Equality and equity

The Right to Equality makes sure that every person:

• is treated equally before the law;
• gets equal chances in jobs and education;
• is not discriminated against because of religion, race, caste, gender or place of birth.

Think of a school sports trial where every student gets the same fair chance, whatever their family, religion or gender. That is equality.

This right also ends untouchability.

And it stops the government giving people special titles, except military or academic honours (such as an army rank or a university degree).

Now a second idea, which sits beside equality.

Sometimes giving everyone exactly the same does not help everyone equally, because people do not start from the same place. Some differences come from unfair treatment in the past, passed down over generations.

Equity means being fair in a way that takes these old inequalities into account and tries to fix them.

Picture three children of different heights trying to see over a wall:

• Equality: everyone gets the same box. The shortest child still cannot see.
• Equity: everyone gets the support they need. The shortest child gets an extra box.

The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign is an example of equity. It spreads awareness and supports girls' education, because girls had been starting further behind.

The Right to Freedom lets people express themselves, move freely, and choose how to live and work.

But freedom has reasonable restrictions. You may speak freely, but you may not use your voice to harm others or the nation. These limits stop freedoms from being misused.