Constitutional amendments are a high-scoring polity topic: questions usually give a change (like GST or the voting age) and ask which amendment made it. This guide lists the most important amendments with the year and what they did.
How the Constitution is amended (Article 368)
| Type | Majority needed | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Simple majority (outside Article 368) | Majority of members present and voting | New states (Art. 2–3), citizenship, quorum, salaries |
| Special majority | Majority of total membership and two-thirds of members present and voting, in each House | Fundamental Rights, DPSP |
| Special majority + states’ ratification | Special majority + approval by at least half of the state legislatures | President’s election, GST, Supreme Court/High Courts, representation of states |
- An amendment bill can be introduced in either House of Parliament, but not in state legislatures.
- There is no joint sitting for a constitutional amendment bill if the Houses disagree.
- The President must give assent (made compulsory by the 24th Amendment, 1971).
- The amending procedure was borrowed from South Africa.
Most important amendments
| Amendment | Year | Key change |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1951 | Added Ninth Schedule (to protect land reform laws); reasonable restrictions on free speech |
| 7th | 1956 | Reorganised states on linguistic basis: 14 states and 6 UTs |
| 10th | 1961 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli added as UT |
| 12th | 1962 | Goa, Daman and Diu added as UT |
| 24th | 1971 | Parliament can amend any part including Fundamental Rights; President’s assent compulsory |
| 31st | 1973 | Lok Sabha seats raised from 525 to 545 |
| 36th | 1975 | Sikkim became a full state |
| 42nd | 1976 | “Mini Constitution“: added Socialist, Secular, Integrity to the Preamble; Fundamental Duties (Part IVA); tribunals; moved 5 subjects (incl. education, forests) to the Concurrent List |
| 44th | 1978 | Right to property removed from Fundamental Rights (made legal right, Art. 300A); “internal disturbance” replaced by “armed rebellion” for emergency |
| 52nd | 1985 | Anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule) |
| 61st | 1989 | Voting age reduced from 21 to 18 |
| 69th | 1991 | Special status to Delhi as National Capital Territory (Art. 239AA) |
| 71st | 1992 | Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali added to the Eighth Schedule |
| 73rd | 1992 | Panchayati Raj (Part IX, Eleventh Schedule) |
| 74th | 1992 | Urban local bodies / municipalities (Part IXA, Twelfth Schedule) |
| 86th | 2002 | Right to education (Art. 21A); 11th Fundamental Duty |
| 91st | 2003 | Size of Council of Ministers limited to 15% of the Lok Sabha / assembly; defection by splits no longer protected |
| 92nd | 2003 | Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali added to the Eighth Schedule (total 22 languages) |
| 97th | 2011 | Co-operative societies (Part IXB; right to form co-operatives under Art. 19) |
| 99th | 2014 | NJAC for appointing judges (struck down by the Supreme Court in October 2015) |
| 100th | 2015 | Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh (exchange of enclaves) |
| 101st | 2016 | GST introduced; Art. 246A, 269A, 279A (GST Council) |
| 102nd | 2018 | Constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes (Art. 338B) |
| 103rd | 2019 | 10% reservation for EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) |
| 104th | 2020 | SC/ST reservation in Lok Sabha and assemblies extended till 2030; Anglo-Indian nominated seats ended |
| 105th | 2021 | Restored states’ power to identify OBCs (SEBC lists) |
| 106th | 2023 | Women’s reservation: one-third seats in Lok Sabha, state assemblies and Delhi assembly (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) |
The 106th Amendment is the latest amendment enacted (as far as reported). Women’s reservation will come into effect after the next census and delimitation.
Pending and recent amendment bills
| Bill | Status (as reported) |
|---|---|
| 130th Amendment Bill, 2025 | Provides removal of the PM, CMs and ministers held in custody for 30 consecutive days on serious charges; referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee |
| 131st Amendment Bill, 2026 | Aimed at implementing women’s reservation through delimitation; defeated in the Lok Sabha in April 2026 (did not get the special majority) |
| One Nation One Election (129th Amendment Bill, 2024) | For simultaneous elections; under examination by a JPC |
Bill numbers differ from Act numbers: a bill gets an Act number only after it is passed and gets the President’s assent.
Landmark cases linked to amendments
| Case | Year | Held |
|---|---|---|
| Shankari Prasad | 1951 | Parliament can amend Fundamental Rights |
| Golaknath | 1967 | Parliament cannot amend Fundamental Rights |
| Kesavananda Bharati | 1973 | Parliament can amend any part but cannot change the basic structure |
| Minerva Mills | 1980 | Limited amending power is itself part of the basic structure |
| Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record (NJAC case) | 2015 | Struck down the 99th Amendment (NJAC) |
| Janhit Abhiyan | 2022 | Upheld the 103rd Amendment (EWS quota) |
Exam-ready one-liners
- 1st Amendment (1951) added the Ninth Schedule.
- 7th Amendment (1956) reorganised states on a linguistic basis.
- 42nd Amendment (1976) is called the “Mini Constitution”.
- 44th Amendment (1978) removed the right to property from Fundamental Rights.
- 52nd Amendment (1985) brought the anti-defection law.
- 61st Amendment (1989) reduced the voting age to 18.
- 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992): panchayats and municipalities.
- 101st (2016): GST; 103rd (2019): EWS quota; 106th (2023): women’s reservation.
Related reading
Quiz: test yourself
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Based on the Constitution of India and Parliament records as reported. Status of pending bills may change; check legislative.gov.in and sansad.in.
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