Indian Polity for UPSC Flashcards
Constitution of India articles and landmark amendments asked in UPSC Prelims.
- Article 14
- Equality before law and equal protection of laws.
- Article 17
- Abolition of untouchability.
- Article 19
- Protection of six freedoms: speech & expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, profession.
- Article 21
- Protection of life and personal liberty.
- Article 21A
- Free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14.
Added by the 86th Amendment, 2002. - Article 32
- Right to Constitutional Remedies.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution. - Article 44
- Uniform Civil Code for citizens (Directive Principle).
- Article 51A
- Fundamental Duties.
Added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976. - Article 72
- Pardoning power of the President.
- Article 110
- Definition of a Money Bill.
- Article 280
- Finance Commission.
- Article 312
- All India Services.
- Article 324
- Election Commission – superintendence, direction and control of elections.
- Article 352
- National Emergency.
- Article 356
- President's Rule in a state (failure of constitutional machinery).
- Article 360
- Financial Emergency.
- Article 368
- Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution.
- 1st Amendment (1951)
- Added the Ninth Schedule to protect land reform laws.
- 7th Amendment (1956)
- Reorganised states on a linguistic basis; abolished Part A, B, C, D classification of states.
- 42nd Amendment (1976)
- Called the 'Mini-Constitution'.
Added Socialist, Secular and Integrity to the Preamble; added Fundamental Duties. - 44th Amendment (1978)
- Removed Right to Property from Fundamental Rights (now Article 300A).
Replaced 'internal disturbance' with 'armed rebellion' for emergencies. - 52nd Amendment (1985)
- Anti-defection law – added the Tenth Schedule.
- 61st Amendment (1989)
- Reduced voting age from 21 to 18 years.
- 73rd Amendment (1992)
- Constitutional status to Panchayati Raj.
Added Part IX and the 11th Schedule. - 74th Amendment (1992)
- Constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (municipalities).
Added Part IXA and the 12th Schedule. - 86th Amendment (2002)
- Made elementary education a Fundamental Right (Article 21A) and added a Fundamental Duty (Article 51A(k)).
- 101st Amendment (2016)
- Introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- 103rd Amendment (2019)
- 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
- 104th Amendment (2019)
- Extended SC/ST seat reservation in Lok Sabha and assemblies by 10 years; ended nominated Anglo-Indian seats.
- 106th Amendment (2023)
- One-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam).