Amendments
Indian Polity · संशोधन
📋Quick Overview
The Indian Constitution can be amended under Article 368. The amendment procedure is borrowed from South Africa. There are three types of amendments: Simple Majority (like ordinary law), Special Majority (2/3 of members present + voting AND majority of total membership), and Special Majority + Ratification by half the states. The 42nd Amendment (1976) is called the 'Mini Constitution' — it made the most changes. The 44th Amendment (1978) undid many changes of the 42nd.
📖Important Amendments — Master Table
| Amendment | Year | Key Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1951 | Added 9th Schedule (land reforms immune from judicial review), restrictions on FR (Art 19) |
| 7th | 1956 | Reorganization of States — abolished Part A/B/C/D states, created 14 states + 6 UTs |
| 21st | 1967 | Added Sindhi as 15th language in 8th Schedule |
| 24th | 1971 | Parliament can amend any part of Constitution including FRs |
| 25th | 1971 | Right to Property curtailed, DPSP given primacy over some FRs |
| 42nd | 1976 | MINI CONSTITUTION: Added 'Socialist, Secular, Integrity' to Preamble, added Fundamental Duties, moved Education/Forest to Concurrent List, added Art 39A, 43A, 48A |
| 44th | 1978 | Removed Right to Property from FRs (made legal right under Art 300A), restored many freedoms curtailed by 42nd |
| 52nd | 1985 | Anti-Defection Law — added 10th Schedule |
| 61st | 1989 | Voting age reduced from 21 to 18 years |
| 73rd | 1992 | Panchayati Raj (Part IX) — 3-tier system, added 11th Schedule (29 subjects) |
| 74th | 1992 | Municipalities (Part IXA) — added 12th Schedule (18 subjects) |
| 86th | 2002 | Right to Education (Art 21A) + 11th Fundamental Duty (education of child) |
| 91st | 2003 | Limited Council of Ministers to 15% of Lok Sabha/Assembly strength |
| 101st | 2016 | GST (Goods & Services Tax) introduced |
| 103rd | 2019 | 10% EWS reservation for economically weaker sections (General category) |
| 104th | 2020 | Extended SC/ST reservation in Lok Sabha & State Assemblies for 10 more years (till 2030), removed Anglo-Indian nomination |
📖Types of Majority for Amendments
| Majority Type | What It Means | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Majority | More than 50% of members PRESENT & VOTING | Creation of new states, citizenship, salaries of MPs, etc. |
| Special Majority | 2/3 of members present & voting + majority of total membership | Most Constitutional amendments (Art 368) |
| Special Majority + State Ratification | Special majority + ratification by 50% state legislatures | Federal provisions — election of President, powers of Centre/States, 7th Schedule, representation in Parliament |