Polity: Constitutional Amendments

What is a Constitutional Amendment?

Amending ther Constitution of India is the process of making changes to the country's fundamental or supreme law.

This process has been borrowed from the Constitution of South Africa.

It is neither completely flexible (like in the UK) nor rigid (like in the USA), but a mixed form of both.

The Parliament can amend the Constitution, but cannot amend the "basic straucture" of the Constitution. (Reference- Keshavananda Bharati vs. State of Kerala (1973))

Procedure of Constitutional Amendment - Article 368 (Part-20)

1. Amendment of the Bill

2. Who can introduce it?

3. Role of the President in Introduction

4. Type of Required Majority 

Special Majority

5. Joint Sitting (Article 108)

6. Amendment in Federal Provisions

7. Role of the President after the Passage of the Bill

24th Constitutional Amendment

8. Presentation in State Legislatures

Types of Majority:

Ordinary Majority

Special Majority

Major Constitutional Amendment Acts:

• 1st Amendment
• 7th Amendment
• 10th Amendment
• 14th Amendment
• 26th Amendment
• 27th Amendment
• 35th Amendment
• 36th Amendment
• 42nd Amendment
• 44th Amendment
• 52nd Amendment
• 73rd Amendment
• 74th Amendment
• 95th Amendment
• 96th Amendment
• 97th Amendment
• 99th Amendment
• 100th Amendment
• 101st Amendment
• 102nd Amendment
• 103rd Amendment
• 104th Amendment
• 105th Amendment
• 106th Amendment