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Constitutional Amendments in India ​

  • General Information:

    • Constitutional amendments are outlined in Part 20 of the Constitution.
    • The provision for amendment was adopted from South Africa.
    • The Parliament of India is empowered to amend the Constitution.
    • The Supreme Court, in the Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973), ruled that Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution, but not its Basic Structure.
    • As of the lecture, 106 Constitutional Amendment Acts have been passed.
    • A bill becomes an Act after passing through Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and receiving the President's assent.

  • Key Amendments:

    • 1st Amendment (1951):
      • Added the 9th Schedule (related to land reforms).
      • Added Article 15(4) providing for reservation for socially and educationally backward classes.
    • 7th Amendment (1956):
      • Related to the State Reorganisation.
      • Allowed for one Governor to serve for two or more states.
      • Resulted in 14 States and 6 Union Territories based on the recommendations of the Fazal Ali Commission (1953).
    • 15th Amendment (1963):
      • Increased the retirement age of High Court judges from 60 to 62 years.
    • 21st Amendment (1967):
      • Added Sindhi as the 15th language to the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
    • 24th Amendment (1971):
      • Granted Parliament "unlimited" power to amend the Constitution (though later restricted by the Basic Structure doctrine).
    • 26th Amendment (1971):
      • Abolished Privy Purses for former rulers of princely states.
    • 36th Amendment (1975):
      • Sikkim became a full state of India, the 22nd state.
    • 42nd Amendment (1976) – Mini Constitution:
      • Implemented in 1977.
      • Preamble: Added the words Socialist, Secular, and Integrity. This was the only time the Preamble was amended.
      • Part IV-A & Article 51A: Added Fundamental Duties (based on Sardar Swaran Singh Committee recommendations).
      • Lists: Transferred five subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List: Forests, Wild Life, Weights & Measures, Administration of Justice, and Education.
      • Article 39A: Added provision for Free Legal Aid.
      • Article 48A: Added provision for Environmental Protection.
    • 44th Amendment (1978):
      • Right to Property: Removed the Right to Property from the list of Fundamental Rights (Article 31) and made it a legal right under Article 300A.
      • National Emergency: Replaced "internal disturbance" with "armed rebellion" as a ground for National Emergency.
      • Cabinet: First mention of the word "Cabinet" in the Constitution, requiring written approval from the Cabinet for National Emergency.
    • 52nd Amendment (1985):
      • Added the 10th Schedule, introducing the Anti-Defection Law.
    • 56th Amendment (1987):
      • Goa became a full state of India.
    • 61st Amendment (1989):
      • Reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years.
    • 69th Amendment (1991):
      • Designated Delhi as the National Capital Region (NCR) and provided for a legislative assembly and council of ministers for Delhi.
    • 70th Amendment (1992):
      • Included the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry in the Electoral College for the election of the President.
    • 71st Amendment (1992):
      • Added three languages (Nepali, Manipuri, Konkani) to the 8th Schedule.
    • 73rd Amendment (1992):
      • Panchayati Raj / Rural Local Governance.
      • Added Part IX (Articles 243-243O).
      • Added the 11th Schedule (29 subjects).
      • Implemented on April 24, 1993.
    • 74th Amendment (1992):
      • Urban Local Governance / Municipalities.
      • Added Part IXA.
      • Added the 12th Schedule (18 subjects).
    • 86th Amendment (2002):
      • Made elementary education a Fundamental Right for children aged 6-14 years.
      • Added Article 21A (Right to Education).
      • Added the 11th Fundamental Duty (Article 51A(k)).
    • 89th Amendment (2003):
      • Bifurcated the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338) and created a separate National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Article 338A).
    • 91st Amendment (2003):
      • Limited the size of the Council of Ministers to 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha.
    • 92nd Amendment (2003):
      • Added four languages (Bodo, Dogri, Santhali, Maithili) to the 8th Schedule.
    • 97th Amendment (2011):
      • Gave constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies.
      • Added Part IXB, Article 43B, and "cooperative societies" to Article 19(1)(c).
    • 99th Amendment (2014):
      • Established the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
      • Declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, making it the only amendment to be struck down.
    • 100th Amendment (2015):
      • Related to the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) between India and Bangladesh (exchange of enclaves, including Teen Bigha Corridor).
    • 101st Amendment (2016):
      • Introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
      • Implemented on July 1, 2017, based on the Vijay Kelkar Committee's recommendations.
      • Added Article 246A (GST framework) and Article 279A (GST Council, chaired by the Finance Minister).
    • 102nd Amendment (2018):
      • Granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) by inserting Article 338B.
    • 103rd Amendment (2019):
      • Provided 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in government jobs and educational institutions.
      • Added Articles 15(6) and 16(6).
    • 104th Amendment (2019):
      • Discontinued the reservation for Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
      • Extended the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by 10 years.
    • 105th Amendment (2021):
      • Restored the power of state governments to identify and specify socially and educationally backward classes for the purpose of their state lists. (Presidential assent on August 18, 2021).
    • 106th Amendment (2023) – Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (128th Bill):
      • Provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
      • Presented by Arjun Meghwal.
      • Received Presidential assent on September 28, 2023.
      • To be implemented after the next delimitation exercise (post-2026) and subsequent elections.
    • 129th Constitutional Amendment Bill (Proposed):
      • Related to "One Nation One Election."
      • Based on the recommendations of the Ram Nath Kovind Committee.

Daily Current Affairs (September 1-6) ​

  • Exercises & Summits:
    • India-Thailand 'Maitree' exercise held in Umroi, Meghalaya.
    • SCO Summit 2025 to be held in Tianjin, China.
    • Indian Army conducted 'Yuddh Kaushal Abhyas 3.0' and 'Achook Prahar' in Arunachal Pradesh.
    • India and USA conducted the 21st edition of 'Yudh Abhyas'.
    • Northeast Aviation Summit 2025 held in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • International Relations & Events:
    • India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued its first Purple Notice via Interpol for money laundering assets.
    • PM Modi received a 'Shub Daruma' doll during his visit to Japan.
    • A Thai constitutional court dismissed the Prime Minister for ethical violation.
    • Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited India for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
    • Russia and China signed an agreement for the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.
    • India announced a 1000 e-scholarship scheme for Afghan students for 2025-26.
    • Pranav Venkatesh, World Junior Chess Champion from India, won the first Fujeirah Global Superstar title in UAE.
    • Norway closed its beaches due to poisonous Blue Dragon sea slugs.
    • Madhav Gopal from Delhi became the first Indian to win the World Youth Scrabble Championship 2025 in Malaysia.
    • Nepal banned 26 social media sites including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
    • India joined the Health AI Global Regulatory Network, headquartered in Geneva.
    • The Ministry of Home Affairs signed a peace agreement with Kuki groups in Manipur.
  • Awards & Recognitions:
    • Educate Girls (a Rajasthan-based NGO) won the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025.
    • Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won their second bronze medal at the BWF World Championship in Paris.
    • The Aga Khan Award 2025 is related to architecture.
  • Government & Policy Initiatives:
    • National Commission for Women's 'Nari 2025 Report' declared Kohima as India's safest city.
    • 'Adivani' is an initiative by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for tribal areas.
    • 'Matsya Shakti Project' for minority fishermen launched in Kerala.
    • Telangana introduced 42% reservation for backward classes in local body elections.
    • Haryana announced the 'Laado Lakshmi Yojana' providing ₹2100 monthly to women.
    • Rajasthan became the first state to implement a Supreme Court order on stray dogs.
    • 'Bharatiya Pehal' launched by APEDA to boost agricultural exports.
    • PM Modi launched the 'Rajya Jivika Nidhi Sakh Sahakari Sangh Limited' in Bihar.
    • Annapurna Yojana for sanitation workers launched in Bengaluru.
    • The GST Council's 56th meeting approved a 5%, 18%, 40% tax structure under GST 2.0 (removing 12% and 28%).
    • The 27th edition of the 'Saras Aajeevika Mela', dedicated to 'Lakhpati Didis', was held in Delhi and organized by the Ministry of Rural Development.
    • An integrated RERA portal was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
    • The Central Government made mandatory Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) for silver jewelry.
  • Science & Technology:
    • First indigenous tapered glass manufacturing facility established in Noida.
    • 'Pratyush' telescope is associated with the Raman Research Institute.
    • India's first indigenous microprocessor is 'Vikram 32'.
    • IIT Jodhpur developed 'Language and Learning Group (BAL2G)' indigenous AI tools for Indian languages and heritage.
    • Japan's TDK Corporation opened its largest Lithium-Ion battery manufacturing plant in Sohna, Haryana.
  • Culture & Environment:
    • 'Karma Puja' is celebrated on Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi.
    • The first vulture conservation portal in India, led by V Foundation India, was launched in Assam.
    • England loaned India the 16th-century Vrindavan fabric of Vaishnava saint Sankaradeva (related to Assam).
    • A Royal Bhutan Buddhist Temple was inaugurated in Rajgir.
  • Economy & Business:
    • Reliance announced the 'Dhirubhai Ambani Giga Energy Complex' in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
    • Unity Bank launched India's first EMI-based credit card on the RuPay network (with BharatPe).
    • Mastercard partnered with Infosys to promote cross-border payments.
    • TCA Kalyani was appointed as Controller General of Accounts in the Department of Expenditure, Finance Ministry.
    • The 'Niveshak Didi' second phase, by the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPF), was launched in Hyderabad.
  • Education & Health:
    • NCERT launched 'Bal Vatika TV Channel', 'Diksha 2.0', and 'Prasastha 2.0'.
    • NIRF India Ranking 2025: IIT Madras topped the Overall Category.
    • According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2023, India's Infant Mortality Rate is 25.
  • Other:
    • 25th Commonwealth Senior Weightlifting Championship in Ahmedabad: India topped the point table.
    • Global Peace Index: India's rank is 115.
    • Badminton World Championship 2026 will be hosted by India.
    • 'Graphite' is spyware.
    • The book "Mother Mary Comes to Me" is authored by Arundhati Roy.
    • National Teachers' Day is celebrated on September 5.
    • 'Pat Utsav' annual fair was held in Jammu & Kashmir.
    • World Coconut Day 2025 was celebrated on September 2.