Major Amendments — Set 12

Correct Answer: B. Article 326

The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988, passed during Rajiv Gandhi's government, amended Article 326 to reduce the voting age from 21 to 18 years for elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. This enfranchised millions of young voters. The amendment was implemented in the 1989 general elections, the first time 18-year-olds could vote in India. India thus joined the international trend of lowering the voting age to 18.

Correct Answer: B. Urban Local Bodies

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IX-A (Articles 243P to 243ZG) to the Constitution relating to Municipalities (Urban Local Bodies). It provided constitutional status to urban local bodies, defined their composition, powers, and functions, and established Ward Committees for cities with population above 3 lakh. It is the urban counterpart of the 73rd Amendment (Panchayati Raj). The State Election Commission conducts elections to urban local bodies.

Correct Answer: B. Co-operative Societies

The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011 gave constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies. It amended Article 19(1)(c) to include the right to form cooperative societies as a Fundamental Right, inserted Article 43B as a DPSP for promotion of cooperative societies, and added Part IX-B (Articles 243ZH to 243ZT) dealing with cooperative societies. However, the Supreme Court in 2021 struck down Part IX-B as it encroached on states' rights regarding cooperative societies.

Correct Answer: A. Land Boundary Agreement

The 100th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2015 gave effect to the Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh. Under this agreement, India transferred 111 enclaves to Bangladesh and received 51 enclaves in return. The amendment amended the First Schedule to the Constitution to reflect these territorial changes. The agreement resolved a long-standing boundary dispute dating back to 1974. It involved the transfer of about 17,000 residents to their chosen country of citizenship.

Correct Answer: C. Article 338B

The 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018 inserted Article 338B to give constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). Before this amendment, NCBC was a statutory body. The amendment also inserted Article 342A which empowers the President to specify socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs) for each state and union territory. This amendment was followed by the 105th Amendment which clarified states' power to identify SEBCs.

Correct Answer: B. 42nd Amendment

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 inserted Part IV-A (Article 51A) into the Constitution, adding 10 Fundamental Duties for citizens. This was based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee. The 86th Amendment (2002) later added an 11th Fundamental Duty — for parents/guardians to provide educational opportunities to their children aged 6 to 14 years. Fundamental Duties are non-justiciable but have been used by courts to interpret laws and uphold state actions.

Correct Answer: A. Anti-defection law

The 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985 added the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution introducing the anti-defection law to curb political defections. A member of Parliament or State Legislature loses their seat if they voluntarily give up party membership or vote against party directions without the permission of the party. The Speaker or Chairman of the House is the deciding authority. The 91st Amendment (2003) strengthened this law by requiring that all members of a split group (not just 1/3) must defect for it to be recognized.

Correct Answer: B. 15%

The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 amended Articles 75 and 164 to limit the size of the Council of Ministers to not more than 15% of the total strength of Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly respectively. This was done to prevent the formation of oversized cabinets ('jumbo cabinets'). The amendment also strengthened the anti-defection law under the Tenth Schedule. Previously, there was no limit on cabinet size, leading to very large councils of ministers in some states.

Correct Answer: B. Privy purses

The 26th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971 abolished the system of privy purses and privileges of former rulers of princely states. It also derecognized the Rulers of Indian States. Articles 291 and 362 were repealed. This was done to end the financial and other privileges that former rulers of princely states enjoyed after their accession to India. The Supreme Court in the Madhav Rao Scindia case had struck down an earlier presidential order abolishing privy purses, necessitating this constitutional amendment.

Correct Answer: A. 1st Amendment, 1951

The Ninth Schedule was added by the 1st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1951 to protect certain land reform laws from judicial scrutiny under the Fundamental Rights provisions. Laws placed in the Ninth Schedule cannot be challenged in courts on the grounds of violating Fundamental Rights. However, in I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007), the Supreme Court held that laws added to the Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973 (date of Kesavananda Bharati judgment) can be subject to judicial review if they violate the basic structure.