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Important Constitutional Amendments of India

September 27, 2025
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1st Amendment (1951) – Added 9th Schedule to protect land reform laws; imposed reasonable restrictions on Freedom of Speech (Art. 19).

7th Amendment (1956)Reorganisation of States on linguistic basis; creation of Union Territories.

10th Amendment (1961)Goa, Daman & Diu included as Union Territories.

12th Amendment (1962)Puducherry incorporated into India.

13th Amendment (1962) – Created Nagaland with special status (Article 371A).

14th Amendment (1962) – Provided Legislative Assembly & Council of Ministers for Puducherry.

21st Amendment (1967)Sindhi added to the 8th Schedule.

24th Amendment (1971) – Parliament empowered to amend Fundamental Rights (In response to Golaknath Case (1967), not Kesavananda).

25th Amendment (1971) – Inserted Article 31C: DPSPs over Fundamental Rights (Arts. 14 & 19).

26th Amendment (1971)Abolition of Privy Purses of former rulers.

31st Amendment (1973) – Increased Lok Sabha seats from 525 to 545.

35th Amendment (1974)Sikkim made an Associate State of India.

36th Amendment (1975)Sikkim became the 22nd State of India.

38th Amendment (1975)Emergency proclamation made non-justiciable.

39th Amendment (1975) – Elections of President, VP, PM & Speaker placed beyond judicial review (during Emergency).

42nd Amendment (1976) – “Mini Constitution.” Added Socialist, Secular, Integrity to Preamble; Added Fundamental Duties (Art. 51A); Strengthened DPSPs; Curtailed judicial review.

43rd Amendment (1977) – Restored judiciary’s powers curtailed by the 42nd Amendment.

44th Amendment (1978) – Replaced internal disturbance with armed rebellion; strengthened Fundamental Rights.

52nd Amendment (1985)Anti-Defection Law; added 10th Schedule.

61st Amendment (1989)Voting age reduced from 21 to 18.

69th Amendment (1991)Delhi given special status as National Capital Territory (NCT).

73rd Amendment (1992)Panchayati Raj; added Part IX & 11th Schedule.

74th Amendment (1992)Municipalities; added Part IXA & 12th Schedule.

76th Amendment (1994)Tamil Nadu’s 69% reservation placed in 9th Schedule.

77th Amendment (1995)Reservation in promotion for SC/ST.

86th Amendment (2002)Right to Education made Fundamental Right (Art. 21A).

91st Amendment (2003) – Council of Ministers capped at 15%; strengthened Anti-Defection law.

92nd Amendment (2003) – Added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili & Santhali to 8th Schedule.

93rd Amendment (2005)OBC reservation in educational institutions (except minority institutions).

97th Amendment (2011)Co-operative societies as a Fundamental Right (Art. 19)
99th Amendment (2014)NJAC created; struck down in 2015 by Supreme Court.

100th Amendment (2015)India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement.

101st Amendment (2016) – Introduction of GST.

102nd Amendment (2018) – Constitutional status to NCBC.

103rd Amendment (2019)10% EWS reservation in education & jobs.

104th Amendment (2020) – SC/ST reservation extended till 2030; Anglo-Indian nomination abolished.

105th Amendment (2021) – States empowered to identify OBCs.

 

 

Most Important for Exams 

 

  • State Reorganisation → 7th Amendment (1956)

  • Panchayati Raj → 73rd Amendment (1992)

  • Municipalities → 74th Amendment (1992)

  • GST → 101st Amendment (2016)

  • Right to Education → 86th Amendment (2002)

  • Voting Age 18 → 61st Amendment (1989)

  • Anti-Defection Law → 52nd Amendment (1985)

  • Emergency Provisions → 42nd (1976) & 44th (1978)

  • EWS Reservation → 103rd Amendment (2019)