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SC Landmark Judgments: From Basic Structure to Privacy - 80 Years of Rights & Freedoms

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
14 Aug 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:Kesavananda Bharati 1973 (basic structure)Maneka Gandhi 1978 (golden triangle)Puttaswamy 2017 (privacy fundamental right)Shreya Singhal 2015 (Section 66A struck down)Navtej Singh Johar 2018 (Section 377 decriminalised)Shayara Bano 2017 (triple talaq struck down)
Bodies:Supreme Court of IndiaElection Commission of India
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.14 key Supreme Court judgments covering free speech (Shreya Singhal, 2015), privacy (Puttaswamy, 2017), gender justice (NALSA, 2014; Navtej Singh Johar, 2018; Shayara Bano, 2017), and democracy (Kesavananda Bharati, 1973; Subramanian Swamy, 2013).

2.Includes the 'golden triangle' (Articles 14, 19, 21) from Maneka Gandhi (1978) and the basic structure doctrine from Kesavananda Bharati (1973).

3.Also covers public interest litigation (Hussainara Khatoon, 1979), environmental protection (MC Mehta, 1988), and the Ayodhya verdict (2019).

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

A compilation of landmark Supreme Court judgments from 1973 to 2019 that shaped fundamental rights, gender equality, privacy, and democracy in India. Essential for understanding constitutional evolution and judicial activism.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Kesavananda Bharati (1973)Established basic structure doctrine of the Constitution
Maneka Gandhi (1978)Golden triangle: Articles 14, 19, 21 interlinked
Puttaswamy (2017)Right to privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21
Navtej Singh Johar (2018)Section 377 IPC decriminalised; consensual same-sex relations legal
Shayara Bano (2017)Instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) struck down as unconstitutional

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Kesavananda Bharati (1973): Established basic structure doctrine of the Constitution
  • ›Maneka Gandhi (1978): Golden triangle: Articles 14, 19, 21 interlinked
  • ›Target this Data: Kesavananda Bharati (1973) - basic structure doctrine; Puttaswamy (2017) - privacy as fundamental right under Article 21.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Supreme Court of India (judicial review and interpretation of fundamental rights).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Article 19(1)(a) - freedom of speech (Shreya Singhal); Section 66A IT Act; Section 377 IPC; Article 14 (equality); Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty).

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which Supreme Court judgment established the basic structure doctrine of the Indian Constitution?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding Supreme Court judgments:

1. The Navtej Singh Johar case decriminalised consensual same-sex relations by striking down Section 377 IPC.

2. The Shayara Bano case upheld the practice of instant triple talaq as constitutional.

3. The Puttaswamy judgment recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

In which year did the Supreme Court strike down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, relating to restrictions on online speech?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was the primary outcome of the Subramanian Swamy v Election Commission of India judgment (2013)?

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