Under which Article of the Constitution of India is the practice of 'Untouchability' abolished, and its practice in any form made an offense punishable in accordance with law?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Article 17 of the Constitution of India explicitly abolishes untouchability and makes its practice in any form a punishable offense under law. To enforce this constitutional mandate, Parliament enacted the Untouchability Offenses Act in 1955, later amended and renamed as the Protection of Civil Rights Act in 1976. Unlike Articles 16 or 18 which deal with public employment and titles respectively, Article 17 addresses a fundamental social evil to ensure equality and dignity for marginalized communities. Fundamental Rights under Part III are a recurring theme in polity questions.