Freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion are covered under:

Article 25(1) says that, subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of Part III, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.

Meaning of the key terms:

• Conscience means inner freedom to believe in any religion or in none.
• Profess means to declare one's religious beliefs openly.
• Practise means to perform religious worship, rituals and ceremonies.
• Propagate means to spread one's religious beliefs by explaining them to others.

Limits on propagation:

In the Rev. Stainislaus case (1977), the Supreme Court held that the right to propagate does not include a right to convert another person by force, fraud or inducement.

Several states have passed laws regulating religious conversion on this basis.

Powers of the State under Article 25(2):

• The State can regulate or restrict any economic, financial, political or other secular activity associated with religious practice.
• The State can make laws for social welfare and reform.
• The State can throw open Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.

Explanations to the Article:

• Wearing and carrying of kirpans is included in the profession of the Sikh religion.
• For the purpose of temple entry, Hindus include Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

Who can claim it:

• Freedom of conscience is available to all persons, citizens as well as foreigners.
• It is an individual right, unlike the group rights given to denominations.

Essential practices test:

• The courts protect only those practices that are essential to a religion.
• For example, the Supreme Court has held that offering namaz in a mosque is not an essential part of Islam, because namaz can be offered anywhere.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Article 19(1)(a) deals with freedom of speech and expression.
• ✗Article 21 deals with life and personal liberty.
• ✗Article 51A lists the Fundamental Duties.