Question

Which of the following Amendments amended the Preamble of Indian Constitution ?

1. 56^th Amendment
2. 42^nd Amendment
3. 44^th Amendment
4. It has never been amended.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : 42^nd Amendment

The correct answer is 42^nd Amendment.

• This amendment put restrictions on the review powers of the Judiciary.
• The amendment made changes to the Preamble, to the seventh schedule of the Constitution, and 53 articles of the constitution.
  • Due to these voluminous changes in the Constitution, the 42^nd amendment was called a mini-constitution.
• This amendment made the use of the power fundamental duties by the people of India to the nation.

• The 56^th Amendment confers Statehood on Goa and forms a new Union Territory of Daman and Diu.
  • Goa thus became the 25th State of the Indian Republic.
• The Constitution (45^th Amendment) Bill, re-numbered as the 44^th Amendment came into force on April 30, 1979, when the President gave his assent.
  • The Act removes major distortions in the Constitution introduced during the Emergency.
    • The duration of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies has been reduced from six to five years.
  • The Right to Property ceases to be a Fundamental Right and becomes only a legal right according to the Constitution 44th Amendment.
  • It provides safeguards against future subversion of the Constitution for establishing an authoritarian regime.
    It contains provisions that are designed to make it impossible to impose the kind of emergency the country had experienced for 19 months.