List of Major Amendments of the Indian Constitution for UPSC

List of Major Amendments of the Indian Constitution for UPSC

Important amendments brought in the Indian Constitution are mentioned below:

First Amendment Act, 1951

The state was empowered to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and backward classes

The Ninth Schedule was added Note: Fourth Amendment Act, 1955 included some more Acts in the Ninth Schedule 17th Amendment Act, 1964 included 44 more Acts in the Ninth Schedule 29th Amendment Act, 1972 included two Kerala Acts on land reforms in the Ninth Schedule 34th Amendment Act, 1974 included twenty more land tenure and land reforms acts of various states in the Ninth Schedule

Three more grounds of restrictions on Article 19 (1) [Freedom of speech and expression] were added: Public order Friendly relations with foreign states Incitement to an offence Note: Restrictions were made reasonable and justiciable.

Introduced the validity of the state’s move to nationalize any business or trade and the same to not be invalid on the grounds of violation of the right to trade and business

Second Amendment Act, 1952

The scale of representation in the Lok Sabha was readjusted stating that 1 member can represent even more than 7.5 lakh people.

Seventh Amendment Act, 1956

The provision of having a common High Court for two or more states was introduced

Abolition of Class A, B, C and D states – 14 States and 6 Union Territories were formed

Introduction of Union Territories

Ninth Amendment Act, 1960

Adjustments to Indian Territory as a result of an agreement with Pakistan (Indo-Pak Agreement 1958): Cession of Indian territory of Berubari Union (West Bengal) to Pakistan

Tenth Amendment Act, 1961

Dadra, Nagar, and Haveli incorporated in the Union of Indian as a Union Territory

12th Amendment Act, 1962

Goa, Daman and Diu incorporated in the Indian Union as a Union Territory

13th Amendment Act, 1962

Nagaland was formed with special status under Article 371A

14th Amendment Act, 1962

Pondicherry incorporated into the Indian Union

Union Territories of Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Goa, Daman and Diu and Puducherry were provided the legislature and council of ministers

19th Amendment Act, 1966

System of Election Tribunals was abolished and High Courts were given the power to hear the election petitions

21st Amendment Act, 1967

Sindhi language was language into 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution

24th Amendment Act, 1971

The President’s assent to Constitutional Amendment Bill was made compulsory

25th Amendment Act, 1971

Fundamental Right to Property was curtailed

26th Amendment Act, 1971

Privy Purse and privileges of former rulers of princely states were abolished

31st Amendment Act, 1972

Lok Sabha seats were increased from 525 to 545

35th Amendment Act, 1974

The status of Sikkim as protectorate state was terminated and Sikkim was given the status of ‘Associate State’ of India

36th Amendment Act, 1975

Sikkim was made a full-fledged state of India

40th Amendment Act, 1976

Parliament was empowered to specify from time to time the limits of the territorial waters, the continental shelf, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the maritime zones of India.

42nd Amendment Act, 1976

Since the 42nd Amendment Act is the most comprehensive amendment of the Indian Constitution, called the ‘Mini-Constitution,’ candidates can read about it in detail in the linked article.

44th Amendment Act, 1978

It is also one of the important amendments in the Indian Constitution, enacted by the Janata Government. Candidates can read about the 44th Amendment Act in detail in the linked article.

52nd Amendment Act, 1985

A new tenth Schedule was added providing for the anti-defection laws. Candidates can read in detail about the Tenth Schedule in the linked article.

61st Amendment Act, 1989

The voting age was decreased from 21 to 18 for both Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies elections

65th Amendment Act, 1990

Multi-member National Commission for SC/ST was established and the office of a special officer for SCs and STs was removed.  Candidates can read about these National Commissions from the links provided below: National Commission for SC National Commission for ST

69th Amendment Act, 1991

Union Territory of Delhi was given the special status of ‘National Capital Territory of Delhi.’

70-member legislative assembly and a 7-member council of ministers were established Delhi

71st Amendment Act, 1992

Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali languages were included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Total number of official languages increased to 18

73rd Amendment Act, 1992

Panchayati Raj institutions were given constitutional status.

A new Part-IX and 11th Schedule were added in the Indian Constitution to recognize Panchayati Raj Institutions and provisions related to them

74th Amendment Act, 1992

Urban local bodies were granted constitutional status

A new Part IX-A and 12th Schedule were added to the Indian Constitution

86th Amendment Act, 2002

Elementary Education was made a fundamental right – Free and compulsory education to children between 6 and 14 years

A new Fundamental Duty under Article 51 A was added – “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years” Read about Fundamental Duties in detail in the linked article.

88th Amendment Act, 2003

Provision of Service Tax was made under Article 268-A – Service tax levied by Union and collected and appropriated by the Union and the States

92nd Amendment Act, 2003

Bodo, Dogri (Dongri), Maithili and Santhali were added in the Eighth schedule

Total official languages were increased from 18 to 22

95th Amendment Act, 2009

Extended the reservation of seats for the SCs and STs and special representation for the Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies for a further period of ten years i.e., up to 2020 (Article 334).

97th Amendment Act, 2011

Co-operative Societies were granted constitutional status: Right to form cooperative societies made a fundamental right (Article 19) A new Directive Principle of State Policy (Article 43-B) to promote cooperative societies A new part IX-B was added in the constitution for cooperative societies

100th Amendment Act, 2015

To pursue land boundary agreement 1974 between India and Bangladesh, exchange of some enclave territories with Bangladesh mentioned

Provisions relating to the territories of four states (Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya) in the first schedule of the Indian Constitution, amended.

101st Amendment Act, 2016

Goods and Service Tax (GST) was introduced. Read more about GST in the linked article.

102nd Amendment Act, 2018

Constitutional Status was granted to National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

103rd Amendment Act, 2019

A maximum of 10% Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections of citizens of classes other than the classes mentioned in clauses (4) and (5) of Article 15, i.e. Classes other than socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

104th Amendment Act, 2020

Extended the deadline for the cessation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and states assemblies from Seventy years to Eighty. Removed the reserved seats for the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The One Hundred and Fifth Amendment (or 105th Constitutional Amendment) to the Constitution of India- officially known as The Constitution (One Hundred and Fifth Amendment) Act, 2021- restored the power of State governments to recognise socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs). SEBCs, which includes the groups commonly known as Other Backward Classes (OBCs), are communities for which the State can provide 'special provisions' or affirmative action in India.

The One Hundred and Sixth Amendment (106th) of the Constitution of India, officially known as the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 and informally referred to as Women's Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), was introduced in Lok Sabha on 19 September 2023 during the special session of Parliament. This legislation seeks to allocate 33 percent of the seats in the directly elected Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women.

The bill is the possible culmination of a legislative debate that had been ongoing for 27 years, including the lapsed Women's Reservation Bill (2010), due to the lack of consensus among political parties. The bill was the first that was considered in the new parliament building. On 20 September 2023, Lok Sabha passed the bill with 454 votes in Favour and two against. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill unanimously with 214 votes in Favour and none against, on 21 September 2023. President Draupadi Murmu signed the bill on 28 September 2023, and the gazette notification was also published the same day, which made it clear that the reservation will come into force soon after the first delimitation (frozen until 2026).

UPSC Questions related to Important Amendments in the Indian Constitution

Q1

What is the latest amendment in the Indian Constitution?

105th Amendment Act of 2021 brought the latest amendment in the Constitution of India. The Constitution (One Hundred and Fifth Amendment) Act, 2021 is designed to clarify that the states can maintain the “state list” of OBCs.

Q2

How many amendments are there in Indian Constitution?

As of October 2021, there have been 105 amendments to the Constitution of India since it was first enacted in 1950.

Q3

What is the 122nd amendment bill to the Indian Constitution?

The 122nd Amendment introduced Goods and Service Tax.

Q4

What is the procedure for amending the Indian Constitution?

The amendment procedure varies depending on the types of changes required in the Indian Constitution.

Q5

How is the Indian Constitution amended?

If the bill seeks to amend the federal provisions of the Constitution, it must also be ratified by the legislatures of half of the states by a simple majority. After duly passed by both the Houses of Parliament and ratified by the state legislatures, where necessary, the bill is presented to the President for assent.

Q6

What is the 86th amendment of the constitution?

The Eighty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of India, provides Right to Education for the age of six to fourteen years and Early childhood care until the age of six.

Q7

Which provision given below can be amended by a simple majority of the parliament?

1. Election of President & its manner
2. Fundamental Rights
3. Representation of states in Parliament
4. Citizenship-Acquisition/Termination

Answer: 4

Q8

The process of amendment of the Indian Constitution is taken from which of the following countries?

1. Japan
2. Britain
3. South Africa
4. USA

Answer: 3

Q9

Which of the following Constitutional Amendment Act amended the age of voting from 21 to 18?

1. 7th
2. 9th
3. 61st
4. 86th

Answer: 3

Q10

In which Constitutional Amendment Act, Sikkim was made an associate-State with Indian Union?

1. 35th Amendment Act 1974
2. 43rd Amendment Act 1977
3. 56th Amendment Act 1987
4. 57th Amendment Act 1987

Answer: 1

Q11

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

Answer: 2

12

Which of the following is true about the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976?

1. Precedence to directive principles over fundamental rights
2. Fundamental duties are included
3. Constitutional amendment should not be questioned in any court
4. All of the above

Answer: 4

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