Jonah Patel
The Indian Constitution, seen as the foundation of democracy, has been amended numerous times since its adoption on 26 January 1950. As of July 2025, there have been 106 amendments, making it the most amended national constitution in the world. The amendments are necessary to maintain the relevance and vitality of India's supreme law, addressing emerging socio-political and economic challenges while protecting the core values laid out by the composers of the Constitution. The process of amendment has been criticised for not having a special body for amending the Constitution, with the power to initiate an amendment lying solely with the Parliament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of amendments | 106 |
| First amendment | 18 June 1951 |
| Latest amendment | 28 September 2023 |
| Types of amendments | 3 |
| First type of amendment | Passed by a "simple majority" in each house of the Parliament of India |
| Second type of amendment | Passed by a prescribed "special majority" of each house of Parliament |
| Third type of amendment | Passed by a "special majority" in each house of Parliament and ratified by at least one half of the State Legislatures |
| Reason for amendments | To maintain the relevance and vitality of India's supreme law |
| Impact | Affects fundamental rights, various institutions' powers, and governance provisions |
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What You'll Learn
- The Indian Constitution is the most amended constitution in the world
- Amendments are required to maintain the relevance of India's supreme law
- Amendments can be passed with a simple majority in each house of Parliament
- Amendments can also be passed with a 'special majority' in each house of Parliament
- The amendment procedure has been criticised for not having a special process
The Indian Constitution is the most amended constitution in the world
The Indian Constitution is the most amended national constitution in the world, with 106 amendments as of July 2025. It was first enacted in 1950 and has been amended roughly twice a year since then to meet the changing needs of the country. The most recent amendment was made on 28 September 2023.
The Indian Constitution is so detailed in spelling out governmental powers that many matters addressed by statute in other democracies must be addressed via constitutional amendment in India. This adaptability in governance is necessary for a diverse and evolving country like India, allowing for changes in governance as per needs and situations. Amendments have covered a wide range of issues, from land reforms and reservation policies to taxation and fundamental rights.
There are three types of amendments to the Constitution of India. The first type of amendment must be passed by a simple majority in each house of the Indian Parliament. The second type of amendment requires a 'special majority' in each house of Parliament, meaning more than 50% of the total strength of the house and at least two-thirds of the members present and voting. The third type of amendment requires, in addition to such a "special majority," ratification by at least half of the state legislatures.
The amendment procedure has been criticised for not having a special body for amending the Constitution, such as a Constitutional Convention or Constitutional Assembly. Instead, the constituent power is vested in the Legislative Body itself, i.e. the Parliament and, in a few cases, the State Legislatures. The power to initiate an amendment lies only with the Parliament, and only in a few cases is the consent of the state legislatures required.
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Amendments are required to maintain the relevance of India's supreme law
The Indian Constitution is the most frequently amended national governing document in the world, with 106 amendments as of July 2025 since its adoption in 1950. The Constitution is amended roughly twice a year, with the latest amendment assented to on 28 September 2023.
Amendments are required to maintain the relevance and vitality of India's supreme law. They are changes made to ensure the Constitution remains adaptable over time. India is a diverse and evolving country, and its governance cannot be fixed to a set of unchangeable rules. Amendments allow for the inclusion of emerging socio-political and economic challenges while protecting the core values laid out by the composers of the Constitution.
The Constitution is so specific in spelling out governmental powers that many amendments address issues dealt with by statute in other democracies. For example, the 86th Amendment Act inserted Article 21A, which pertains to the right to education. The 122nd Amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax, while the 105th Amendment Act clarified that states could maintain their own lists of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The 42nd Amendment, known as the "mini-Constitution", introduced extensive changes, including expanding Directive Principles and curbing judicial review powers.
The amendment process varies depending on the types of changes required. There are three types of amendments, with the second and third types governed by Article 368. The first type of amendment must be passed by a simple majority in each house of Parliament. The second type requires a 'special majority' in each house, meaning more than 50% of the total strength of the house and at least two-thirds of members present and voting. The third type of amendment requires the same special majority, as well as ratification by at least half of the state legislatures.
The basic structure of the Constitution, as laid out in the Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala case, cannot be altered by amendments. This includes the Constitution's federal nature, secularism, democracy, and the separation of powers.
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Amendments can be passed with a simple majority in each house of Parliament
The Indian Constitution has been amended 106 times since it was first enacted in 1950, making it the most frequently amended national governing document in the world. The constitution is amended roughly twice a year to address emerging socio-political and economic challenges and to include modern changes while protecting the core values laid out by its composers. Amendments can be passed with a simple majority in each house of Parliament, a "special majority" in each house of Parliament, or a "special majority" with ratification by at least half of the state legislatures.
The first type of amendment, which can be passed with a simple majority in each house of Parliament, is the most common. This type of amendment addresses matters that are typically dealt with by statute in other democracies. For example, the Eighty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of India provided for the Right to Education for children aged six to fourteen and Early Childhood Care until the age of five. Other amendments in this category include the first amendment, which prohibited discrimination based on caste and religion, and the 122nd Amendment, which introduced Goods and Service Tax.
The second type of amendment must be passed by a "special majority" in each house of Parliament. A "special majority" typically means more than 50% of the total strength of the house and at least two-thirds of the members present and voting. This type of amendment is required for most changes to the constitution, except for those affecting federal provisions.
The third type of amendment requires a "special majority" in each house of Parliament, as well as ratification by at least half of the state legislatures. This type of amendment is required for changes to federal provisions, such as the distribution of powers between the central government and the states. For example, amendments to the lists of administrative subjects of Panchayat raj and Municipality were included in the Constitution as Schedules 11 and 12, respectively, in 1993.
While the Indian Constitution is the most frequently amended, it is important to note that it is also the longest written constitution in the world and spells out governmental powers in great detail. The amendment process ensures that the constitution remains adaptable and relevant over time, accommodating new rights and addressing emerging issues. However, it is worth mentioning that the Supreme Court has ruled that certain elements of the constitution, such as its federal nature, secularism, democracy, and the separation of powers, cannot be amended.
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Amendments can also be passed with a 'special majority' in each house of Parliament
The Indian Constitution is the most frequently amended national governing document in the world, with 106 amendments as of July 2025. It is a dynamic and evolving framework for governance, adaptable to the changing needs of the country. Amendments are necessary to include modern changes while protecting the core values laid out by the composers of the Constitution.
The Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution, but it cannot change its "basic structure". The Supreme Court has ruled that an amendment cannot destroy what it seeks to modify; it cannot tinker with the Constitution's basic framework or fundamental principles, which are immutable. These “basic features" are not explicitly defined, and it is up to the courts to decide whether a particular provision of the Constitution is a "basic feature".
Amendments can be passed with a simple majority in each house of Parliament, a special majority in each house of Parliament, or a special majority with state ratification. The second type of amendment requires a "special majority" in each house of Parliament. A special majority means more than 50% of the total strength of the house and at least two-thirds of the members present and voting.
The second type of amendment is governed by Article 368 and requires a prescribed "special majority" in each house of Parliament. This type of amendment addresses federal provisions, such as the distribution of powers between the Centre and the states, and requires the approval of at least half of the state legislatures. This ensures that amendments are passed with adequate consideration and representation while maintaining the democratic fabric of the nation.
The process of amendment is similar to the legislative process, except for the requirement of a special majority. The power to initiate an amendment lies solely with the Parliament, and only in a few cases is the consent of the state legislatures required. A major part of the Constitution can be amended by the Parliament alone.
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The amendment procedure has been criticised for not having a special process
As of July 2025, the Indian Constitution has been amended 106 times since it was enacted in 1950, making it the most frequently amended national constitution in the world. The Constitution is so detailed in spelling out governmental powers that many matters addressed by statute in other democracies must be addressed via constitutional amendment in India. This has resulted in the Constitution being amended roughly twice a year.
The process of amendment is similar to that of a legislative process. Except for the requirement of a Special Majority, the constitutional amendment bills are passed by the Parliament in the same way as ordinary bills. A major part of the Constitution can be amended by the Parliament alone, either by a special majority or a simple majority. Only in a few cases is the consent of the state legislatures required, and that too, of only half of them, while in the USA, it is three-fourths of the states.
The Constitution does not prescribe a timeframe within which the state legislatures should ratify or reject an amendment. Additionally, it does not address whether states can withdraw their approval after according it. There is also no provision for holding a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament in the case of a deadlock over the passage of a constitutional amendment bill. The amendment procedure has been criticised for leaving a wide scope for taking matters to the judiciary.
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Frequently asked questions
As of July 2025, the Indian Constitution has been amended 106 times since it was first enacted in 1950.
The Indian Constitution is the world's most frequently amended national governing document. Amendments are required to maintain the relevance and vitality of India's supreme law, addressing emerging socio-political and economic challenges.
Amendments to the Indian Constitution can be classified into three categories. The first type of amendment involves those that can be passed by a simple majority in each house of the Indian Parliament. The second type of amendment requires a 'special majority' in each house of Parliament. The third type of amendment requires, in addition to such a "special majority," ratification by at least half of the state legislatures.
The Forty-Second Amendment is known as the "mini-Constitution" as it introduced extensive changes, including expanding Directive Principles and curbing judicial review powers. The Eighty-Sixth Amendment provided for the Right to Education for children aged six to fourteen years and Early Childhood Care until the age of sixteen. The 122nd Amendment introduced Goods and Service Tax.
