The correct option is Military and Academic.
Explanation
Article 18 of the Indian Constitution, which falls under the Right to Equality (Articles 14-18), mandates the "Abolition of Titles." The objective of this provision is to maintain social equality and prevent the creation of artificial hierarchies or privileged classes based on state-conferred titles.
Constitutional Provision Analysis
Article 18(1) explicitly states: "No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State."
- Prohibition: The State is prohibited from conferring hereditary or colonial-style titles (such as Rai Bahadur, Sawai, or Knighthood) that imply a superior social status.
- Exceptions: The Constitution provides specific exemptions for distinctions based on merit in two fields:
- Military: Ranks and decorations awarded for service in the armed forces (e.g., Param Vir Chakra, General, Colonel).
- Academic: Degrees and titles acknowledging scholastic achievement (e.g., Doctor, Professor).
While National Awards like the Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are conferred for exceptional service in various fields (including Arts, Literature, and Social Service), the Supreme Court in Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1996) clarified that these are "awards" and not "titles" under Article 18, provided they are not used as suffixes or prefixes to names. However, the constitutional text specifically lists only military and academic distinctions as exceptions to the ban on titles.
Key Takeaway: Under Article 18(1), the State is barred from conferring titles to ensure equality of status, with the sole constitutional exceptions being military and academic distinctions.