Prelims GS Paper IPolity & ConstitutionHigh-yield

Fundamental Rights (Art.12-35) — Scope, Exceptions & Recent Judgments

मौलिक अधिकार — दायरा, अपवाद और हालिया निर्णय

Fundamental Rights (Art.12-35) — Scope, Exceptions & Recent Judgments is part of the UPSC Prelims GS Paper I syllabus, under Polity & Constitution. It appeared in Prelims GS Paper I question papers in 6 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024). It is marked high-yield: a topic worth revising more than once.

What should you study in Fundamental Rights (Art.12-35)?

  • Art.12-35 — six categories of Fundamental Rights
  • Art.21 — Right to Life (expanded scope, NALSA judgment)
  • Art.19 — six freedoms & reasonable restrictions
  • Art.32 — Dr. Ambedkar's 'heart & soul' of Constitution

How often is Fundamental Rights (Art.12-35) asked in UPSC Prelims?

Asked in 6 of 10 years, including 3 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

  1. 2016: asked
  2. 2017: asked
  3. 2018: not asked
  4. 2019: asked
  5. 2020: not asked
  6. 2021: asked
  7. 2022: not asked
  8. 2023: asked
  9. 2024: asked
  10. 2025: not asked

About the Prelims GS Paper I paper

General Studies Paper I is the Prelims paper that decides the cut-off: 100 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks, with negative marking for wrong answers. See all 88 Prelims GS Paper I topics.

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