Article 18 abolishes the titles to ensure Right to Equality Which of the following titles comes unde...........

Indian Polity Fundamental Rights

Article 18 abolishes the titles to ensure Right to Equality. Which of the following titles comes under this provision of abolishment?

Major, Colonel, General etc.

Doctor (Ph.D., MBBS), Professor, Lecturer and Scientist.

Maharaja, Raj Bahadur, Rai Bahadur, Rai Saheb, Dewan Bahadur.

Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Sri.

Article 18 abolishes titles and makes four provisions in that regard:

It prohibits the state from conferring any title (except a military or academic distinction) on anybody, whether a citizen or a foreigner.
It prohibits a citizen of India from accepting any title from any foreign state.
A foreigner holding any office of profit or trust under the state cannot accept any title from any foreign state without the consent of the president.
No citizen or foreigner holding any office of profit or trust under the State is to accept any present, emolument or office from or under any foreign State without the consent of the president
Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the National Awards—Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Sri. It ruled that these awards do not amount to ‘titles’ within the meaning of Article 18 that prohibits only hereditary titles of nobility. Therefore, they are not violative of Article 18 as the theory of equality does not mandate that merit should not be recognized. However, it also ruled that they should not be used as suffixes or prefixes to the names of awardees. Otherwise, they should forfeit the awards.