Which Article of the Constitution of India safeguards one’s right to marry the person of one’s choice?

1. Article 19
2. Article 21
3. Article 25
4. Article 29

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Indian Constitution does not explicitly recognize the right to marry as a fundamental or constitutional right. However, through several Supreme Court rulings, the right to marry has been upheld as a fundamental right under Article 21. In Lata Singh v. State of UP (2006), the Supreme Court affirmed that adults have the right to marry anyone they choose, noting that inter-caste marriages are not prohibited by law. Additionally, cases such as Shakti Vahini v. Union of India (2018) and Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. (2018) (Hadiya Marriage Case) reiterated that selecting a life partner is a key aspect of personal dignity protected under Article 21.

Answer: (b) Article 21; Difficulty Level: Easy