Understanding Equality for Men and Women in India

The question asks about the provisions in the Constitution of India that ensure complete equality between men and women. Understanding fundamental rights is key to answering this question.

Analysis of Constitutional Articles Providing Equality

Let's look at the relevant parts of the Indian Constitution and other options provided:

• Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India:
• Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws to all persons within the territory of India. This means the state cannot deny any person equality before the law or equal protection of the laws.
• Article 15 specifically prohibits discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
• Article 15(1) states that the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
• Article 15(2) prohibits discrimination based on these grounds regarding access to shops, public restaurants, hotels, places of public entertainment, wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads, and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.
• Crucially, Article 15(3) allows the State to make special provisions for women and children. This is not seen as discrimination but as a measure to address historical disadvantages and promote substantive equality.
• Together, Article 14 ensures general equality, and Article 15 specifically addresses discrimination based on sex (among other grounds), thereby laying a strong foundation for the equality of men and women.
• Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India:
• The Fifth Schedule deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It does not directly provide for the general equality of men and women across the country.
• The Indian Independence Act:
• The Indian Independence Act of 1947 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into two new independent dominions: India and Pakistan. It is a historical act related to the transfer of power and does not contain provisions for the fundamental rights guaranteeing equality to Indian citizens in independent India.
• Article 20 of the Constitution of India:
• Article 20 provides protection in respect of conviction for offences. It deals with concepts like ex post facto law, double jeopardy, and self-incrimination. It is a crucial fundamental right related to criminal proceedings but does not address the general principle of equality between men and women.

Based on the analysis, Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India are the primary provisions that establish the principle of equality and specifically prohibit discrimination based on sex, thus providing for the complete equality of men and women, including provisions for positive discrimination where necessary to achieve this equality.

Revision Table: Key Constitutional Provisions

Additional Information on Equality in India

The concept of equality in the Indian Constitution is comprehensive. While Article 14 provides a general rule against discrimination and ensures equal treatment under law, Article 15 reinforces this by explicitly prohibiting discrimination on several grounds, including sex. This specific mention of sex in Article 15 highlights the framers' intent to ensure social equality and prevent discrimination against women. Furthermore, the enabling provision in Article 15(3) allows the State to take affirmative action for women, such as reserving seats in local bodies or providing special schemes for their welfare and advancement. This demonstrates that the Constitution aims for not just formal equality but also substantive equality, recognizing that sometimes special measures are needed to bring disadvantaged groups, like women, to the same level as others.