Constitutional Amendments

The word ‘Secular’ was inserted into the Constitution of India by:

[amp_mcq option1=”44th Amendment Act” option2=”52nd Amendment Act” option3=”42nd Amendment Act” option4=”34th Amendment Act” correct=”option3″]

The correct answer is C) 42nd Amendment Act. The word ‘Secular’ was inserted into the Preamble of the Constitution of India by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, also known as the ‘Mini-Constitution’, passed during the Emergency period. Along with ‘Secular’, the words ‘Socialist’ and ‘Integrity’ were also added to the Preamble.

The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 added ‘Secular’, ‘Socialist’, and ‘Integrity’ to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 repealed some changes made by the 42nd Amendment and restored the original term of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. The 52nd Amendment Act of 1985 introduced the anti-defection law. The 34th Amendment Act of 1974 included various state land reform acts in the Ninth Schedule.

By which one of the following amendments, was Article 51A, relating to the Fundamental Duties, inserted into the Constitution of India ?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act” option2=”The Constitution (44th Amendment) Act” option3=”The Constitution (85th Amendment) Act” option4=”The Constitution (92nd Amendment) Act” correct=”option1″]

Part IVA (Article 51A) relating to Fundamental Duties was inserted into the Constitution of India by the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976. This amendment is also known as the ‘Mini-Constitution’ due to the significant number of changes it introduced.

– Fundamental Duties were not part of the original Constitution.
– They were added based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee.
– The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, added ten Fundamental Duties.
– An eleventh Fundamental Duty was added later by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002.

The 44th Amendment Act, 1978, primarily aimed to reverse some of the changes made by the 42nd Amendment, particularly concerning emergency provisions and property rights. The 85th Amendment Act relates to reservations in promotion. The 92nd Amendment Act, 2003, related to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, adding Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santali languages.

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List I (Amendment to the Constitution of India)	List II (Subject)
A. 52nd Amendment Act, 1985	1. Reduction of voting age from 21 to 18
B. 73rd Amendment Act, 1992	2. Right to Education
C. 61st Amendment Act, 1988	3. Panchayati Raj
D. 86th Amendment Act, 2006	4. Disqualification on grounds of defection

[amp_mcq option1=”A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2″ option2=”A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2″ option3=”A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4″ option4=”A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4″ correct=”option4″]

The correct matching code is A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2. This corresponds to option (d) in the provided table.

This question tests knowledge of key amendments to the Constitution of India and their subjects.

– The 52nd Amendment Act, 1985 introduced the Tenth Schedule, which deals with the disqualification of Members of Parliament and state legislatures on the ground of defection (Match A-4).
– The 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 granted constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions and added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution (Match B-3).
– The 61st Amendment Act, 1988 reduced the voting age for elections to the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies of States from 21 years to 18 years (Match C-1).
– The 86th Amendment Act, 2002 inserted Article 21A in the Constitution, making education a Fundamental Right for children between the ages of 6 and 14 years. (Note: The year is 2002, not 2006 as printed in the list, but the subject is correctly identified as Right to Education). (Match D-2).
Thus, the correct match is A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2, which corresponds to option (d) in the question’s code table.

Consider the following statements :

• 1. The Amendment procedure has been provided in Article 368 of the Constitution of India.
• 2. The consent of the States is mandatory for all Amendments to the Constitution of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option1″]

Statement 1 is correct as Article 368 of the Constitution of India deals with the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and the procedure for doing so. Statement 2 is incorrect because the consent of the States is not mandatory for *all* amendments, but only for those affecting certain provisions related to the federal structure.

– Article 368 outlines two methods of amendment: by a special majority of Parliament (2/3rd of members present and voting, supported by more than 50% of total membership) and by a special majority of Parliament plus ratification by the legislatures of not less than one-half of the States.
– Amendments requiring state ratification include changes related to the election of the President, extent of executive power of the Union and States, Supreme Court and High Courts, distribution of legislative powers, representation of States in Parliament, and Article 368 itself.
– Many provisions can be amended by a special majority of Parliament alone.

The Constitution of India is considered both rigid and flexible due to the different methods of amendment specified in Article 368, as well as provisions that can be amended by a simple majority (though technically not considered amendments under Article 368).

Article 368 of the Constitution of India deals with

[amp_mcq option1=”the powers of the Parliament of India to amend the Constitution” option2=”financial emergency” option3=”To protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India” option4=”To render compulsory military service” correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is A) the powers of the Parliament of India to amend the Constitution.

Article 368 of the Constitution of India exclusively deals with the power of the Parliament to amend the Constitution and the procedure for doing so. It outlines the special majority required for constitutional amendments.

Option B, financial emergency, is dealt with under Article 360. Option C, To protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India, is mentioned as a Fundamental Duty (Article 51A) and also reflected in the Preamble, but not the subject of Article 368. Option D, To render compulsory military service, is not a subject dealt with by Article 368, nor is it a fundamental duty (though providing national service when called upon is a duty).