Indian Constitution Amendments
Key Concepts & Formulas
| # | Concept | Quick Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amendment Article | Article 368 empowers Parliament to amend the Constitution; needs simple or special majority + ratification by ≥½ states in some cases. |
| 2 | Three Routes | (a) Simple majority (Art. 4, 11, 169) – not u/A-368; (b) Special majority (2/3 of members present & voting + >½ of total membership); (c) Special majority + ≥½ state legislatures ratification (federal features). |
| 3 | 42nd Amendment (1976) | “Mini-Constitution”; added Secular, Socialist, Integrity; shifted 5 subjects from State to Concurrent list; made DPSP & Art. 31C immune from judicial review. |
| 4 | 44th Amendment (1978) | Undid 42nd excess; deleted Art. 31 (Right to Property), made it only a legal right u/A-300A; restored judicial review; Art. 352 narrowed “internal disturbance” to “armed rebellion”. |
| 5 | 73rd & 74th Amendments (1992) | Constitutional status to PRIs & Urban Local Bodies; added 11th & 12th Schedules; 3-tier system; fixed 5-year term; mandatory elections within 6 months of dissolution. |
| 6 | 101st Amendment (2016) | Introduced Goods & Services Tax (GST); created GST Council u/A-279A; Parliament & States can levy GST concurrently. |
| 7 | 103rd Amendment (2019) | Provided 10% EWS reservation in education & public employment for economically weaker sections among forward classes; amended Art. 15(6) & 16(6). |
10 Practice MCQs
1. Which amendment added the words “Socialist” and “Secular” in the Preamble?
**Options:** A) 24th B) 42nd C) 44th D) 52ndAnswer: B) 42nd
Solution: 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 inserted “Socialist”, “Secular” and “Integrity” in the Preamble.
Shortcut: Remember “1976 – 42 – SSI (Socialist Secular Integrity)”.
Concept tag: Preamble amendments
2. The deletion of the Right to Property as a Fundamental Right was effected by which amendment?
**Options:** A) 42nd B) 44th C) 52nd D) 61stAnswer: B) 44th
Solution: 44th Amendment (1978) removed Art. 31 & made property a legal right under Art. 300A.
Shortcut: “44 – Property out of Floor(44) = 4×11 = 44”.
Concept tag: Fundamental Rights
3. Which amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the Constitution?
**Options:** A) 97th B) 100th C) 101st D) 122ndAnswer: C) 101st
Solution: 101st Amendment, 2016 inserted new Art. 279A (GST Council) & enabled GST.
Shortcut: “GST = 101 = One-oh-One = One Nation One Tax”.
Concept tag: Taxation reforms
4. The 73rd Amendment is related to:
**Options:** A) Municipalities B) Panchayati Raj C) Cooperative societies D) Official languageAnswer: B) Panchayati Raj
Solution: 73rd Amendment, 1992 constitutionalised PRIs; added 11th Schedule.
Shortcut: “73 – PRIs – 7+3=10 → 11th Schedule”.
Concept tag: Local government
5. Which amendment reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years?
**Options:** A) 52nd B) 61st C) 69th D) 84thAnswer: B) 61st
Solution: 61st Amendment, 1988 amended Art. 326.
Shortcut: “61 → 18 (reverse digits 61 → 16, remember 18)”.
Concept tag: Electoral reforms
6. The latest amendment (as of 2025) that fixed the tenure of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies at 5 years is:
**Options:** A) 87th B) 94th C) 104th D) 118thAnswer: C) 104th
Solution: 104th Amendment, 2020 extended SC/ST reservation & froze delimitation till 2026; no change in 5-year term (already exists). Trick: 104 is the latest fully-notified amendment.
Shortcut: “104 = 10+4 = 14 → 2014+10 = 2024 elections still 5-year term”.
Concept tag: Recent amendments
7. Which amendment provided Constitutional status to the Municipalities?
**Options:** A) 72nd B) 73rd C) 74th D) 75thAnswer: C) 74th
Solution: 74th Amendment, 1992; added 12th Schedule.
Shortcut: “73 – village, 74 – city (next number)”.
Concept tag: Local government
8. The amendment that made Education a Fundamental Right for children aged 6-14 years is:
**Options:** A) 86th B) 91st C) 93rd D) 96thAnswer: A) 86th
Solution: 86th Amendment, 2002 inserted Art. 21A.
Shortcut: “86 → 21A (8×6=48 → 48/2=24 → 21A)”.
Concept tag: FR & DPSP
9. Which of the following amendments requires ratification by at least half of the state legislatures?
**Options:** A) Creation of new states B) Changing the Preamble C) Changing representation of states in Parliament D) Changing official languageAnswer: C) Changing representation of states in Parliament
Solution: Per Art. 368(2), any change in federal provisions (e.g., state representation in Parliament) needs ≥½ state ratification.
Shortcut: “Fed feature → Half states”.
Concept tag: Amendment procedure
10. The 103rd Amendment deals with:
**Options:** A) GST B) EWS reservation C) Cooperative societies D) Right to PrivacyAnswer: B) EWS reservation
Solution: 103rd Amendment, 2019 inserted 10% EWS quota.
Shortcut: “103 → 10% EWS (10 in 103)”.
Concept tag: Social justice
5 Previous Year Questions
[RRB NTPC 2021] Which amendment is known as the “Mini-Constitution”?
**Options:** A) 39th B) 42nd C) 44th D) 52ndAnswer: B) 42nd
Solution: 42nd amendment made sweeping changes; hence nicknamed Mini-Constitution.
Concept tag: Popular names
[RRB JE 2019] The 61st Amendment of the Constitution is related to:
**Options:** A) Reduce voting age B) Panchayati Raj C) Official language D) Right to EducationAnswer: A) Reduce voting age
Solution: 61st Amendment, 1988 reduced voting age from 21 to 18.
Concept tag: Electoral reforms
[RRB NTPC 2020] Which Schedule was added by the 74th Amendment?
**Options:** A) 9th B) 10th C) 11th D) 12thAnswer: D) 12th
Solution: 74th Amendment added 12th Schedule listing 18 municipal functions.
Concept tag: Schedules
[RRB Group-D 2018] The Right to Property was removed as a Fundamental Right by:
**Options:** A) 42nd B) 44th C) 45th D) 47thAnswer: B) 44th
Solution: 44th Amendment, 1978.
Concept tag: FR deletion
[RRB NTPC 2017] Which amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax?
**Options:** A) 99th B) 100th C) 101st D) 102ndAnswer: C) 101st
Solution: 101st Amendment, 2016.
Concept tag: Taxation
Speed Tricks & Shortcuts
| Situation | Shortcut | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Remember 42nd vs 44th | 42 = “Add” (Socialist Secular), 44 = “Delete” (Property) | 42 adds words, 44 removes right |
| 73 & 74 Schedules | 73 → 11 (7+3=10 → next 11), 74 → 12 (next to 11) | PRIs-11th, Nagarpalikas-12th |
| Voting age 18 | 61st Amendment → 61 looks like 18 upside-down | 61 ↔ 18 |
| GST Amendment | GST = 101 = One-oh-One = One Nation One Tax | 101 |
| EWS 103 | 103 has “10” inside → 10% quota | 103 |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why Students Make It | Correct Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Confusing 42nd & 44th | Both start with 4 & deal with FR | 42 = 1976 Emergency excess (add words, curb courts); 44 = 1978 Janata govt (restore courts, delete property) |
| Thinking all amendments need state ratification | Only federal features need ≥½ states | Remember list: election of President, SC/HC jurisdiction, state representation, 7th Schedule, etc. |
| Misplacing 73 & 74 Schedules | Numbers close | 73 → rural → 11th; 74 → urban → 12th (sequential) |
| Forgetting voting-age amendment | Remember 21→18 but not which amendment | Link 18 years → 61st (visual flip 61→18) |
Quick Revision Flashcards
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| 42nd Amendment year & nickname | 1976 – Mini-Constitution |
| 44th Amendment main outcome | Property removed from FR; Art. 300A created |
| 61st Amendment effect | Voting age 21 → 18 |
| 73rd Amendment Schedule | 11th Schedule |
| 74th Amendment Schedule | 12th Schedule |
| 86th Amendment right | Art. 21A – Free & compulsory education 6-14 yr |
| 101st Amendment tax | GST; Art. 279A – GST Council |
| 103rd Amendment quota | 10% EWS reservation |
| Amendment needing ≥½ states ratification | Federal features (Art. 368(2)) |
| Article enabling Constitutional amendment | Article 368 |
BETA
