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

By whom was the constitution of India adopted?

  1. Constituent assembly

  2. British parliament

  3. Governor general

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

The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. It came into effect on January 26, 1950. The British Parliament had passed the Indian Independence Act 1947, but did not adopt India's constitution.

Multiple choice

The word secular was added to the indian constitution in

  1. 1956

  2. 1966

  3. 1976

  4. 1986
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The word 'secular' was added to the Indian Constitution in 1976 through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment during the Emergency period. The preamble originally declared India as a 'Sovereign Democratic Republic' and was amended to include 'Socialist,' 'Secular,' and 'Integrity.'

Multiple choice

Fundamental right to education for children in the age group of six to fourteen has been conferred by

  1. 73rd constitution amendment act

  2. 76th constitution amendment act

  3. 86th constitution amendment act

  4. 93rd constitution amendment act
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002 inserted Article 21A into the Constitution of India, making free and compulsory education a fundamental right for children between the ages of six and fourteen years.

Multiple choice

The term of which of the following Lok Sabha was extended beyond the normal period of five years laid down in the constitution?

  1. 4th

  2. 5th

  3. 6th

  4. 7th

  5. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 5th Lok Sabha (1971-1977) term was extended from 5 years to nearly 6 years under Article 352 (Emergency Proclamation). During the Emergency period (1975-1977), parliamentary democracy was suspended, and elections were postponed. This remains the only instance of a Lok Sabha term extension beyond the constitutional limit.

Multiple choice

Nov. 26, 1949 is a significant day in the history of our constitution because

  1. India took a pledge of complete independence on this day

  2. the Constitution was adopted on this day

  3. India became a Republic on the day

  4. the first amendment of the Constitution was passed on this day
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

November 26, 1949 is the day the Constituent Assembly adopted and enacted the Constitution of India. The Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950 (Republic Day). November 26 is now celebrated as Constitution Day.

Multiple choice

The majority of the provisions of the Indian Constitution can be amended

  1. by the State Legislatures acting together

  2. by the Parliament alone

  3. with the major approval of the Parliament and State Legislatures

  4. only on ratification by half of the States
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 The majority of the provisions of the Indian Constitution can be amended only on ratification by half of the States

Multiple choice

Fundamental Duties were incorporated by means of the

  1. 42nd Amendment

  2. 24th Amendment

  3. 44th Amendment

  4. 61st Amendment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Fundamental Duties were incorporated into the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 during the Emergency period. They were added as Part IV-A (Article 51A) based on the recommendations of the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee.

Multiple choice

The Indian constitution can be amended under article

  1. 312

  2. 368

  3. 390

  4. 249
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Article 368 of the Indian Constitution prescribes the procedure for constitutional amendments. It specifies that amendments require a special majority in Parliament and ratification by at least half of the state legislatures for certain provisions. The other articles deal with different matters.

Multiple choice

Which of the following Constitutional Amendments are related to raising the number of Members of Lok Sabha to be elected from the states?

  1. 6th and 22nd

  2. 13th and 38th

  3. 7th and 31st

  4. 11th and 42nd
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The 7th Amendment Act, 1956 provides for composition of the House of the People and readjustment after every census. The 31st Amendment Act, 1973 provides for raising the upper limit for the representation of states in the Lok Sabha from 500 to 525 and reducing the upper limit for the representation of UTs from 25 to 20.

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.