Constitutional amendments of India define how the world’s longest written constitution evolves to meet the needs of a changing nation.
Since its adoption on November 26, 1949, India’s Constitution has been amended over 106 times — covering everything from Fundamental Rights to the age of voters, from GST to the OBC reservation framework. Questions on specific amendment numbers, years, and what each changed are among the most tested topics in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, State PSC, and Railway exams. This page gives you a complete, exam-focused list of all major constitutional amendments with their key provisions and polity facts.
⚡ Quick Facts
- 106 amendments as of 2024 — one of the most frequently amended constitutions in the world.
- 1st Amendment (1951) — added the Ninth Schedule, placing land reform laws beyond judicial review.
- 42nd Amendment (1976) — called the “Mini Constitution”; most sweeping single-amendment changes ever made.
- 44th Amendment (1978) — restored provisions diluted by Emergency-era 42nd Amendment; right to property made legal right, not FR.
- 101st Amendment (2016) — introduced GST; single biggest tax reform in post-independence India.
Students often confuse the 42nd (1976) and 44th (1978) amendments — 42nd added Emergency powers and curtailed rights; 44th reversed those changes. Also: the Right to Property was removed as a Fundamental Right by the 44th Amendment — it is now only a legal/constitutional right under Article 300A. The 106th Amendment (2023) provides women’s reservation but is not yet in force — it comes into effect only after the next delimitation and Census. And: 22 languages are currently in the 8th Schedule — not 14, 18, or 20.
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📜 Constitutional Amendments — Complete List
| Amend. ↕ | Year ↕ | Key Provision ↕ | PM / Era ↕ | Exam Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1951 | Added 9th Schedule; restricted FR to Property; enabled land reforms | Nehru | 9th Schedule; land reforms |
| 7th | 1956 | Reorganised states on linguistic basis; abolished Part B states; States Reorganisation Act | Nehru | States reorganisation |
| 10th | 1961 | Incorporated Dadra & Nagar Haveli into the Indian Union | Nehru | Dadra & NH integration |
| 12th | 1962 | Incorporated Goa, Daman & Diu into the Indian Union after liberation | Nehru | Goa liberation |
| 13th | 1962 | Created Nagaland as a state with special provisions (Art. 371A) | Nehru | Nagaland statehood; Art. 371A |
| 14th | 1962 | Incorporated Pondicherry into the Indian Union | Nehru | Pondicherry merger |
| 21st | 1967 | Added Sindhi as the 15th language in the Eighth Schedule | Indira Gandhi | Sindhi; 8th Schedule (15 languages) |
| 24th | 1971 | Affirmed Parliament’s power to amend Fundamental Rights; amended Article 368 | Indira Gandhi | Kesavananda Bharati background; Art. 368 |
| 25th | 1971 | Restricted right to property; allowed acquisition for public purpose | Indira Gandhi | Right to property; DPSP primacy |
| 26th | 1971 | Abolished privy purses and privileges of former rulers of princely states | Indira Gandhi | Privy purses abolished |
| 36th | 1975 | Made Sikkim a full state of India (22nd state) | Indira Gandhi | Sikkim statehood (22nd state) |
| 42nd | 1976 | Added “Socialist,” “Secular,” “Integrity” to Preamble; added Fundamental Duties (Part IVA); called “Mini Constitution” | Indira Gandhi (Emergency) | Mini Constitution; Preamble; Fundamental Duties |
| 43rd | 1977 | Restored some powers of High Courts and Supreme Court curtailed by 42nd Amendment | Janata Party | Post-Emergency restoration |
| 44th | 1978 | Made right to property a legal right (Art. 300A, not FR); restored press freedom; “armed rebellion” for Emergency | Janata (Morarji Desai) | Reversed Emergency changes; Property right |
| 52nd | 1985 | Anti-defection law — added Tenth Schedule to prevent floor-crossing by legislators | Rajiv Gandhi | 10th Schedule; anti-defection law |
| 53rd | 1986 | Special provisions for Mizoram (Article 371G) | Rajiv Gandhi | Mizoram statehood; Art. 371G |
| 55th | 1986 | Special provisions for Arunachal Pradesh (Article 371H) | Rajiv Gandhi | Arunachal Pradesh; Art. 371H |
| 56th | 1987 | Granted statehood to Goa (25th state); Daman & Diu became separate UT | Rajiv Gandhi | Goa statehood (25th state) |
| 61st | 1989 | Reduced voting age from 21 to 18 years | Rajiv Gandhi | Voting age 18 |
| 69th | 1991 | Gave special status to Delhi (NCT); established Delhi Legislative Assembly and Council of Ministers | Narasimha Rao | Delhi NCT status |
| 71st | 1992 | Added Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali to 8th Schedule (total 18 languages) | Narasimha Rao | 8th Schedule: 18 languages |
| 73rd | 1992 | Gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions; added 11th Schedule (29 subjects) | Narasimha Rao | Panchayati Raj; 11th Schedule |
| 74th | 1992 | Gave constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities); added 12th Schedule (18 subjects) | Narasimha Rao | Municipalities; 12th Schedule |
| 77th | 1995 | Provided reservation in promotion for SCs/STs in government services | Narasimha Rao | SC/ST promotion quota |
| 86th | 2002 | Made education a Fundamental Right for children 6–14 years (Article 21A); added parental Fundamental Duty | Vajpayee | RTE; Art. 21A; 11th Fundamental Duty |
| 91st | 2003 | Limited size of Council of Ministers to 15% of House strength; strengthened anti-defection law | Vajpayee | Cabinet size 15%; 10th Schedule |
| 92nd | 2003 | Added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali to 8th Schedule (current total: 22 languages) | Vajpayee | 8th Schedule: 22 languages (current) |
| 93rd | 2005 | Enabled OBC reservation in private unaided educational institutions (except minority institutions) | Manmohan Singh | OBC quota in private colleges |
| 97th | 2011 | Gave constitutional status to cooperative societies; added right to form cooperatives as FR | Manmohan Singh | Cooperative societies FR |
| 99th | 2014 | Established NJAC (National Judicial Appointments Commission) — struck down by SC in 2015 | Modi | NJAC; struck down by SC 2015 |
| 100th | 2015 | Gave effect to Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh; territory exchange (enclaves) | Modi | India-Bangladesh land boundary |
| 101st | 2016 | Introduced GST; added Articles 246A, 269A, 279A; set up GST Council | Modi | GST; biggest tax reform post-independence |
| 102nd | 2018 | Gave constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) | Modi | NCBC constitutional status |
| 103rd | 2019 | Provided 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in education and government jobs | Modi | EWS 10% quota; General category |
| 104th | 2020 | Extended SC/ST seat reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by 10 more years (till 2030) | Modi | SC/ST seat reservation till 2030 |
| 105th | 2021 | Restored states’ power to identify OBCs; amended Articles 338B, 342A (overturned Maratha quota ruling) | Modi | States OBC list power restored |
| 106th | 2023 | Provided 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam); effective after next delimitation | Modi | Women’s 33% reservation; not yet in force |
| Theme | Key Amendments | What They Did |
|---|---|---|
| Preamble Changes | 42nd (1976) | Added “Socialist,” “Secular,” “Integrity” |
| Fundamental Rights | 1st, 24th, 25th, 44th, 86th | Land reform, property right, RTE (Art. 21A) |
| Fundamental Duties | 42nd (1976), 86th (2002) | Added Part IVA (10 duties); added 11th duty (parent duty) |
| Emergency Provisions | 38th, 42nd, 44th | 44th restored “armed rebellion” wording; removed “internal disturbance” |
| Panchayati Raj | 73rd (1992) | Constitutional status; 11th Schedule with 29 subjects |
| Urban Local Bodies | 74th (1992) | Constitutional status; 12th Schedule with 18 subjects |
| Schedules Added | 1st (9th), 52nd (10th), 73rd (11th), 74th (12th) | Four new Schedules added post-1950 |
| 8th Schedule Languages | 21st, 71st, 92nd | Languages: 14 → 15 → 18 → 22 (current: 22) |
| Reservation | 77th, 93rd, 103rd, 104th, 106th | SC/ST promotion, OBC private colleges, EWS 10%, Women 33% |
| Tax Reforms | 101st (2016) | GST; Articles 246A, 269A, 279A; GST Council |
| Statehood | 13th, 36th, 53rd, 55th, 56th | Nagaland, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa |
| Anti-Defection | 52nd (1985), 91st (2003) | 10th Schedule added; cabinet size capped at 15% |
| Amendment | Year | Languages Added | Total After Amendment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Constitution | 1950 | 14 languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu) | 14 |
| 21st Amendment | 1967 | Sindhi | 15 |
| 71st Amendment | 1992 | Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali | 18 |
| 92nd Amendment | 2003 | Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali | 22 |
| Current Total | 2026 | No additions since 2003 | 22 languages |
| Schedule | Subject | Added By |
|---|---|---|
| First | List of States and Union Territories | Original (1950) |
| Second | Salaries of constitutional authorities | Original (1950) |
| Third | Oaths and affirmations | Original (1950) |
| Fourth | Seats in Rajya Sabha for States/UTs | Original (1950) |
| Fifth | Administration of Scheduled Areas (tribal areas) | Original (1950) |
| Sixth | Administration of tribal areas in Northeast India | Original (1950) |
| Seventh | Three Lists — Union List, State List, Concurrent List | Original (1950) |
| Eighth | 22 Official Languages of India | Original (14); expanded to 22 by amendments |
| Ninth | Laws protected from judicial review | 1st Amendment (1951) |
| Tenth | Anti-defection provisions | 52nd Amendment (1985) |
| Eleventh | Panchayati Raj subjects (29 subjects) | 73rd Amendment (1992) |
| Twelfth | Municipalities / Urban Local Bodies (18 subjects) | 74th Amendment (1992) |
⚖️ Compare Two Amendments
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
The 42nd Amendment (1976) is called the “Mini Constitution” because it made the largest number of changes in one amendment: added “Socialist,” “Secular,” and “Integrity” to the Preamble; inserted Fundamental Duties (Part IVA); shifted subjects from State to Concurrent List; and curtailed judicial review. Passed during the Emergency under Indira Gandhi — it is the most tested amendment in UPSC Polity.
The 44th Amendment (1978) by the Janata government under Morarji Desai reversed many Emergency-era changes: restored press freedom, replaced “internal disturbance” with “armed rebellion” for Emergency proclamation, and downgraded the Right to Property from a Fundamental Right to a legal right under Article 300A. The property right removal is a top exam fact.
The 73rd Amendment gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj (rural self-governance) and added the 11th Schedule with 29 subjects. The 74th Amendment did the same for Municipalities (urban self-governance) and added the 12th Schedule with 18 subjects. Both were passed in 1992 under Narasimha Rao and are called “grassroots democracy” amendments.
India currently has 22 official languages in the Eighth Schedule. Original Constitution (1950) had 14. 21st Amendment (1967) added Sindhi → 15. 71st Amendment (1992) added Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali → 18. 92nd Amendment (2003) added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali → 22. No language has been added since 2003.
The 106th Amendment (2023), also called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, provides 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. However, it comes into force only after the next delimitation exercise — which itself requires a fresh Census. Since the Census has been delayed, this reservation has not yet been implemented as of 2026 — a top exam trap.
“1 Land, 42 Mini, 44 Restore, 52 Defect, 61 Vote, 73 Panch, 86 School, 101 GST”
→ 1st = Land reforms & 9th Schedule | 42nd = Mini Constitution | 44th = Restore rights | 52nd = Anti-defection | 61st = Voting age 18 | 73rd = Panchayati Raj | 86th = RTE/Art.21A | 101st = GST
“14 → +1 = 15 → +3 = 18 → +4 = 22”
→ Original 14 | +Sindhi (21st, 1967) = 15 | +Konkani/Manipuri/Nepali (71st, 1992) = 18 | +Bodo/Dogri/Maithili/Santhali (92nd, 2003) = 22
🃏 Flashcards
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🧩 Practice Quiz
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The 42nd Amendment (1976), passed during the Emergency under Indira Gandhi, is called the \u201cMini Constitution\u201d because it made the largest single-amendment changes \u2014 adding \u201cSocialist,\u201d \u201cSecular,\u201d and \u201cIntegrity\u201d to the Preamble, inserting Fundamental Duties, and curtailing judicial review, among many others.
The 61st Constitutional Amendment (1989), passed during Rajiv Gandhi\u2019s government, reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years. This significantly increased the electorate and gave youth a direct voice in Indian democracy.
The 73rd Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions (rural) and added the 11th Schedule with 29 subjects. The 74th Amendment (1992) did the same for Urban Local Bodies (municipalities) and added the 12th Schedule with 18 subjects. Both are called \u201cgrassroots democracy\u201d amendments.
The Eighth Schedule currently lists 22 official languages. The original Constitution had 14. Sindhi was added in 1967 (21st Amendment), Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali in 1992 (71st Amendment), and Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali in 2003 (92nd Amendment). No language has been added since 2003.
The 106th Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), providing 33% reservation for women, comes into effect only after the next delimitation exercise \u2014 which itself requires a fresh Census. Since the Census has been delayed, the reservation has not yet been implemented as of 2026.
\u2705 Key Takeaways
\u2753 Frequently Asked Questions
The Indian Constitution has been amended 106 times as of 2024. The most recent amendment is the 106th Amendment (2023), which provides for 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. India\u2019s Constitution is one of the most frequently amended constitutions in the world, reflecting the changing social, economic, and political needs of the country since its adoption in 1950.
The 42nd Amendment (1976), passed during the Emergency under Indira Gandhi, is called the \u201cMini Constitution\u201d \u2014 it added \u201cSocialist,\u201d \u201cSecular,\u201d and \u201cIntegrity\u201d to the Preamble, inserted Fundamental Duties, and curtailed judicial review. The 44th Amendment (1978), passed by the Janata Party under Morarji Desai, reversed many of these changes \u2014 restoring press freedom, replacing \u201cinternal disturbance\u201d with \u201carmed rebellion\u201d as grounds for Emergency, and demoting the right to property from a Fundamental Right to a legal right under Article 300A.
The most exam-important amendments are: 1st (land reforms, 9th Schedule), 42nd (Mini Constitution, Preamble, Fundamental Duties), 44th (post-Emergency restoration, property right), 52nd (anti-defection, 10th Schedule), 61st (voting age 18), 73rd and 74th (Panchayati Raj and municipalities), 86th (Right to Education, Article 21A), 92nd (22 languages in 8th Schedule), 101st (GST), 103rd (EWS 10% reservation), and 106th (women\u2019s 33% reservation). These 12 amendments cover the vast majority of polity questions in competitive exams.
The Women\u2019s Reservation Act, formally called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, was passed as the 106th Constitutional Amendment in September 2023. It provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. However, it does not come into effect immediately \u2014 it is linked to the next delimitation exercise, which itself requires a fresh Census. Since the Census has been delayed beyond 2021, the reservation had not yet been implemented as of 2026, making this a frequently tested current affairs trap in Banking and SSC exams.
