Question

In which of the following years was the First Amendment Act of the Constitution of India enacted?
1. 1958
2. 1951
3. 1952
4. 1956

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : 1951

The correct answer is 1951.

• Under Article 368 the Indian Constitution provides the parliament provisions to amend the constitution and its procedures.
• The main features of the First Amendment Act, 1951 are:
  • It was added in the Ninth Schedule to protect the land reforms and other laws included in it from the judicial review. After Article 31, Articles 31A and 31B were inserted.
  • State trading and nationalization of any trade or business by the state is not to be invalid on the ground of violation of the right to trade or business.
  • It added three more grounds of restrictions on freedom of speech and expression, viz., public order, friendly relations with foreign states and incitement to an offense.
  • It provided for the saving of laws providing for the acquisition of estates.

• There are three ways in which the Constitution can be amended:
  • It can be amended by the simple majority of the Parliament.
  • It can be amended by a special majority of the Parliament and the ratification of at least half of the state legislatures.
  • It can be amended by a special majority of the Parliament.