Civics Polity

Constitutional Amendments

599 Questions

Constitutional amendments questions evaluate knowledge of the historical adoption of the Indian Constitution and its subsequent modifications. Key themes include specific amendment acts, the insertion of new articles, and changes to the Preamble. Mastery of this topic is essential for general awareness sections in UPSC and state civil services exams.

Major amendment actsFundamental rights amendmentsConstitution adoptionPreamble amendmentsNew article insertions

Constitutional Amendments Questions

Multiple choice

What is the 104th Constitution Amendment Bill related to?

  1. Abolition of Legislative Councils in certain states

  2. Introduction of dual citizenship for persons of Indian origin living outside India

  3. Providing quota to socially and educationally backward classes in private educational institutions

  4. Providing quota for religious minorities in the services under the Central Government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian Parliament has passed the 104th Constitution Amendment Bill, providing reservations for the socially and educationally backward classes, besides the Scheduled Classes and Scheduled Tribes, in all private aided and unaided educational institutions.

Multiple choice

Which of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts seeks that the size of the Councils of Ministers at the Centre and in a State must not exceed 15 per cent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha and the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State, respectively?

  1. 91st

  2. 93rd

  3. 95th

  4. 97th
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The above provision has been added by 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.         

Multiple choice

Under which of the following Constitution Amendment Acts were four languages added to the list of languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, thereby raising their number to 22?

  1. Constitution (Ninetieth Amendment) Act

  2. Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act

  3. Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act

  4. Constitution (Ninety-third Amendment) Act
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

92nd Amendment Act, 2003 added Bodo, Santhali, Maithali and Dogri languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. Originally there were 14 languages in the 8th schedule. 21st Amendment Act added Sindhi language. 71st Amendment Act added Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali languages.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by an introduction of a bill in the Lok Sabha only.
  2. If such an amendment seeks to make changes in the federal character of the Constitution, the amendment also requires to be ratified by the legislature of all the States of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

An amendment to the constitution of India is introduced as a bill in the Parliament. It then must be approved by both the houses of Parliament. The amendments must then be ratified by the legislatures of at least one half of the states (not all the states). Once all these stages are complete, the amendment is bound to receive the assent of the President of India.

Multiple choice

The 42nd amendment of the Indian constitution is notable because it gives

  1. Primacy to fundamental rights over directive principles

  2. Primacy to directive principles over the fundamental rights

  3. Special treatment to Jammu & Kashmir

  4. Special treatment to Sikkim
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 42nd Amendment (1976) gave primacy to Directive Principles over Fundamental Rights, fundamentally altering the constitutional balance. It also added the words 'socialist, secular' to the preamble and established a more centralized federal structure during the Emergency period.

Multiple choice

Fundamental Duties were added in the Constitution of India by the _____.

  1. 42nd amendment

  2. 43rd amendment

  3. 44th amendment

  4. 45th amendment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 during the Emergency period. These duties (Article 51A) were inspired by the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee recommendations and were later reiterated by the Supreme Court as integral to constitutional interpretation. The 42nd Amendment was comprehensive and made numerous changes.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct option for the given question.

Lok Sabha on May 14, 2007 passed the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2007 to amend the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act of

  1. 1948

  2. 1956

  3. 1961

  4. 1965
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act was originally enacted in 1956 to regulate the securities market in India. The 2007 Amendment Bill sought to update this landmark legislation. Options A (1948), C (1961), and D (1965) are incorrect as they do not match the historical enactment year.

Multiple choice

The Constitution of India was adopted on

  1. 1950 Jan 26

  2. 1946 Dec 9

  3. 1949 Nov 26

  4. 1947 Jul 22

  5. 1975 Jan 1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. This date is celebrated as Constitution Day. The Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day. November 26, 1949 marks the final adoption, not enforcement.

Multiple choice

The Constitution of India came into force on

  1. 1950 Jan 26

  2. 1946 Dec 9

  3. 1949 Nov 26

  4. 1947 Jul 22

  5. 1975 Jan 1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day. The Constituent Assembly adopted it on November 26, 1949, but its enforcement began on January 26, 1950. This date was chosen because it was the anniversary of Purna Swaraj Day (1930).

Multiple choice

The preamble of Constitution of India was amended by _____ Amendment.

  1. 44th

  2. 42nd

  3. 24th

  4. 56th

  5. 41st
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 amended the Preamble to add the words 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to describe India as a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic'. This was a significant amendment passed during the Emergency period. The 44th Amendment did not touch the Preamble, and the other amendments listed are irrelevant.

Multiple choice

The Right of Lok Sabha to amend any part of the constitution was affirmed by _____ Amendment.

  1. 44th

  2. 42nd

  3. 24th

  4. 56th

  5. 41st
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The 24th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1971 affirmed Parliament's power to amend any part of the Constitution, including Fundamental Rights. This was in response to the Golaknath case (1967) where the Supreme Court had held that Fundamental Rights cannot be amended. The 24th Amendment clarified that Parliament has the power to amend any provision of the Constitution. The 42nd and 44th Amendments dealt with different aspects.

Multiple choice

The lengthiest amendment of Constitution is _____ Amendment.

  1. 44th

  2. 42nd

  3. 24th

  4. 56th

  5. 41st
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 is indeed the lengthiest amendment to the Constitution, as it made 59 different amendments and added several new articles. It dealt with fundamental rights, directive principles, federal structure, judiciary, and emergency provisions. The 44th Amendment was also comprehensive but not as extensive as the 42nd. The other amendments listed were not as comprehensive.

Multiple choice

The State of Goa and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu was constituted by _____ Amendment.

  1. 44th

  2. 42nd

  3. 43nd

  4. 56th

  5. 41st
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The 56th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1987 provided for the full statehood of Goa and reorganized Daman and Diu as a separate Union Territory. This followed the Annexation of Goa in 1961 and earlier arrangements. The 44th Amendment dealt with Fundamental Rights, while the 42nd Amendment was the comprehensive Emergency-era amendment. None of the other amendments listed dealt with Goa's statehood.