Right to Privacy

The Right to Privacy is a fundamental right recognized under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty.

Under Indian Polity & Governance

• It established a three-fold test requiring legality, a legitimate state aim, and proportionality for any state action that restricts individual privacy.
• It serves as the constitutional baseline for national data protection legislation, digital governance frameworks, and regulations governing state surveillance.
• It expanded Indian constitutional jurisprudence to explicitly protect personal autonomy, bodily integrity, and informational self-determination.

UPSC frames questions on this topic by asking candidates to evaluate the balance between individual constitutional liberties and the state's administrative needs, such as welfare delivery or national security. Questions typically require applying the doctrine of proportionality to examine digital governance initiatives, biometric data collection, or state surveillance frameworks.

• Indian Constitution GS2

• Adultery Law
• Article 370
• Ayodhya Dispute
• Sabarimala Case
• Section 377
• Triple Talaq