Important Amendments in Indian Constitution

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. UPSC Questions related to Important Amendments in the Indian Constitution What is the latest amendment in the Indian Constitution? 104th Amendment Act of 2020 brought the latest amendment in the Constitution of India. It increased the deadline of reservation of SCs and STs seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 10 years. What is the 122nd amendment bill to the Indian Constitution? The 122nd Amendment introduced Goods and Service Tax. What is the procedure for amending the Indian Constitution? The amendment procedure varies depending on the types of changes required in the Indian Constitution. Which provision given below can be amended by a simple majority of the parliament? Election of President & its manner Fundamental Rights Representation of states in Parliament Citizenship-Acquisition/Termination Answer: 4 The process of amendment of the Indian Constitution is taken from which of the following countries? Japan Britain South Africa USA Answer: 3 Which of the following Constitutional Amendment Act amended the age of voting from 21 to 18? 7th 9th 61st 86th Answer: 3 In which Constitutional Amendment Act, Sikkim was made an associate-State with Indian Union? 35th Amendment Act 1974 43rd Amendment Act 1977 56th Amendment Act 1987 57th Amendment Act 1987 Answer: 1 Which article of the Constitution of India safeguards one’s right to marry the person of one’s choice? Article 19 Article 21 Article 25 Article 29 Answer: 2 Which of the following is true about the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976? Precedence to directive principles over fundamental rights Fundamental duties are included Constitutional amendment should not be questioned in any court All of the above Answer: 4