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

Most of the provisions of the Indian Constitution can be amended by

  1. a simple majority vote of each of the two Houses of the Parliament.

  2. a majority of two-thirds of the total membership of each of the two Houses of the Parliament.

  3. a majority of the total membership of each of the two Houses of Parliament and by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting in each House.

  4. a majority of the total membership of each of the two Houses of Parliament and by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting supported by Legislatures in one-half of the states.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Most of the provisions of the Indian Constitution can be amended by a majority of two-thirds of the total membership of each of the two Houses of the Parliament.

Multiple choice

The 42nd Amendment to the Indian constitution is notable because it gives

  1. primacy to Fundamental Rights over Directive Principles

  2. primacy to Directive Principles over Fundamental Rights

  3. special treatment to Jammu and Kashmir

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

The 42nd Amendment to the Indian constitution is notable because it gives primacy to Directive Principles over Fundamental Rights.

Multiple choice

A 2003 enactment provided for doing away with the requirement of a candidate to be resident of a Particular state, to contest the election to the Rajya Sahha. In 2006 the Supreme Court of India has held such enactment:

  1. Unconstitutional

  2. Constitutional

  3. Partly valid end partly invalid

  4. Subject to judicial review
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 2003 enactment (likely related to the Rajya Sabha elections) removed the domicile requirement for candidates. In 2006, the Supreme Court upheld this enactment as constitutional, ruling that Parliament has the authority to modify election qualifications under Article 84 of the Constitution. Option B is correct as the Court affirmed the legislative competence of Parliament.

Multiple choice

In which of the constitutional Amendment, it has been laid down that the total number of Ministers including Prime Minister in the Union council of Ministers, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total members of the House of people?

  1. The Constitution [Eighty-Eighth Amendment] Act

  2. The Constitution [Eighty-Ninth Amendment] Act

  3. The Constitution [Ninety-first Amendment] Act

  4. The Constitution [Ninety-Third Amendment] Act
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Constitution (91st Amendment) Act, 2003 added Article 75(1)(b) limiting the Council of Ministers to 15% of Lok Sabha strength. This was based on the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) recommendations and followed the Supreme Court's observations in the Lok Sabha speaker case. The 88th, 89th, and 93rd Amendments dealt with other matters. Option C is correct.

Multiple choice

In which of the constitutional Amendments it has been laid down that the total number of ministers including Prime-Minister in the union council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total members of the House of People?

  1. The Constitution [Ninety-First Amendment] Act

  2. The Constitution [Ninety-Third Amendment] Act

  3. The Constitution [Eighty-Eighth Amendment] Act

  4. The Constitution [Eight-Ninth Amendment] Act
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 introduced Article 75(1B) limiting the total number of ministers (including Prime Minister) to 15% of the total strength of Lok Sabha. This was an anti-defection and good governance measure to prevent oversized councils of ministers and reduce expenditure on ministerial positions.

Multiple choice

Schedule IX was inserted in the Constitution of India by:

  1. 1st amendment 1951

  2. 42nd amendment 1976

  3. 44th amendment 1978

  4. 52nd amendment 1985
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Ninth Schedule was inserted by the First Amendment (1951) to protect land reform laws from judicial review. It was added after the Supreme Court struck down land reform laws in cases like Champakam Dorairajan. Articles 31A and 31B were also inserted to protect such laws. The schedule was meant to shield laws affecting property rights from fundamental rights challenges, though the Supreme Court later limited this immunity in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973).

Multiple choice

In which of the case the Question of Constitutional validity of section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act. 1955 came for consideration for the first time?

  1. Digvijay Singh W Pratap Kumari

  2. T. Sareeth Vs. T, Venkat Subbiaiah

  3. Saroj Rani Vs. Sudaishan Kumar

  4. Yamunahai Adliav Vs. Anantrao Shivram Adha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In Saroj Rani Vs. Sudarshan Kumar (1984), the Supreme Court first considered the constitutional validity of Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (restitution of conjugal rights). The court upheld its validity, though this position was later reversed. Section 9 allows a spouse to petition for the return of their partner if they have withdrawn from married life without reasonable cause.

Multiple choice

The most profound influence on the drafting of the Indian Constitution was exercised by the

  1. US Constitution

  2. British Constitution

  3. Government of India Act, 1935

  4. Irish Constitution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Government of India Act, 1935 was the most profound influence on the Indian Constitution. It provided the basic framework - federal structure, provincial autonomy, emergency provisions, and administrative details. About 75% of the Constitution is derived from this Act. While the US Constitution influenced fundamental rights and judicial review, and the British Constitution influenced parliamentary democracy, the 1935 Act's structural framework was dominant.

Multiple choice

In what way(s) is the Indian Constitution rigid?

  1. The provisions of the Constitution can be amended with two-thirds majority of the Parliament alone.

  2. The Centre alone can initiate amendments.

  3. The provisions regarding constitutional relationship between Union and State Governments can be amended only with the joint consent of Central and State Legislatures.

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Multiple choice

The directive regarding protection of forests and wildlife was

  1. added by the 42nd Amendment Act

  2. added by the 39th Amendment Act

  3. added by the 44th Amendment Act

  4. provided by the original Constitution itself
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The 42nd Amendment Act (1976) added Article 48A to the Directive Principles, which specifically deals with protection of forests and wildlife. This was part of the environmental protection amendments during the Emergency period. The original Constitution did not contain this provision.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The Fundamental Duties were inserted in Article 51A of our Constitution in 1976 by 42nd Amendment Act.
  2. In the original Constitution of India, there was no mention of these duties.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Fundamental Duties were inserted in Article 51A of our Constitution in 1976 by 42nd Amendment Act. In the original Constitution in 1950, there was no mention of these duties.