NCERT Notes on important GK topics for the UPSC Prelims, State PCS, NDA, CDS, CAPF, AFCAT etc. In this article Military Choice has shared a list of most important Constitutional Amendments that have been repeatedly asked in various competitive examinations. Check Other NCERT Notes Here
Article 368 in Part XX of the Indian Constitution deals with the powers of the Indian Parliament to amend the Constitution and its procedure in order to adjust itself to the changing conditions and needs. However, the Parliament cannot amend those provisions which form the basic structure or features of the Constitution. This was ruled by the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case, 1973. The basic features of the Constitution are as follows:
Supremacy of the constitution
Republican and democratic form of government
Secular character of the constitution
Federal character of the constitution
Separation of power
Unity and Sovereignty of India
Individual freedom
LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS IN THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
1st Amendment Act, 1951 : Added ninth schedule
7th Amendment Act, 1956 : Reorganisation of states on linguistic basis and abolition of Class A, B, C and D states and introduction of Union Territories. This amendment also facilitated the appointment of the same person as a governor for two or more states.
9th Amendment Act, 1960 : Transfer of certain territories to Pakistan as a result of 1958 Indo Pak agreement
10th Amendment Act, 1961 : Dadra, Nagar and Haveli included as a Union Territory on acquisition from Portugal
12th Amendment Act, 1962 : Goa, Daman and Diu included as a Union Territory on acquisition from Portugal
13th Amendment Act, 1962 : Created Nagaland as a State with special protection under Article 371A
14th Amendment Act, 1963 : Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam were included in Ist Schedule as Union Territory of Pondicherry
18th Amendment Act, 1966 : Reorganised Punjab into Punjab, Haryana and UT of Chandigarh
21st Amendment Act, 1967 : Sindhi added as language in the 8th Schedule
22nd Amendment Act, 1969 : Created a sub-state of Meghalaya within Assam
26th Amendment Act, 1971 : Abolished the titles and special privileges (like privy purse) of former rulers of Princely States
27th Amendment Act, 1971 : Established Manipur and Tripura as States and Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh as UTs.
24th Amendment Act, 1971 : Parliament can change the constitution, including the fundamental rights. It also made it obligatory for the President to give his assent on all the Constitution Amendment bills sent to him. Later declared invalid by Supreme Court
36th Amendment Act, 1975 : Sikkim included as an Indian state
42nd Amendment Act, 1976 : Added 10 Fundamental Duties, new words: Socialist, Secular & Integrity were added to the Preamble, it also made obligatory for the President to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers
44th Amendment Act, 1978 : Right to Property deleted from the list of fundamental rights; authorised the president to refer a matter back to the Council of Ministers for reconsideration; Article 352 was amended to provide “Armed Rebellion” as one of the circumstances for declaration of emergency
52nd Amendment Act, 1985 : Added the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-Defection) law
53rd Amendment Act, 1986 : Mizoram was made a State
56th Amendment Act, 1987 : Hind version of the Constitution of India was accepted for all purposes and statehood was conferred on the UT of Goa
61st Amendment Act, 1989 : Reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years
65th Amendment Act, 1990 : Formation of National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
69th Amendment Act, 1991 : Article 239AA of the Constitution of India granted Special Status (NCT - National Capital Territory) to Delhi among Union Territories (UTs)
70th Amendment Act, 1992 : Included members of Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Pondicherry in the Electoral College for Presidential Elections
73rd Amendment Act, 1992 : (Panchayati Raj Bill) Provided gram sabha in villages, direct elections to all seats in Panchayats & reservation of seats for the SC & ST and fixing the tenure of 5 years for Panchayats
74th Amendment Act, 1992 : (Nagarpalika Bill) Provides for 3 types of Municipalities, reservation of seats in every municipality for the SC and ST, women & the backward classes
80th Amendment Act, 2000 : deals with an alternative scheme for sharing taxes between the Union and the States.
82nd Amendment Act, 2000 : Reinstated the provisions of reservation of SC’s and ST’s in matters related to promotion
84th Amendment Act, 2001 : Extended the ban on the readjustment of seats in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies for another 25 years (i.e., up to 2026) with the objective of encouraging population limiting measures.
86th Amendment Act, 2002 : Made education a Fundamental Right for children in the age group of 6-14 years
93rd Amendment Act, 2005 : To reserve seats for socially & educationally backward classes, besides the SC & ST's, in private unaided institutions other than those run by minorities
95th Amendment Act, 2009 : The provision to nominate Anglo-Indians was extended till 2020
96th Amendment Act, 2011 : Substituted “Odia” for “Oriya”in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution
Recommended Books for Indian Polity & Governance
Recommended Books for General Studies Preparation for UPSC Prelims & Mains
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