Which article guarantees equality before the law in India?

• A. Article 14
• B. Article 21
• C. Article 19
• D. Article 32

Answer: (A)

Equality before the law means that every person is treated the same by the legal system, with no one above or below the law and no arbitrary discrimination.

In India, this principle is guaranteed by Article 14. It states that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or equal protection of laws within the territory of India. This sets the rule that laws must apply uniformly to everyone and that similarly situated people should receive similar treatment, preventing arbitrary or special privilege by the state. It also empowers the courts to strike down laws or actions that violate this principle.

For context, other fundamental rights protect different guarantees—such as the right to life and liberty, freedoms of speech and movement, and the right to constitutional remedies—but the explicit assurance of equal treatment before the law comes from Article 14.