Constitutional Amendments Archives

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

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

44th Amendment Act

52nd Amendment Act

42nd Amendment Act

34th Amendment Act

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2015

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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The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 repealed some changes made by the 42nd Amendment and restored the original term of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.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.

42. By which one of the following amendments, was Article 51A, relating to

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

The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act

The Constitution (44th Amendment) Act

The Constitution (85th Amendment) Act

The Constitution (92nd Amendment) Act

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2023

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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.

43. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

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

A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4

A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2017

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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.

44. Consider the following statements : 1. The Amendment procedure has b

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 ?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2016

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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).

45. Article 368 of the Constitution of India deals with

Article 368 of the Constitution of India deals with

the powers of the Parliament of India to amend the Constitution

financial emergency

To protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India

To render compulsory military service

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2015

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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).

46. Which among the following Supreme Court Judgements established the pri

Which among the following Supreme Court Judgements established the principle that the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution of India was unamendable?

Golaknath vs State of Punjab

Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala

Sankari Prasad vs Union of India

Sajjan Singh vs State of Rajasthan

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2022

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The landmark Supreme Court judgement that established the principle of the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution of India being unamendable was the Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala case in 1973.

– In this judgement, the Supreme Court held that Parliament has the power to amend any part of the Constitution, including Fundamental Rights, but cannot alter or destroy the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.
– This ruling overturned the previous judgement in Golaknath vs State of Punjab (1967), which had held that Fundamental Rights could not be amended.

The ‘basic structure’ doctrine does not have a single, fixed definition, but includes elements like the supremacy of the Constitution, the republican and democratic form of government, secular character, separation of powers, federal character, judicial review, etc., which the Supreme Court has identified over various cases.

47. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Fundamental

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Fundamental Duties are enlisted in Part IV-A of the Constitution of India.
2. The 44th Amendment to the Constitution of India added the word ‘Secular’ to the Preamble of the Constitution of India.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2022

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Statement 1 is correct, while statement 2 is incorrect. The Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution in Part IV-A. The words ‘Secular’ (along with ‘Socialist’ and ‘Integrity’) were added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment Act, not the 44th.

– Statement 1 is correct. Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee, and are listed in Part IV-A (Article 51A) of the Constitution.
– Statement 2 is incorrect. The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, added the words ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, and ‘Integrity’ to the Preamble. The 44th Amendment Act, 1978, primarily focused on changes related to emergency provisions and property rights.

The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, is often referred to as the ‘Mini-Constitution’ due to the large number of changes it made to the Constitution, including the addition of Fundamental Duties and changes to the Preamble.

48. Which one of the following is NOT vested in the Union by the Constitut

Which one of the following is NOT vested in the Union by the Constitution (Fortieth Amendment) Act?

All mines and minerals lying in the ocean within its territorial waters

All resources of the exclusive economic zone

Fisheries

All things of value in the ocean within its continental shelf

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2020

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The correct answer is Fisheries.

The Constitution (Fortieth Amendment) Act, 1976, inserted a new Article 297 into the Constitution. This article declared that all lands, minerals, and other things of value underlying the ocean within the territorial waters, the continental shelf, or the exclusive economic zone of India, and all other resources of the exclusive economic zone, shall vest in the Union and be held for the purposes of the Union. Options A, B, and D (Mines and minerals in territorial waters, All resources of the EEZ, All things of value in the continental shelf) are directly covered by the vesting provisions introduced by this amendment. While fisheries resources are part of the “resources of the exclusive economic zone” (B), the term “Fisheries” itself (C) might refer more broadly to the activity or sector, whose legislative competence (Entry 57, Union List: Fishing and fisheries beyond territorial waters) existed prior to the 40th Amendment. The Act primarily vested the *property rights* over the resources and areas.

Article 297 solidified the Union’s ownership and control over resources in India’s maritime zones. While it vests the resources crucial for fisheries in the EEZ, the comprehensive regulation and management of fisheries as an activity involves legislative powers that were already largely within the Union’s domain for areas beyond territorial waters. The question asks what was *not vested by the Act*, implying a direct vesting of property rights or control. Options A, B, and D represent categories of property or resources directly vested by the amendment.

49. Which one of the following amendments to the Constitution of India has

Which one of the following amendments to the Constitution of India has introduced reservations in education and in public employment for people from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of society ?

The Constitution (101st Amendment) Act

The Constitution (102nd Amendment) Act

The Constitution (122nd Amendment) Act

The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act

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UPSC CDS-2 – 2023

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The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019, introduced reservations in education and public employment for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of society. It amended Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution by inserting clause (6) in both articles, empowering the state to make special provisions for the advancement of any economically weaker sections of citizens, including reservations up to 10% in educational institutions and government jobs.

– This amendment provided a basis for reservation solely on economic criteria, separate from existing reservations based on social and educational backwardness (for SCs, STs, and OBCs).
– The reservation is in addition to the existing reservations.
– The criteria for defining EWS are notified by the government.

The 101st Amendment Act introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The 102nd Amendment Act granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). The 122nd Amendment Bill was related to GST but it was not passed as the Act. The 103rd Amendment is specifically for EWS reservation.

50. By which one of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts, was the A

By which one of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts, was the Article 21A (Right to Education) inserted into the Constitution of India ?

83rd Amendment Act

84th Amendment Act

85th Amendment Act

86th Amendment Act

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2022

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Article 21A, which enshrines the Right to Education as a Fundamental Right, was inserted into the Constitution by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002.

The 86th Amendment Act, 2002, made elementary education a fundamental right for children between the ages of 6 and 14. It also changed Article 45 (Directive Principle of State Policy) and added a new fundamental duty under Article 51A, making it a duty of parents or guardians to provide opportunities for education to their child or ward.

Following the 86th Amendment, the Parliament enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) to provide the legal framework for the implementation of Article 21A.