Eleanor Finch
The Constitution of India, the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world, was first amended in 1951, a year after it was adopted and came into force in 1950. The Constitution of India is the most amended national constitution in the world, with over 106 amendments as of July 2025.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of adoption | 26 November 1949 |
| Date of enforcement | 26 January 1950 |
| Date of first amendment | 1951 |
| Number of amendments since enactment | 106 |
| Number of amendments since enactment (alternative source) | Over 90 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution of India was first amended in 1951
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950. The Constituent Assembly was formed on 6 December 1946, with its first meeting held on 9 December 1946. The Assembly appointed Rajendra Prasad as its president, H. C. Mukherjee as its vice-president, and B. N. Rau as its constitutional legal adviser. The constitution was drafted by a Constituent Assembly rather than Parliament, which is why it espouses constitutional supremacy rather than parliamentary supremacy.
The Constitution of India has been amended over 100 times since it was enacted, making it one of the most frequently amended constitutions in the world. The Indian Constitution is amended roughly twice a year, and there are three types of amendments. The first type of amendment must be passed by a simple majority in each house of the Parliament of India. The second type of amendment must be passed by a prescribed "special majority" of each house of Parliament. The third type of amendment must be passed by a "special majority" in each house of Parliament and ratified by at least half of the State Legislatures.
The first amendment to the Constitution of India in 1951 included several changes. This included the insertion of new articles 31A and 31B, and amendments to articles 85, 174, 341, 342, and 372.
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The Constituent Assembly was formed in December 1946
The Constituent Assembly of India was formed in December 1946, with the crucial task of drafting the Indian Constitution. The Assembly came into existence through the provisions of the Cabinet Mission of May 1946 and the earlier Cabinet Mission Plan. It was an elected and nominated body, with members chosen by the Provincial assemblies of British India following the Provincial Assembly elections of 1946 and nominations from princely states. The Congress Party held a large majority of seats (69%), with the Muslim League boycotting the first meeting and demanding a separate constituent assembly for Muslims.
The Assembly first met on 9 December 1946, with 207 members in attendance. The first person to address the Assembly was J. B. Kripalani, and Sachchidananda Sinha was appointed as the temporary president. On 11 December, Rajendra Prasad was appointed President, with H. C. Mukherjee and B. N. Rau as Vice-President and Constitutional Legal Adviser, respectively. The Assembly initially had 389 members, which later declined to 299 after partition.
The Constituent Assembly played a pivotal role in shaping India's future governance. It engaged in comprehensive debates on federalism, fundamental rights, and the principles underpinning the Constitution. The Assembly's work reflected the country's diverse cultural, social, and political landscape. Notably, the female members of the Assembly, initially numbering 13, are recognised as the 'mothers' of the Indian Constitution, contributing significantly to its feminist vision of justice.
The Constituent Assembly's efforts culminated in the adoption of the Indian Constitution on 26 November 1949, which came into effect on 26 January 1950. This event marked India's transition to a sovereign republic and the establishment of a parliamentary democracy rooted in justice, liberty, equality, and diversity. The Constitution, the supreme legal document of India, outlines the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of governmental institutions, as well as the rights and duties of citizens.
As of July 2025, the Indian Constitution has been amended 106 times, making it the most amended national constitution globally.
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The Constitution was adopted in November 1949
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constituent Assembly was formed on 6 December 1946, and its first meeting was held on 9 December 1946. The Assembly appointed Rajendra Prasad as its president, H. C. Mukherjee as its vice-president, and B. N. Rau as its constitutional legal adviser. The Constituent Assembly was indirectly elected by the provincial legislatures, comprising 278 representatives and 15 women. The Congress Party held a majority in the Assembly, with other parties including the Muslim League, the Scheduled Caste Federation, the Indian Communist Party, and the Union Party.
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. The Constitution espouses constitutional supremacy, as it was created by a constituent assembly rather than Parliament. This means that Parliament does not have the power to amend certain integral aspects of the Constitution, as outlined in the 'Basic Structure' Doctrine.
The Constitution of India has been amended numerous times since its adoption in 1949. As of July 2025, there have been 106 amendments, making it one of the most frequently amended constitutions in the world. The first amendment to the Constitution occurred in 1951 and included changes to several articles, such as Articles 174, 341, 342, and 372. The Indian Constitution is amended so frequently due to its highly detailed nature, which requires many matters to be addressed through constitutional amendment rather than statute.
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It came into force in January 1950
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950. It is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens. Notably, it espouses constitutional supremacy, rather than parliamentary supremacy as found in the United Kingdom. This is because it was created by a constituent assembly rather than Parliament.
The Constituent Assembly was formed on 6 December 1946, and its first meeting was held on 9 December 1946. The assembly was indirectly elected by the provincial legislatures, comprising 278 representatives and 15 women. The Congress Party held the majority, with other parties represented including the Muslim League, the Scheduled Caste Federation, the Indian Communist Party, and the Union Party. The Assembly appointed Rajendra Prasad as its president, H. C. Mukherjee as its vice-president, and B. N. Rau as its constitutional legal adviser.
The Constitution of India was drafted by this Constituent Assembly and approved in November 1949. It replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document, marking a significant shift in India's political system.
The Constitution of India has been amended numerous times since it came into force in January 1950. As of July 2025, there have been 106 amendments, making it the most amended national constitution in the world. The first amendment to the Constitution of India, enacted in 1951, included several changes. For instance, it introduced a new article, 31A, and amended articles 85, 174, 341, 342, and 372. The Indian Constitution is amended so frequently due to the detailed nature of the governmental powers it outlines. This level of detail means that many matters addressed by statute in other democracies require constitutional amendments in India.
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The Constitution has been amended over 100 times
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens. The Constitution was adopted with a declaration in its preamble by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950.
The Indian Constitution does not contain a provision to limit the powers of the parliament to amend the constitution. As a result, it is the most amended national constitution in the world, with over 100 amendments since it was first enacted in 1950. The Constitution is amended roughly twice a year, and there are three types of amendments. The first type of amendment must be passed by a simple majority in each house of the Parliament of India. The second type of amendment must be passed by a prescribed "special majority" of each house of Parliament. The third type of amendment must be passed by a "special majority" in each house of Parliament and ratified by at least half of the State Legislatures.
The process of amending the Constitution of India is a complex one, and it involves both the legislative and judicial branches of the government. The Parliament of India, which is the legislative branch, has the power to initiate and pass amendments to the Constitution. However, the judiciary, through the Supreme Court, plays a crucial role in interpreting the Constitution and ensuring that any amendments made are in accordance with the Basic Structure Doctrine established in the case of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala.
The Basic Structure Doctrine holds that certain features of the Indian Constitution are so integral to its functioning and existence that they cannot be amended or repealed. This doctrine ensures that the fundamental structure and principles of the Constitution are protected from arbitrary changes by the legislature. The Supreme Court has also played a significant role in interpreting the Constitution and ensuring that it evolves to meet the changing needs of the country.
The Constitution of India has been amended over 100 times to address various issues and challenges faced by the country. These amendments have covered a wide range of topics, including fundamental rights, the power of government institutions, electoral processes, and social and economic issues. Some of the significant amendments include the 24th Amendment, which overturned a previous ruling, and the Thirty-eighth Amendment, which addressed the powers of the Supreme Court during a state of emergency. The amendments to the Constitution of India reflect the dynamic nature of the document and its ability to adapt to the evolving needs and aspirations of the country.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of India was first amended in 1951, a year after its adoption in 1950.
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions.
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950.
As of July 2025, there have been 106 amendments to the Constitution of India, making it the most amended national constitution in the world.
