1
Which specific amendment to the Indian Constitution substituted the words 'Unity of the Nation' with 'Unity and Integrity of the Nation' in the Preamble?
⚖️ Preamble & Constitutional Amendments
Preamble & Constitutional Amendments
By Priya Sharma · Static GK Expert
20 Questions Indian Polity
A comprehensive collection of high-level static GK questions focusing on the philosophy of the Preamble and the intricacies of the Constitutional Amendment process in India.
2
In which landmark case did the Supreme Court explicitly state that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution and can be amended under Article 368?
3
Which Constitutional Amendment Act curtailed the power of Judicial Review and limited the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Courts?
4
The 'Basic Structure' doctrine was first propounded by the Supreme Court in which context?
5
Under Article 368, which of the following provisions can be amended by a 'simple majority' of the Parliament?
6
Which Constitutional Amendment provided for the 'Right to Property' to be removed from the list of Fundamental Rights?
7
Which of the following terms in the Preamble was NOT added by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976?
8
The power of Parliament to amend the Constitution under Article 368 does not include the power to alter the 'Basic Structure'. This was affirmed in:
9
Which amendment act is known as the 'Anti-Defection Law'?
10
Which amendment act lowered the voting age from 21 years to 18 years?
11
Which amendment gave constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions?
12
The ideals of 'Liberty, Equality and Fraternity' in the Preamble were inspired by which revolution?
13
Which amendment act introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India?
14
What is the procedure for an amendment that seeks to change the federal structure of the Constitution?
15
Which of the following is NOT part of the 'Basic Structure' of the Constitution as defined by the judiciary?
16
Which amendment act granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)?
17
Which amendment act provided 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)?
18
Which constitutional amendment act resulted in the creation of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), which was later struck down?
19
The 'Preamble' of the Indian Constitution is based on which of the following documents?
20
Which amendment extended the reservation for SCs and STs in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for another 10 years?
Done early? Submit to see your results.
Important Notes — Preamble & Constitutional Amendments
The Preamble of the Indian Constitution
The Preamble serves as the soul, identity card, and key to the interpretation of the Constitution of India. It is based on the Objectives Resolution moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946, and adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947.
Core Philosophy and Legal Status
- Source of Authority: The Preamble derives its authority from the people of India ("We, the People of India").
- Nature of State: It declares India a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic.
- Objectives: It secures Justice (social, economic, political), Liberty (thought, expression, belief, faith, worship), Equality (status, opportunity), and Fraternity.
- Date of Adoption: November 26, 1949.
- Legal Status: In the Berubari Union case (1960), the Supreme Court held the Preamble is not part of the Constitution. However, in the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), the court rejected the earlier opinion and held that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution and can be amended under Article 368, provided the "Basic Structure" is not altered.
- Amendments: The Preamble has been amended only once by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976), which added three new words: Socialist, Secular, and Integrity.
Constitutional Amendments: Article 368
The procedure for the amendment of the Constitution is laid down in Part XX, Article 368. The Indian Constitution is a synthesis of rigidity (requiring special majority) and flexibility (requiring simple majority).
Types of Amendments
- Simple Majority: Changes like admission of new states, quorum, and rules of procedure.
- Special Majority: Required for most provisions, needing a majority of the total membership of each House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
- Special Majority + Ratification: For federal provisions (e.g., Election of the President, Supreme Court/High Courts, Goods and Services Tax Council), ratification by at least half of the state legislatures is required.
Important Amendment Acts for Competitive Exams
- 1st Amendment (1951): Added the 9th Schedule to protect land reform laws from judicial review.
- 42nd Amendment (1976): Known as the "Mini-Constitution"; added Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) and changed the Preamble.
- 44th Amendment (1978): Deleted the Right to Property from the list of Fundamental Rights (now a legal right under Article 300A).
- 52nd Amendment (1985): Added the 10th Schedule (Anti-Defection Law).
- 61st Amendment (1989): Reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years.
- 73rd & 74th Amendments (1992): Granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies, adding Schedules 11 and 12.
- 101st Amendment (2016): Introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- 103rd Amendment (2019): Provided 10% EWS reservation.
You may also try
About the Author
PS
Priya Sharma Static GK Expert
Indian History · Geography · Polity & Economy Specialist
With 8+ years of teaching static GK for competitive exams, Priya has helped thousands of students master the foundational subjects that appear year after year in UPSC, SSC, and Railway exams. She focuses on making history, geography, and polity approachable through well-structured MCQs and memorable explanations.
