Amendments
● The power of the Parliament to amend the Constitution is defined in Part XX
(20) of the Indian Constitution, in Article 368.
● This article provides the Parliament the power to amend any part of the
Constitution, but also ensures that the basic structure of the Constitution
remains unaltered.
● The amendment process is neither as rigid as in the USA nor as flexible as in
the UK.
● The process of amendment can be initiated in either House of the
Parliament. The proposal for amendment can be made by introducing a bill
for the purpose.
● The bill must be passed in each House by a majority of the total
membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of
the members of that House present and voting.
● It means that the bill should be supported by more than 50% of the total
strength of each House as well as by two-thirds of the members present
and voting.
● After the bill is passed in both Houses, it is presented to the President for
his assent. Once the President gives his assent, the Constitution stands
amended.
● The judiciary has the authority to review constitutional amendments.
Amendment Year Brief Description
1st 1951 Added Ninth Schedule to protect the land Reform.
Implemented the State Reorganisation Act, 1956, and provided for
abolition of classification of states into Part A, B, C, and D states and
7th 1956
introduced a new system of classification into 14 states and 6 Union
Territories.
10th 1961 Incorporated Dadra and Nagar Haveli in the Indian Union.
21st 1967 Included Sindhi as the 15th Language in the Eight Languages.
36th 1975 Formed the state of Sikkim and included it in the Indian Union.
Known as the "Mini Constitution", it brought about extensive changes
42nd 1976 including the addition of the Fundamental Duties, and changes to the
Preamble. (PM- Indira Gandhi)
Repealed controversial provisions of the 42nd Amendment, restored
civil liberties and legislative powers to the states, and placed restrictions
44th 1978 on the Parliament's power to amend the constitution. Removed the
right to property from the list of Fundamental Rights (PM- Morarji
Desai)
It added provisions regarding Anti-Defection laws and added the 10th
52nd 1985
Schedule in the Constitution. (PM- Rajiv Gandhi)
56th 1987 The Constitution of India gave the status of state to Goa.
61st 1989 Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years. (PM- Rajiv Gandhi)
Included Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali languages in the Eighth
71st 1992 Schedule, raising the total number of scheduled languages to 18. (PM-
Narsimha Rao)
Added provisions for Panchayati Raj, added Part IX to the constitution
73rd 1992
and gave constitutional status and protection to Panchayats.
Provided for Municipalities and added Part IXA to the constitution,
74th 1992
giving constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
Provided for Right to Education until the age of 14 and added it as a
86th 2002
Fundamental Right. (PM- Atal bihari Vajpai)
Included Bodo, Dogri, Santali, and Maithili languages in the Eighth
92nd 2003 Schedule, raising the total number of scheduled languages to 22. (PM-
Atal bihari Vajpai)
Part IX (B) was added to the Constitution through the 97th
97th 2011 Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011, which contains provisions relating
to Cooperative Society.
Formation of a National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
99th 2015 The amendment was struck down by the Supreme Court on 16 October
2015.
Altered the 1st schedule to exchange the enclaves of India and
100th 2015
Bangladesh, resolving a long-standing border dispute.
Introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) across the country.
101st 2016
(Trick- 101 shubh hai- its related to money )
Provided constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward
102nd 2018
Classes.
Provided for a maximum of 10 percent reservation to economically
103rd 2019 weaker sections in educational institutions and public employment in
addition to the existing reservations.
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
104th 2020
the reserved seats for the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and
state assemblies.
To restore the power of the state governments to identify Other
105th 2021
Backward Classes (OBCs) that are socially and educationally backward.
