Indian Polity — Important Constitutional Amendments

Figure 1: Important Constitutional Amendments are frequently tested in UPSC examinations.

1. Important Constitutional Amendments

Amendment	Provisions
1st CAA, 1951	Empowered the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and economically backward classes. Added Ninth Schedule to protect the land reform and other laws included in it from judicial review.
7th CAA, 1956	Abolished the existing classification of states into four categories i.e., Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D states.
9th CAA, 1960	Facilitated the cession of Indian territory of Berubari Union (located in West Bengal) to Pakistan as provided in the Indo-Pakistan Agreement (1958).
21st CAA, 1967	Included Sindhi as the 15th language in the Eighth Schedule.
26th CAA, 1971	Abolished the privy purses and privileges of the former rulers of princely states.
36th CAA, 1975	Made Sikkim a full-fledged State of the Indian Union and omitted the Tenth Schedule.
42nd CAA, 1976 (Mini Constitution)	Added three new words (Socialist, Secular, Integrity) in the Preamble. Added Fundamental Duties by the citizens (new Part IV-A). Provided for administrative tribunals and tribunals for other matters (Added Part XIV-A). Added three new Directive Principles: equal justice and free legal aid, participation of workers in management of industries, and protection of environment, forests and wildlife. Facilitated the proclamation of national emergency in a part of the territory of India. Provided for the creation of the All-India Judicial Service.
44th CAA, 1978	Empowered the President to send back once the advice of the cabinet for reconsideration. But, the reconsidered advice is to be binding on the President. Replaced the term "internal disturbance" with "armed rebellion" in respect of national emergency. Made the President declare a national emergency only on the written recommendation of the cabinet. Deleted the right to property from the list of Fundamental Rights and made it only a legal right. Provided that the fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 20 and 21 cannot be suspended during a national emergency.
52nd CAA, 1985	Provided for disqualification of members of Parliament and state legislatures on the ground of defection and added a new Tenth Schedule containing the details in this regard.
61st CAA, 1989	Reduced the voting age from 21 years to 18 years for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly elections.
71st CAA, 1992	Included Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali languages in the Eighth Schedule.
73rd CAA, 1993	Granted constitutional status and protection to the Panchayati Raj institutions. Added a new Part-IX entitled as "The Panchayats" and a new Eleventh Schedule containing 29 functional items of the Panchayats.
74th CAA, 1993	Granted constitutional status and protection to the urban local bodies. Added a new Part IX-A entitled as "The Municipalities" and a new Twelfth Schedule containing 18 functional items of the municipalities.
86th CAA, 2002	Made elementary education a fundamental right — added Article 21-A. Changed the subject matter of Article 45 in Directive Principles. Added a new fundamental duty under Article 51-A.
92nd CAA, 2003	Included Bodo, Dogri (Dongri), Maithili and Santhali in the Eighth Schedule.
97th CAA, 2012	Gave constitutional status and protection to co-operative societies: Made the right to form co-operative societies a Fundamental Right. Included a new DPSP on the promotion of co-operative societies. Added a new Part IX-B entitled "The Co-operative Societies".
101st CAA, 2016	Paved the way for the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in the country.
102nd CAA, 2018	Conferred a constitutional status on the National Commission for Backward Classes. Empowered the President to specify the socially and educationally backward classes in relation to a state or union territory.
103rd CAA, 2019	Empowered the state to make any special provision for the advancement of any economically weaker sections (EWS) of citizens.
104th CAA, 2019	Extended the deadline for the cessation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies from Seventy years to Eighty. Removed the reserved seats for the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
105th CAA, 2021	Restored state government's power to prepare the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) list.
106th CAA, 2023	Reserves one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, including those reserved for SCs and STs. The reservation will be effective after the publication of the census conducted following the Act's commencement and endures for a 15-year period, with potential extension determined by parliamentary action.

Key Takeaways for UPSC

• 1st CAA (1951): Ninth Schedule added
• 7th CAA (1956): Abolished Part A, B, C, D states
• 21st CAA (1967): Sindhi added to Eighth Schedule
• 26th CAA (1971): Abolished Privy Purses
• 36th CAA (1975): Sikkim became a state
• 42nd CAA (1976): Mini Constitution — Added Socialist, Secular, Integrity; Fundamental Duties; Part XIV-A
• 44th CAA (1978): Right to Property removed from FRs; Articles 20 & 21 cannot be suspended
• 52nd CAA (1985): Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule)
• 61st CAA (1989): Voting age reduced to 18
• 71st CAA (1992): Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali added
• 73rd CAA (1993): Panchayati Raj (Part IX, Eleventh Schedule)
• 74th CAA (1993): Municipalities (Part IX-A, Twelfth Schedule)
• 86th CAA (2002): Right to Education (Article 21A)
• 92nd CAA (2003): Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali added
• 97th CAA (2012): Co-operative Societies (Part IX-B)
• 101st CAA (2016): GST introduced
• 102nd CAA (2018): NCBC got constitutional status
• 103rd CAA (2019): 10% EWS Reservation
• 104th CAA (2019): SC/ST reservation extended to 2030; Anglo-Indian seats removed
• 105th CAA (2021): States' power to prepare SEBC list restored
• 106th CAA (2023): 33% Women's Reservation (15-year period)

High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Important Constitutional Amendments)

Q1. Which Constitutional Amendment added the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution?

Correct Answer: B. The 1st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1951 added the Ninth Schedule to protect land reform and other laws from judicial review.

Q2. Which amendment abolished the privy purses and privileges of former rulers of princely states?

Correct Answer: B. The 26th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971 abolished the privy purses and privileges of the former rulers of princely states.

Q3. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act is also known as:

Correct Answer: C. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 is known as the "Mini Constitution" due to its extensive changes.

Q4. Which amendment replaced the term "internal disturbance" with "armed rebellion"?

Correct Answer: B. The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978 replaced the term "internal disturbance" with "armed rebellion" in respect of national emergency.

Q5. The Anti-Defection Law was added by which amendment?

Correct Answer: C. The 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985 provided for disqualification of members on grounds of defection and added the Tenth Schedule.

Q6. The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 by which amendment?

Correct Answer: C. The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1989 reduced the voting age from 21 years to 18 years.

Q7. Which amendment granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions?

Correct Answer: B. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1993 granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions and added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule.

Q8. The Right to Education was made a Fundamental Right by which amendment?

Correct Answer: C. The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 made elementary education a fundamental right by adding Article 21-A.

Q9. The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 provides for:

Correct Answer: C. The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 provided for 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

Q10. The 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023 provides for:

Correct Answer: C. The 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023 reserves one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies, and the NCT of Delhi, with a 15-year period.