final Answer:
The Fundamental Right that guarantees every person the freedom to practice, profess and propagate the religion of their choice is the Right to Freedom of Religion.