Article 25

Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion

Check this article against the official editionAwaiting human legal review

Source edition: The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
Source locator: Part III, Article 25
Last human source-link check: Not yet checked
Last human legal review: Not yet reviewed

Open official PDF at this article Report a text or source error

AI-assisted source comparisons are noted with the citations below; the check date remains pending until a human confirms the link. The report link opens your email app; you choose whether to send it.

1. In One Sentence

Every person has the individual freedom to follow their conscience and to freely profess, practice, and share their religion, subject to public order, morality, and health.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Article 25 protects the inner freedom of conscience and the outward manifestation of one’s spiritual or philosophical beliefs.

It grants every individual—not just Indian citizens—the right to openly declare their faith (profess), perform their ceremonies and rituals (practice), and share their religious ideas with others (propagate).

Crucially, the Constitution also empowers the State to enact laws for social reform (such as opening public temples to all sections of society) and regulate non-religious economic activities connected with religious bodies.

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

A person chooses to wear religious attire, celebrate their holy days, and pray at home or in places of worship without state interference.

Core takeaway: The State cannot coerce anyone to adopt or abandon a religious belief.

Illustrative Notice: Religious activities cannot violate public order, decency, public health (e.g., pandemic safety protocols), or other fundamental rights.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Freedom of religion is subject to public order, morality, health, and other fundamental rights.

The right to "propagate" does not include a right to forcibly convert another person using coercion, fraud, or bribery.
The State can regulate secular, financial, or economic affairs of religious organizations.
Social reform laws (such as eradication of untouchability or opening public places) supersede traditional customs that enforce discrimination.

5. Operative Constitutional Text

(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.

Transcription for reference; compare with the linked official editionNot yet verified by a human legal reviewer

6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations

Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.

Sources & Citation Metadata

•
Constitutional TextThe Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)Cited PDF page
Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part III, Article 25 • Human source-link check pending
Operative text compared with the official 2026 edition using AI assistance on 14 October 2026; omitted clauses restored. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted. Human legal review remains pending.
•
Assembly RecordConstituent Assembly Debates (Official Report)Source or archive portal
Lok Sabha Secretariat (Parliament of India / Lok Sabha Secretariat) • Volume VII, 6 December 1948 • Human source-link check pending
Official verbatim record of Constituent Assembly proceedings published by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Human legal review is pending; compare the text with the cited editionNon-partisan educational resource