Significant Constitutional Amendments (1st, 7th, 42nd, 44th, 73rd, 74th, 86th, 101st, 103rd Amendments)
Indian Polity › Constitutional Amendment · Topic 9.6
Significant amendments include the 1st (Ninth Schedule), 7th (reorganisation of states), 42nd (Mini-Constitution), 44th (repair), 73rd and 74th (local government), 86th (education), 101st (GST) and 103rd (EWS reservation).
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Polity · Constitutional Amendment
At a Glance
- What it is Nine major amendments and what each changed
- Most comprehensive 42nd Amendment (1976), called the Mini-Constitution
- Local government 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992)
- Recent 101st (GST, 2016) and 103rd (EWS reservation, 2019)
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Polity: Constitutional Amendment
Where Does It Fit?
This is the last topic of the category on Constitutional Amendment. Among the many constitutional amendments made since 1951, these nine, from the 1st to the 103rd Amendment, reshaped fundamental rights, the states, the Preamble, local government, education, taxation and reservation.
The Nine Amendments at a Glance
| Amendment | Key changes |
|---|---|
| 1st, 1951 | Special provisions for backward classes; saving of estate-acquisition laws; added the Ninth Schedule; added three grounds of restriction on speech (public order, friendly relations with foreign states, incitement to an offence) and made restrictions “reasonable”; protected state trading and nationalisation |
| 7th, 1956 | Abolished Part A, B, C and D states and reorganised them into 14 states and 6 Union territories; extended high court jurisdiction to Union territories; common high court for two or more states |
| 42nd, 1976 | The Mini-Constitution: added socialist, secular and integrity to the Preamble; Fundamental Duties (Part IVA); President bound by cabinet advice; tribunals (Part XIVA); froze seats on 1971 census till 2001; term of Lok Sabha extended to 6 years; Directive Principles over some Fundamental Rights; three new Directive Principles; President’s rule up to one year; deployment of armed forces; shifted subjects to the Concurrent List |
| 44th, 1978 | Restored five-year term of Lok Sabha and assemblies; replaced internal disturbance with armed rebellion; written cabinet recommendation for emergency; deleted right to property from Fundamental Rights; Articles 20 and 21 not suspendable in emergency; restored powers of courts |
| 73rd, 1992 | Constitutional status to panchayati raj: new Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule with 29 functional items |
| 74th, 1992 | Constitutional status to urban local bodies: Part IX-A and the Twelfth Schedule with 18 functional items |
| 86th, 2002 | Article 21A on elementary education; Article 45 changed; Fundamental Duty in Article 51A(k) |
| 101st, 2016 | Paved the way for the goods and services tax regime, with concurrent taxing powers and a GST Council |
| 103rd, 2019 | Special provision for economically weaker sections, with up to 10% reservation in educational admission and in public posts, in addition to existing reservations |
Why These Amendments Matter
The 1st Amendment answered court judgments on property and speech and added the Ninth Schedule. The 7th Amendment gave the states their present shape after the States Reorganisation. The 42nd was the most comprehensive and gave effect to the Swaran Singh Committee recommendations, while the 44th, enacted by the Janata Government, nullified some of its distortions. The 73rd and 74th created the third tier of government. The 86th, 101st and 103rd, in the last quarter century, changed education, taxation and reservation.
For revision, link each amendment to its subject: the 1st to speech and the Ninth Schedule, the 7th to the map of states, the 42nd and 44th to the Preamble, the term of the Lok Sabha and the emergency provisions, the 73rd and 74th to Parts IX and IXA, the 86th to Article 21A, the 101st to GST and the 103rd to economic reservation.
Reading the Amendments by Theme
| Theme | Amendments |
|---|---|
| Rights and property | 1st (restrictions on speech, Ninth Schedule), 44th (property removed from Part III), 86th (education) |
| States and federalism | 7th (reorganisation), 101st (GST and the Council) |
| Preamble and duties | 42nd (socialist, secular, integrity; Part IVA) |
| Local government | 73rd (panchayats), 74th (municipalities) |
| Social justice | 1st (backward classes), 103rd (economically weaker sections) |
Grouping by theme is the best way to remember them. For the 86th Amendment, note that Article 21A made free and compulsory education for children aged six to fourteen a Fundamental Right, while a new Fundamental Duty in Article 51A(k) asks parents to provide opportunities for education to their children.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Most-asked list The content of key amendments is asked as match-the-following
- Cross-category link Each connects to a topic in Rights, Duties, local government or finance
- Recent amendments 101st and 103rd are current-affairs linked
What Came Next?
The next category covers Emergency Provisions, beginning with the National Emergency under Article 352.
Key People and Terms
- Mini-Constitution The 42nd Amendment, the most comprehensive so far
- Ninth Schedule Added by the 1st Amendment
- Eleventh Schedule Panchayat functions, from the 73rd Amendment
- Twelfth Schedule Municipality functions, from the 74th Amendment
- GST Council Body created by the 101st Amendment
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- 1st: Ninth Schedule; 7th: states reorganised; 42nd: Mini-Constitution.
- 44th: 5 years restored, property out of Part III.
- 73rd and 74th: 1992; 29 and 18 items.
- 101st: GST (2016); 103rd: EWS (2019).
Do Not Confuse With
- 42nd and 44th The 44th undid some of the 42nd
- 73rd and 74th Rural panchayats versus urban municipalities
- 86th and 103rd Education right versus EWS reservation
Memory Hook
First schedules, seventh states, forty-second remakes, forty-fourth repairs, seventy-third and fourth localise.
Mains Angle
Questions on this topic usually ask about major amendments. Use these points to add depth.
- Responses to judgments The 1st Amendment answered rulings on property and speech
- Centralisation and repair 42nd Amendment and the 44th repair
- Decentralisation 73rd and 74th Amendments
- New policies 86th, 101st and 103rd
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the significance of the 42nd and 44th Amendments in the evolution of the Indian Constitution.”
How to Answer
- Introduction Why amendments matter.
- 42nd Major changes.
- 44th Corrections.
- Conclusion Balance between powers and rights.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Which amendment is called the Mini-Constitution?
The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 is called the Mini-Constitution because it is the most comprehensive amendment made so far. It added socialist, secular and integrity to the Preamble, added Fundamental Duties and gave effect to the Swaran Singh Committee recommendations.
What did the 44th Amendment Act, 1978 do?
It was enacted by the Janata Government to nullify distortions of the 42nd Amendment. It restored the five-year term, replaced internal disturbance with armed rebellion for emergency, deleted the right to property from Fundamental Rights and restored powers of the courts.
What did the 1st Amendment Act, 1951 add?
The 1st Amendment added the Ninth Schedule, enabled special provisions for backward classes, saved estate-acquisition laws, added three new grounds of restriction on free speech and protected state trading and nationalisation from challenge, besides adding special provisions for backward classes.
What did the 73rd and 74th Amendments do?
Both were in 1992. The 73rd gave constitutional status to panchayati raj, adding Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule with 29 items. The 74th gave it to urban local bodies, adding Part IX-A and the Twelfth Schedule with 18 items.
What did the 101st Amendment do?
The 101st Amendment Act, 2016 paved the way for the goods and services tax regime. It conferred concurrent taxing powers on Parliament and state legislatures for GST and led to the establishment of the GST Council.
What did the 103rd Amendment provide?
The 103rd Amendment Act, 2019 empowered the State to make special provision for economically weaker sections, with up to 10% reservation in educational institutions and in appointments or posts, in addition to the existing reservations.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Ninth Schedule was added by the 1st Amendment Act, 1951.
To protect land reform laws from review.
2 The 73rd Amendment added the Twelfth Schedule.
The 73rd added the Eleventh Schedule; the 74th added the Twelfth.
3 The 44th Amendment restored the five-year term of the Lok Sabha.
The 42nd had raised it to six years.
4 The 103rd Amendment introduced GST.
The 101st did; the 103rd provided EWS reservation.
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