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| What is Article 29 of Indian constitution |
Article 29 of the Indian Constitution protects the cultural and educational rights of minorities or any section of citizens in India.
📜 Text of Article 29 (Simplified)
🔹 Clause (1):
Any section of the citizens having a distinct language, script, or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.
🟢 Meaning:
People of any community (not just minorities) can preserve their culture, language, or script. This protects India’s diversity.
🔹 Clause (2):
No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving State aid on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language, or any of them.
🟢 Meaning:
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Equal access to education is guaranteed.
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Government schools/colleges cannot discriminate based on religion, caste, etc.
✅ Key Features of Article 29
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Protects cultural identity | Any group (even majority) can preserve their own culture, language, etc. |
| Protects education access | Prevents discrimination in admission to government-aided institutions |
| Applies to | All citizens (not just minorities) |
| Promotes | Unity in diversity, equal opportunity, cultural freedom |
🔍 Who Can Use Article 29?
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Any group (tribals, linguistic communities, regional groups)
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Example: Tamil-speaking people, Marathi folk artists, Bengali poets, etc. can preserve their traditions under Article 29(1).
🧠 Important Case:
State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan (1951)
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The court ruled that reserving seats in educational institutions solely based on religion/caste violates Article 29(2).
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This case led to the First Constitutional Amendment in 1951, introducing Article 15(4) (special provisions for backward classes).
📌 Summary of Article 29
| Clause | What it Protects |
|---|---|
| (1) | Right to preserve language, script, and culture |
| (2) | Right to non-discrimination in education by the State |
| Applies to | All citizens, not just religious or linguistic minorities |
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