Important Amendments to Indian Constitution, Indian Polity Notes

Indian Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and officially became effective on 26 January 1950. In this blog, we will see some of the most important amendments to the Indian constitution and its features. Amendments to the Indian Constitution are made according to the needs of the time but the Constitution has remained intact and its basic premises have not changed. Judiciary plays an important role in protecting the Constitution and also in interpreting the Constitution whenever required.

Important Amendments to the Indian Constitution – Part 1

The Indian Constitution has been amended several times to meet the changing needs of the country. This section covers key early amendments that shaped the political and legal framework of modern India.

AmendmentYearFeatures
1st1950Added restrictions on freedom of speech; inserted Ninth Schedule, Articles 31A and 31B to protect land reform laws.
7th1956Reorganised states; introduced union territories; established new High Courts.
10th1961Included Dadra and Nagar Haveli as a Union Territory.
11th1961Stated that the election of President or Vice-President cannot be challenged due to vacancies in the electoral college.
12th1962Included Goa, Daman, and Diu as Union Territories; amended Article 240.
13th1962Formed the state of Nagaland under an agreement with the Naga People’s Convention.
14th1962Included Pondicherry as a Union Territory; legislature provision for Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, and others.
22nd1969Created the autonomous state of Meghalaya within Assam.
24th1971Gave Parliament full power to amend any part of the Constitution, including Fundamental Rights.
31st1973Increased Lok Sabha seats from 500 to 525; reduced UT representation from 25 to 20.
35th1974Granted Sikkim the status of an associate state of India.
36th1975Made Sikkim a full-fledged Indian state.
42nd1976Added the terms ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, and ‘Integrity’; introduced Fundamental Duties; made Directive Principles stronger than Fundamental Rights.
44th1978Removed Right to Property as a fundamental right; added ‘armed rebellion’ as a reason for declaring emergency.

Important Amendments to the Indian Constitution – Part 2

As India progressed, newer amendments were introduced to address political reforms, statehood demands, reservation policies, and economic changes. This section highlights major amendments from 1985 onwards.

AmendmentYearFeatures
52nd1985Introduced the anti-defection law to prevent political defections.
53rd1986Granted full statehood to Mizoram with a minimum of 40 MLAs.
55th1986Granted statehood to Arunachal Pradesh.
56th1987Goa became a state; Daman and Diu continued as a Union Territory.
61st1989Lowered the voting age from 21 years to 18 years.
66th1990Added various state land reform laws to the Ninth Schedule.
69th1991Changed Delhi’s name to the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
70th1992Included elected MLAs of Union Territories in the Presidential election electoral college.
71st1992Added Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali to the Eighth Schedule.
73rd1993Gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions.
74th1993Strengthened local governance in urban areas (municipalities).
86th2002Inserted Article 21A to make free and compulsory education a fundamental right for children aged 6–14.
87th2003Used 2001 Census for the distribution of parliamentary seats among states.
91st2003Limited the size of the Council of Ministers to 15% of the total legislature.
92nd2003Added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santali to the Eighth Schedule.
94th2006Proposed a separate Tribal Welfare Minister for Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
100th2015Allowed the exchange of enclaves and territories between India and Bangladesh.
101st2017Introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST); added Articles 246A, 269A, and 279A.
102nd2018Gave constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.
103rd2019Provided 10% EWS reservation in education and jobs.
104th2020Extended SC/ST reservation in legislatures; removed Anglo-Indian reserved seats.

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Important Constitutional Amendments of India – FAQs

Q1. What are constitutional amendments in India?

Ans. Amendments are formal changes made to the Indian Constitution to meet evolving legal and social needs.

Q2. How many times has the Indian Constitution been amended?

Ans. As of 2025, the Constitution of India has been amended 104 times.

Q3. Why are amendments important in the Indian Constitution?

Ans. They allow the Constitution to adapt to new challenges while preserving its core principles.

Q4. What is the significance of the 73rd and 74th Amendments?

Ans. They gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies, strengthening grassroots democracy.

Q5. What is the latest amendment to the Indian Constitution?

Ans. The 104th Amendment (2020) extended SC/ST reservation in legislatures and removed Anglo-Indian reserved seats.



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