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Constitution · India · PART III — Fundamental Rights

Article 25 Constitution Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion

The Constitution of India · Edition: Supplied Law Library page: pocket edition attributed to Legislative Department, as on 10 September 2026; imported 6 November 2026

(1) Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion.

(2) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any existing law or prevent the State from making any law—

(a) regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice;

(b) providing for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.

Explanation I.—The wearing and carrying of kirpans shall be deemed to be included in the profession of the Sikh religion.

Explanation II.—In sub-clause (b) of clause (2), the reference to Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religion, and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly.

Source document ↗

Judgments on Article 25

LOK 2026 (10) SC 294 · Supreme Court of India

Arjun Gopal v. Union of India

Equivalent citations: 2026 INSC 1181

ActsThe Constitution of India, Constitution of India — Articles 21 and 25(1)

Constitution of India — Articles 21 and 25(1) — Precautionary Principle — Applications concerning firecracker restrictions in Delhi-NCR — Court examined the inadequate implementation of earlier orders, lack of sufficient comparative air-quality and public-health data, and illegal conventional crackers sold as green crackers. Instead of…

LOK 2026 (1) Ker. 97 · High Court of Kerala

Guruvayur Devaswom Employees Union Congress v. State of Kerala

SubjectDevaswom
Judges–
ActsThe Constitution of India, Devaswom Recruitment Board Act 2015 (Kerala) - Section 9 Guruvayoor Devaswom Act 1978 Constitution of India - Article 25 and 26

The Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board Act's provisions undermining the authority of the Guruvayoor Devaswom Managing Committee for appointments were declared unconstitutional, preserving the fundamental rights of the religious denomination under Articles 25 and 26.