Civics Polity

Constitutional Amendments

529 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

Following are the salient features of the amendments: (a) Panchayat in rural areas and municipalities in towns (Urban). (b) A three-tier system for states with a population over 2.5 million. (c) 1/3 of seats for women. (d) The term of office for elected members of these bodies is 3 years. (e) The local governments to generate resources from various taxes tolls, rent, etc.

Which of the above is/are incorrect?

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b)

  3. Only (c)

  4. Only (b) and (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

According to the provisions laid down in the amendments, three-tier system will be effected in states with a population of 2 millions/20 lakhs and that the term of office of elected representatives of the local bodies will be 5 years.

Multiple choice

Arrange the introduction of amendments in the constitution in chronological order:

Codes: i. Words ‘Socialist and Secular’ were added to preamble ii. Provision for reservation in promotion in favour of SC/ST community iii. Right to education of children of the age of six to fourteen years as a separate fundamental right iv. For proclamation of emergency, the decision of the Union Cabinet should be communicated to the President in writing

  1. i, ii, iii, iv

  2. i, iv, iii, ii

  3. ii, iv, iii, i

  4. i, iv, ii, iii
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Words, ‘Socialist and Secular’ were added to preamble in 42nd amendment. For proclamation of emergency, the decision of the Union Cabinet should be communicated to the President in writing was introduced in 44th amendment. Provisions for reservation in promotion in favour of SC/ST community were added in 77th amendment in the constitution. Right to education of children of the age of six to fourteen years as a separate fundamental right was added in 86th amendment.

Multiple choice

The Constitution Review Commission was headed by

  1. M. N. Venkatachaliah

  2. P. N. Bhagwati

  3. V. Balakrishna Eradi

  4. Nagender Singh
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The National Commission headed by Justice Shri M.N. Venkatachaliah, to review the working of the Constitution, was set up to find out how the Constitution can respond to the changing needs of efficient, smooth and effective system of governance and socio-economic development of modern India within the framework of Parliamentary democracy, and to recommend changes, if any, that are required in the provisions of the Constitution without interfering with its basic structure or features.

Multiple choice

The 86th Amendment Act deals with

  1. education

  2. reservation

  3. official language

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

With a view to making right to free and compulsory education a fundamental right, the Act inserts a new article, namely, Article 21A conferring on all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years the right to free and compulsory education. The Act amends in Part-III, Part -IV and Part-IV(A) of the constitution.

Multiple choice

By which amendment was the voting age reduced to 18 from 21?

  1. 52nd amendment

  2. 58th amendment

  3. 61st amendment

  4. 70th amendment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Constitution (61st Amendment) Act, 1989: It lowers the voting age from 21 to 18 to give wider representation and involve the present day literate youth, in the mainstream of political life of the nation.

Multiple choice

The Constitution's 76th Amendment Act placed the Tamil Nadu Bill of Reservation under the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution. In this bill, how much reservation was introduced by Tamil Nadu government in education and public services?

  1. 34%

  2. 51%

  3. 63%

  4. 69%
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Constitution (76th Amendment) Act, 1994: This amendment places the Tamil Nadu Bill of Reservation within the preview of the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution. The government of Tamil Nadu reserved18% to Scheduled Castes, 1% to Scheduled Tribes and 50% to Other Backward Castes (total 69%) in education institutions and public employments.

Multiple choice

Which Constitution Amendment Act(s) is/are also sometimes referred to as a ‘Mini Constitution’?

  1. 40th Amendment Act

  2. 42nd Amendment Act

  3. 86th Amendment Act

  4. 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) is called the 'Mini Constitution' because it made sweeping changes to the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and constitutional structure. It added 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble and expanded fundamental duties.

Multiple choice

The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 was for

  1. the transformation of election commission from single to multi-member body

  2. lowering of voting age from 21 years to 18 years

  3. prescribing qualifications for the Chief Election Commissioner

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 came into force in 1989 and the voting age was lowered from 21 years to 18 years.

Multiple choice

Consider the following:1. Delhi

  1. J&K
  2. Meghalaya
  3. Mizoram
  4. Nagaland The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act is not applicable to which of the above states?

  1. Only 2

  2. Only 3, 4 and 5

  3. Only 2, 3, 4 and 5

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

73rd Amendment act does not apply to the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram and certain other areas such as schedule areas of 9 states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh and tribal areas in the 4 states Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.

Multiple choice

The Constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act was passed by

  1. Rajiv Gandhi Government

  2. V. P. Singh Government

  3. Narasimha Rao Government

  4. Chander Shekhar Government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act, passed in 1992 by the Narasimha Rao government, came into force on April 24, 1993. It was meant to provide constitutional sanction to establish "democracy at the grassroots level as it is at the state level or national level".