Know Your Rights

All rights and public protections.

Browse the full rights library, open source files, and use the AI assistant to understand practical meaning and common doubts.

Fundamental Rights

Right to Equality

Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws to all persons within the territory of India.

The Right to Equality is enshrined in Articles 14-18 of the Indian Constitution. It includes equality before the law, prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, equality of opportunity in matters of public employment, abolition of untouchability and abolition of titles.

Published

26 January 1950

Source

Constitution of India, Government of India

Last amended

2019

Fundamental Rights

Right to Freedom

Articles 19-22 guarantee certain freedoms including freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession.

The Right to Freedom includes six fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom of movement, freedom of residence, and freedom of profession. These rights are subject to reasonable restrictions that may be imposed by the State.

Published

26 January 1950

Source

Constitution of India, Government of India

Last amended

2019

Fundamental Rights

Right Against Exploitation

Articles 23-24 prohibit human trafficking, forced labor, and child employment in hazardous jobs.

The Right Against Exploitation prohibits trafficking in human beings, forced labor (begar), and employment of children below 14 years in factories, mines, and other hazardous occupations.

Published

26 January 1950

Source

Constitution of India, Government of India

Last amended

2016

Fundamental Rights

Right to Freedom of Religion

Articles 25-28 provide religious freedom to all citizens and ensures a secular state in India.

The Right to Freedom of Religion guarantees freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion, freedom to manage religious affairs, freedom from taxation for promotion of any religion, and freedom from religious instruction in certain educational institutions.

Published

26 January 1950

Source

Constitution of India, Government of India

Last amended

1977

Fundamental Rights

Cultural and Educational Rights

Articles 29-30 protect the interests of minorities by preserving their culture, language and script.

Cultural and Educational Rights protect the rights of minorities to conserve their language, script, and culture, and establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

Published

26 January 1950

Source

Constitution of India, Government of India

Last amended

2012

Fundamental Rights

Right to Constitutional Remedies

Article 32 provides the right to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

The Right to Constitutional Remedies empowers citizens to approach the Supreme Court directly for the enforcement of their Fundamental Rights. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it 'the heart and soul of the Constitution'.

Published

26 January 1950

Source

Constitution of India, Government of India

Last amended

2015

Fundamental Rights

Right to Education

Article 21A provides free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14 years.

The Right to Education was added to the Constitution through the 86th Amendment Act, 2002. It makes education a fundamental right for all children between 6-14 years of age.

Published

4 August 2009

Source

Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India

Last amended

2019

Consumer Rights

Consumer Protection Act

Protects consumers against defective goods, deficient services, unfair trade practices, and the right to seek redressal.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 replaced the earlier Act of 1986 to provide better protection of consumers' interests. It established the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to regulate matters relating to violation of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and false or misleading advertisements.

Published

9 August 2019

Source

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India

Last amended

2020

Right to Information

Right to Information Act

Empowers citizens to request information from a public authority, promoting transparency and accountability.

The Right to Information Act, 2005 mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information. It aims to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.

Published

15 June 2005

Source

Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India

Last amended

2019

Women's Rights

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act

Provides protection to women from domestic violence and abuse within the family.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 provides protection to women against domestic violence, including physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and economic abuse. It allows women to seek protection orders, residence orders, custody orders, and compensation orders.

Published

13 September 2005

Source

Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India

Last amended

2013

Women's Rights

Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act

Protects women from sexual harassment at the workplace and provides a mechanism for redressal of complaints.

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 aims to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at the workplace and for the prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment.

Published

23 April 2013

Source

Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India

Last amended

2016

Women's Rights

Maternity Benefit Act

Provides maternity leave and benefits to women employees during pregnancy and after childbirth.

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 increased the duration of paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. It also introduced provisions for work from home options and creche facilities.

Published

27 March 2017

Source

Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India

Last amended

2017

Labour Law

Minimum Wages Act

Ensures payment of minimum wages to workers in various sectors as fixed by the government.

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 provides for fixing minimum rates of wages in certain employments. The minimum wages are reviewed and revised periodically by the Central and State Governments.

Published

15 March 1948

Source

Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India

Last amended

2017

Labour Law

Payment of Wages Act

Regulates the payment of wages to certain classes of employed persons without unauthorized deductions.

The Payment of Wages Act, 1936 ensures timely payment of wages to employees and prevents unauthorized deductions from their wages.

Published

23 April 1936

Source

Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India

Last amended

2017

Labour Law

Equal Remuneration Act

Provides for equal pay for equal work for both men and women workers.

The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 provides for the payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers for the same work or work of a similar nature and prevents discrimination on the ground of sex against women in employment.

Published

11 February 1976

Source

Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India

Last amended

1987

Cyber Law

Information Technology Act

Provides legal recognition for transactions carried out by means of electronic data interchange and other means of electronic communication.

The Information Technology Act, 2000 provides legal recognition to electronic documents and digital signatures. It also defines cyber crimes and prescribes penalties for them.

Published

9 June 2000

Source

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

Last amended

2008

Cyber Law

Data Protection Laws

Protects personal data and provides for privacy rights of individuals in the digital space.

India is in the process of enacting a comprehensive data protection law. Currently, the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 provide some protection for personal data.

Published

11 April 2011

Source

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

Last amended

2021