“We, the people…” — A walk down the amendment lane

Why November 26? ‘Cause it was on this day in 1949 the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India. Remember though that it came into effect on January 26, 1950 — Republic Day.

We thus get to celebrate November 26 as Constitution Day. We’re celebrating the 70^th Constitution Day.

Here’s a trip down memory lane to look at some of the landmark amendments that’s made the Constitution a living document of a democratic nation:

7^th Amendment, 1956 – Reorganisation of states on linguistic basis and creation of Union Territories.

9^th Amendment, 1960 – Adjustments to Indian territory due to agreement between Governments of India and Pakistan.

13^th Amendment, 1962 – State of Nagaland formed with protection under Article 371A.

26^th Amendment, 1971 – Privy Purse paid to princely states abolished.

42^nd Amendment, 1976 – Fundamental Duties introduced; Preamble readjusted to make India Socialist, Secular, Republic.

44^th Amendment, 1978 – Right to Property deleted from Fundamental Rights chapter.

52^nd Amendment, 1985 – Defection after election made illegal.

61^st Amendment, 1989 – Voting age reduced from 21 to 18.

73^rd Amendment, 1992 – Introduction of Panchayati Raj (Part IX added to Constitution)

74^th Amendment, 1992 – Introduction of Municipalities (Part IXA added to Constitution)

86^th Amendment, 2002 – Right to Education of children between 6-14 years made fundamental right.

8^th,  23^rd, 45^th, 62^nd, 79^th and 95^th Amendments – Extension of Reservation of seats in Parliament and State Assemblies.

101^st Amendment, 2016 – Introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST)

102^nd Amendment, 2018 – Granted Constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes.

103^rd Amendment, 2019 – Reservation for economically weaker section (EWS) of the society in Articles 15 and 16.

— India Legal Bureau