📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Amendment Procedure
| Type | Requirement | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Simple majority of Parliament (outside Art. 368) | Like an ordinary bill | New states (Art. 2–4), citizenship, quorum, creating/abolishing Councils (Art. 169), 5th-6th Schedules |
| Special majority | Majority of total membership + 2/3 of members present and voting, in each House | FRs, DPSP and most provisions |
| Special majority + ratification by half the states | By simple majority in state legislatures | President's election, SC/HC, Union-state powers, 7th Schedule, states' representation in Parliament, Art. 368 itself, GST (101st) |
- Bill may be introduced in either House by a minister or private member; no prior presidential sanction; cannot originate in a state legislature.
- No joint sitting; the President must give assent (24th Amendment 1971) — can neither withhold nor return.
📌 2. Basic Structure Doctrine
| Case | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Shankari Prasad (1951) | Parliament can amend any part including FRs |
| Golaknath (1967) | Parliament cannot amend FRs |
| Kesavananda Bharati (1973) | 13 judges (largest bench); Parliament can amend but not the basic structure |
| Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975) | Free and fair elections are basic structure |
| Minerva Mills (1980) | Limited amending power, judicial review, FR-DPSP balance are basic structure |
| Waman Rao (1981) | Laws put in 9th Schedule after 24 Apr 1973 are reviewable |
| I.R. Coelho (2007) | 9th Schedule laws reviewable on basic-structure grounds |
- Basic-structure elements: supremacy of the Constitution, sovereignty, democracy, secularism, federalism, separation of powers, judicial review, rule of law, independent judiciary, free and fair elections.
- The NJAC (99th Amendment 2014) was struck down by the SC in 2015 (judicial independence).
📌 3. Key Amendments
| Amendment | Subject |
|---|---|
| 1st (1951) | 9th Schedule; Art. 15(4), 31A, 31B |
| 7th (1956) | States reorganisation; Part A/B/C/D abolished |
| 24th (1971) | Presidential assent to amendment bills mandatory |
| 36th (1975) | Sikkim full state |
| 42nd (1976) | "Mini-Constitution": 3 words in Preamble, FDs, 5 subjects State→Concurrent (education, forests, wildlife, weights & measures, administration of justice), DPSP 39A/43A/48A, Art. 323A-B tribunals |
| 44th (1978) | Property right removed; "internal disturbance" → "armed rebellion"; written Cabinet advice; Art. 20-21 non-suspendable |
| 52nd (1985) | Anti-defection — 10th Schedule |
| 61st (1988) | Voting age 21→18 |
| 73rd / 74th (1992) | Panchayats (Part IX, 11th Sch.) / Municipalities (Part IXA, 12th Sch.) |
| 86th (2002) | 21A, 45, 51A(k) — education |
| 91st (2003) | Council of Ministers ≤ 15% of House; "split" exception removed |
| 92nd (2003) | Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali added to 8th Schedule (22 languages) |
| 97th (2011) | Co-operative societies (Part IXB) |
| 101st (2016) | GST — Art. 246A, 269A, 279A (GST Council) |
| 102nd (2018) | Constitutional status to NCBC (Art. 338B) |
| 103rd (2019) | 10% EWS reservation |
| 104th (2020) | SC/ST reservation in LS/assemblies extended to 2030; Anglo-Indian nomination ended |
| 105th (2021) | Restored states' power to prepare own SEBC/OBC lists |
| 106th (2023) | Nari Shakti Vandan — 1/3 reservation for women in Lok Sabha, state assemblies and Delhi assembly (Art. 330A, 332A, 239AA); effective after delimitation, for 15 years |
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- As of October 2026 the latest enacted amendment = 106th (2023). The "129th" (One Nation One Election) and "130th" Bills were sent to parliamentary committees; the "131st Bill 2026" (delimitation) was defeated in Lok Sabha in April 2026 for want of a two-thirds majority.
- Bill number ≠ Act number: the 106th Act was introduced as the "128th Bill".
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. The procedure for amending the Constitution is in which Article? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Part XX, Art. 368.
Part XX, Art. 368.
Q2. The basic structure doctrine was propounded in which case? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
A 13-judge bench gave the doctrine in Kesavananda Bharati.
A 13-judge bench gave the doctrine in Kesavananda Bharati.
Q3. Which amendment is called the "Mini-Constitution"? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The 42nd Amendment (1976) made sweeping changes.
The 42nd Amendment (1976) made sweeping changes.
Q4. The anti-defection law (10th Schedule) came through which amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The 52nd added the 10th Schedule; the 91st removed the split exception.
The 52nd added the 10th Schedule; the 91st removed the split exception.
Q5. GST was introduced by which constitutional amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The 101st Amendment (2016) added Art. 246A, 269A and 279A.
The 101st Amendment (2016) added Art. 246A, 269A and 279A.
Q6. Nari Shakti Vandan (women's reservation) relates to which amendment act? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 106th Amendment reserves 1/3 of seats in LS and assemblies for women.
The 106th Amendment reserves 1/3 of seats in LS and assemblies for women.
Q7. Which statement about an amendment bill is NOT correct? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
There is no provision for a joint sitting on an amendment bill.
There is no provision for a joint sitting on an amendment bill.
Q8. Which amendment made presidential assent to amendment bills obligatory? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 24th Amendment provided this.
The 24th Amendment provided this.
Q9. What is required to change the method of electing the President? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Being a federal provision, ratification by half the states is needed.
Being a federal provision, ratification by half the states is needed.
Q10. In which case was it held that Parliament cannot amend Fundamental Rights? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Golaknath overturned earlier rulings; the 24th Amendment and Kesavananda changed it.
Golaknath overturned earlier rulings; the 24th Amendment and Kesavananda changed it.
Q11. The 9th Schedule was added by which amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The First Amendment added the 9th Schedule to protect land-reform laws.
The First Amendment added the 9th Schedule to protect land-reform laws.
Q12. The 44th Amendment replaced "internal disturbance" as a ground of national emergency with: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Grounds now: war, external aggression, armed rebellion.
Grounds now: war, external aggression, armed rebellion.
Q13. The size of the Council of Ministers was limited to 15% of the House by which amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 91st added Art. 75(1A) and 164(1A).
The 91st added Art. 75(1A) and 164(1A).
Q14. Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were added to the 8th Schedule by: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
After the 92nd, the 8th Schedule has 22 languages.
After the 92nd, the 8th Schedule has 22 languages.
Q15. NCBC got constitutional status through which amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The 102nd added Art. 338B.
The 102nd added Art. 338B.
Q16. Nomination of Anglo-Indians to Lok Sabha was ended by which amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The 104th extended SC/ST reservation to 2030 but not Anglo-Indian nomination.
The 104th extended SC/ST reservation to 2030 but not Anglo-Indian nomination.
Q17. How many judges were on the Kesavananda Bharati bench? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The largest bench ever — 13 judges, verdict 7:6.
The largest bench ever — 13 judges, verdict 7:6.
Q18. Which case (2007) held that 9th Schedule laws are reviewable on basic-structure grounds? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
I.R. Coelho (2007), a 9-judge bench.
I.R. Coelho (2007), a 9-judge bench.
Q19. Which constitution amendment bill was defeated in Lok Sabha in April 2026 for want of a two-thirds majority? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The 131st Bill 2026 — 298 for, 230 against; the required 352 was not reached.
The 131st Bill 2026 — 298 for, 230 against; the required 352 was not reached.
Q20. Which amendment restored states' power to prepare their own OBC lists? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The 105th followed the Maratha reservation judgment (2021).
The 105th followed the Maratha reservation judgment (2021).