Constitutional Amendment: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: The 6th Amendment relates to change in the Union List and State List with respect to raising of taxes while the 22nd Amendment allows the formation of autonomous states within Assam.

Option (b) is incorrect: The 13th Amendment provided special protection under Article 371A for the newly created State of Nagaland and the 38th Amendment empowers the President with authority to declare certain ordinances beyond judicial review.

Option (c) is correct: The 7th Amendment provided for the reorganization of states, which included adjustments to parliamentary representation. The 31st Amendment increased the number of Lok Sabha seats from 525 to 545, directly addressing the representation from states.

Option (d) is incorrect: The 11th Amendment concerns the election of the Vice President by Electoral College consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament, instead of election by a Joint Sitting of Parliament while the 42nd Amendment is known as the "Mini-Constitution" and introduced comprehensive changes to various aspects of the Constitution, including the Preamble and Directive Principles.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: The 39th Amendment Act primarily dealt with matters related to the elections of the President, Vice President, and disputes concerning the Prime Minister’s election.

Option (b) is incorrect: The 40th Amendment Act expanded the central government’s authority over certain properties and lands, exempting them from state legislative jurisdiction.

Option (c) is incorrect: 42nd Amendment Act also known as the "Mini Constitution introduced significant changes, including emphasizing India’s status as a socialist secular republic.

Option (d) is correct: The 44th Amendment, enacted in 1978 during the Janata Party government, granted the President the authority to return any matter for reconsideration by the Council of Ministers. This amendment significantly reinforced the checks and balances within India’s parliamentary system.

Explanation

The 93rd Constitutional Amendment Bill (2002) was enacted to introduce free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 years as a fundamental right.This amendment inserted Article 21A into the Indian Constitution, mandating the state to provide free and compulsory education in this age group.It also made changes to Article 45 and Article 51A(k) to align with the newly introduced right.

Explanation

A is matched with 5: The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991) conferred the status of National Capital Territory (NCT) to Delhi, and provided for a legislative assembly for Delhi, with limited powers. B is matched with 1: The Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1994) established state-level Rent Tribunals, which have exclusive jurisdiction over rent-related matters, excluding the jurisdiction of all courts except the Supreme Court under Article 136. C is matched with 4: The Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000) provided for accepting the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission. D is matched with 2: The Constitution (Eighty-third Amendment) Act, 2000) clarified that there are no reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) in Panchayats or legislative bodies in Arunachal Pradesh, and there are no provisions for SC reservations in government services in the state.

Explanation

The 73rd Constitution Amendment Act of 1992, commonly referred to as the Panchayati Raj Act, was a landmark legislation aimed at empowering local self-governance in India, especially at the grassroots level. Institutions were created to function at three levels: village, intermediate (block), and district levels, with the goal of decentralizing power and fostering local self-governance. It sought to ensure effective economic and social development through empowered local bodies. The Act aimed to empower rural areas by providing constitutional status to Panchayats, enhancing their role in local governance, economic development, and social justice.