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

From which date did the Constitution of India come in to force?

  1. 26 January, 1950

  2. 15 August, 1947

  3. 20 January, 1950

  4. 26 January, 1947
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, celebrated as Republic Day. This date marks when India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the country's governing document.

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. balanced treatment to Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights

  4. special treatment to J&K
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 42nd Amendment (1976) gave primacy to Directive Principles over Fundamental Rights. This meant that if a law was made to implement a Directive Principle, it could not be challenged for violating Fundamental Rights. This was controversial and later partially reversed. The amendment did not give balanced treatment or special status to J&K.

Multiple choice

The 61st Constitution (Amendment) Act 1989 relates to

  1. the grant of special states to the Union Territory of Delhi

  2. deletion of the right to property from the list of fundamental rights

  3. the establishment of autonomous District Council in Tripura

  4. the lowering of minimum voting age from 21 to 18
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Constitution (61st Amendment) Act, 1989: It lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Multiple choice

Which constitutional amendment bifurcated the combined commission for SCs and STs into two separate bodies?

  1. 79th Amendment

  2. 61st Amendment

  3. 87th Amendment

  4. 89th Amendment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The 89th Constitutional Amendment (2003) bifurcated the combined National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes into two separate bodies - the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

Multiple choice

According to Constitution 83rd Amendment Act, the reservations of seats for Scheduled Castes provided under article 243D shall not apply to which state?

  1. Goa

  2. Mizoram

  3. Arunachal Pradesh

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

The 83rd Constitutional Amendment Act (2000) extended reservations for Scheduled Castes in Panchayati Raj institutions (Article 243D). However, Arunachal Pradesh was exempted because it has a predominantly tribal population (over 60% Scheduled Tribes) and virtually no Scheduled Caste population. The exemption recognizes unique demographic realities where SC reservations serve no purpose.

Multiple choice

What does the 104th Constitution Amendment Bill relate 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 to religious minorities in the services under the Central Government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The 104th Constitutional Amendment (2019) introduced a 10% quota for economically weaker sections (EWS) in general category. This effectively provided reservation to socially and educationally backward classes in private educational institutions (and government jobs). Options A, B, and D are incorrect - the amendment did not abolish Legislative Councils, introduce dual citizenship, or provide quotas to religious minorities in central services.

Multiple choice

The Constitution of India was recently amended to provide for:

  1. Making elementary education a fundamental Right

  2. Punishment for children if they do not go to school

  3. Allowing opening of private schools for children

  4. Making school education compulsory for girls only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act (2002) made elementary education a fundamental right under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. This led to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (2009), ensuring free education for children aged 6-14. The other options are incorrect - there is no punishment for non-attendance, and education is compulsory for all children, not just girls.

Multiple choice

How many times has the Preamble of the Indian Constitution been amended so far?

  1. Once

  2. Twice

  3. Never

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

The Preamble has been amended only once by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment of 1976, which added the words 'socialist,' 'secular,' and 'integrity.' The words 'Unity of the Nation' were changed to 'Unity and integrity of the Nation.' No other amendments have been made to the Preamble since.

Multiple choice

Sikkim was made a full-fledged state of India vide the

  1. 34th Amendment

  2. 44th Amendment

  3. 36th Amendment

  4. 24th amendment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sikkim became the 22nd state of India on May 16, 1975 through the 36th Constitutional Amendment. This amendment integrated Sikkim as a full-fledged state after it abolished its monarchy and voted to join India. The 34th, 44th, and 24th amendments relate to other constitutional matters.

Multiple choice

In the following quotation:

‘WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity: and to promote among them all; FRATERN1IY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and the integrity of the Nation. In our Constituent Assembly this ‘X’ do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution.”, ‘X’ stands for

  1. twenty-sixth day of January, 1950

  2. twenty-sixth day of November, 1949

  3. twenty-sixth day of January, 1949

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

The Constitution of India was enacted on Nov 26, 1949 but it was commenced on Jan 26, 1950.

Multiple choice

Which of the following amendments to the Indian Constitution empowers the President to send back any matter for reconsideration to the Council of Ministers?

  1. 39th

  2. 40th

  3. 42nd

  4. 44th
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Earlier, the 42nd amendment, Article 74(1) stated that, ‘there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President in the exercise of his functions’. However, there was a slight ambiguity whether the advice of the Council of Ministers is binding on the President. Forty-second Amendment of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) made it explicit that the President shall, ‘act in accordance with such advice’. The amendment went into effect from 3 January 1977. The 44th Amendment (1978) however added that the President can send the advice back for reconsideration once. But, if the Council of Ministers sends the same advice again to the President, then the President must accept it. The amendment went into effect from 20 June, 1979.