Article 19 of the Indian Constitution: the six freedoms explained
Article 19 gives Indian citizens six freedoms: speech and expression, peaceful assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession. This explainer lists all six, explains the reasonable restrictions on each, and notes the deleted property freedom.
Article 19 protects six freedoms for citizens of India: freedom of speech and expression, to assemble peaceably and without arms, to form associations or unions or co-operative societies, to move freely throughout India, to reside and settle in any part of India, and to practise any profession or carry on any occupation, trade or business. None of the six is absolute; each can be limited only by reasonable restrictions on grounds the Constitution itself lists.
The six freedoms, one by one
Article 19(1) is a citizens-only right, unlike Article 14 which covers all persons. Its six freedoms are: (a) speech and expression, (b) assembling peaceably and without arms, (c) forming associations or unions or co-operative societies, (d) moving freely throughout the territory of India, (e) residing and settling in any part of India, and (g) practising any profession or carrying on any occupation, trade or business.
The lettering skips (f) for a historical reason. Originally Article 19(1)(f) protected the right to acquire, hold and dispose of property. The Forty-fourth Amendment of 1978 deleted it, and property is now a constitutional legal right under Article 300A, not a Fundamental Right. The co-operative societies words in clause (c) were added later, by the Ninety-seventh Amendment of 2011.
Why the freedoms are not absolute
Each freedom carries its own set of permitted restrictions in clauses (2) to (6), and the State can only restrict a freedom on a ground listed there. Speech and expression, for example, can be restricted for the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, contempt of court, defamation, and incitement to an offence.
The other freedoms have shorter lists. Assembly can be restricted for sovereignty and integrity and public order; associations for sovereignty and integrity, public order and morality; movement and residence for the interests of the general public or the protection of Scheduled Tribe interests; and profession and trade for the general public, including rules on professional qualifications and, in permitted cases, State monopolies.
How to remember Article 19 for exams
Three facts answer most exam questions on this article. First, it is available only to citizens. Second, it now has six freedoms, not seven, because the property freedom was removed in 1978. Third, freedom of the press is not named separately in the article: courts have treated press freedom as part of freedom of speech and expression, with Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras (1950) as the early landmark.
A common trap is to confuse Article 19 with Article 21. Article 19 lists specific freedoms for citizens, while Article 21 protects life and personal liberty for all persons and has been read far more widely by the courts. When a question asks about speech, assembly or movement, the answer is usually Article 19; when it asks about life, liberty or privacy, it is usually Article 21.
Editorial disclosure
This article was researched and published with AI assistance. No human prepublication review is claimed. Report factual errors through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Article 19 of the Indian Constitution?
Article 19 is the Fundamental Right that protects six freedoms for citizens: speech and expression, peaceful assembly without arms, association, movement, residence, and profession, trade or business.
What are the six freedoms under Article 19?
Speech and expression; assemble peaceably and without arms; form associations or unions or co-operative societies; move freely throughout India; reside and settle in any part of India; and practise any profession or carry on any occupation, trade or business.
How many freedoms are there in Article 19 now?
Six. There were originally seven, but the right to acquire, hold and dispose of property was deleted by the Forty-fourth Amendment in 1978.
Does Article 19 apply to non-citizens?
No. Article 19 begins 'All citizens shall have the right', so its freedoms are available only to citizens, unlike Article 14 which covers all persons.
Are the freedoms in Article 19 absolute?
No. Each freedom can be restricted, but only by reasonable restrictions on the specific grounds listed in Article 19(2) to (6), such as public order, decency, morality, and the sovereignty and integrity of India.