Simone Lawson
The Indian Constitution, considered the soul of Indian democracy, has been amended numerous times since the country's independence. As of July 2025, there have been 106 amendments, making it the most amended national constitution in the world. The first amendment was made as early as June 18, 1951, just over a year after its enactment on January 26, 1950. The constitution is so detailed in outlining governmental powers that many matters addressed by statute in other democracies must be addressed through constitutional amendment in India. As a result, it is amended roughly twice a year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of amendments | 106 |
| Date of first amendment | 18 June 1951 |
| Frequency of amendments | Twice a year |
| Types of amendments | 3 |
| First type of amendment | Passed by a "simple majority" in each house of the Indian Parliament |
| 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 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Indian Constitution is the most amended constitution in the world
- The first amendment was made in 1951, a year after its enactment
- Amendments are classified into three categories
- The constitution is amended roughly twice a year
- The constitution is amended via a simple majority, special majority, or a special majority with state legislature ratification
The Indian Constitution is the most amended constitution in the world
The Indian Constitution is the most amended national constitution in the world. As of July 2025, there have been 106 amendments since it was first enacted in 1950, averaging about two amendments per year. The constitution is very specific in spelling out governmental powers, and many matters addressed by statute in other democracies must be addressed via constitutional amendment in India.
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world, consisting of over 117,000 words (450 articles plus 104 amendments). It lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. It also espouses constitutional supremacy, as it was created by a constituent assembly rather than Parliament.
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 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 most important and frequent reason for amendments to the Constitution is the curtailment of the Fundamental Rights charter. This is achieved by inserting laws contrary to the fundamental rights provisions into Schedule 9 of the Constitution, which protects such laws from judicial review.
The flexibility to amend the Constitution was intentionally built into the document. During the discussion in the Constituent Assembly, some members were in favor of adopting an easier mode of the amendment procedure for the initial five to ten years. Jawaharlal Nehru observed, "While we want this Constitution to be as solid and as permanent a structure as we can make it, nevertheless there is no permanence in Constitutions. There should be a certain flexibility."
The Amendments: Constitutional Convention's Proposed Changes
You may want to see also
The first amendment was made in 1951, a year after its enactment
The Indian Constitution, first enacted in 1950, has been amended 105 times as of October 2021, making it the most amended national constitution in the world. The first amendment was made in 1951, a year after its enactment, and it amended the Fundamental Rights clauses of the Indian Constitution in several ways.
The 1951 amendment limited the right to freedom of speech and expression. It was passed by the Provisional Parliament, which was elected on a limited franchise. The amendment was encouraged by Jawaharlal Nehru, who was then the Prime Minister of India, in response to the State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan, which went before the Madras High Court and then the Supreme Court of India. In this case, a Brahmin woman challenged the state's Communal General Order, which established caste quotas in government-supported medical and engineering schools, on the grounds that it denied her equality under the law. Both the lower and higher courts upheld her petition.
The First Amendment Act amended articles 15, 19, 85, 87, 174, 176, 341, 342, 372, and 376. Article 15 was amended to include a clause stating that nothing in this article or clause (2) of article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Article 19, which dealt with reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression, was amended to include restrictions "in the interest of public order" and "about incitement to an offence".
The amendment also made it clear that the right to equality does not preclude passing laws that give "particular consideration" to society's most vulnerable groups. It supported measures to abolish zamindari and allowed for the appointment of a non-Indian citizen as the Chief Justice of a High Court.
Amendment History: 22nd Amendment's Addition to the Constitution
You may want to see also
Amendments are classified into three categories
The Indian Constitution, considered the soul of democracy, has been amended numerous times since the country gained independence. It is the most amended national constitution in the world, with 105 amendments as of October 2021, and 106 amendments as of July 2025. The Constitution is amended roughly twice a year, and these amendments have brought significant changes to the course of Indian Polity.
The second type of amendment requires a "special majority" in each house of Parliament. This means that the amendment must be passed by a higher threshold of votes, usually a two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
The third type of amendment is the most difficult to pass. In addition to requiring a "special majority" in each house of Parliament, it must also be ratified by at least half of the state legislatures. This means that the amendment must be approved by a majority of the elected representatives in at least half of India's state legislative assemblies. This third type of amendment is typically used for making changes to the federal structure of the Constitution or for matters concerning the states.
The first-ever amendment to the Constitution was made on 18 June 1951, when Article 15 (which prohibits discrimination based on caste and religion), Article 19, and other significant articles (85, 87, and 174) were amended.
The 25th Amendment: A Constitutional Change
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The constitution is amended roughly twice a year
The Indian Constitution, considered the soul of Indian democracy, has been amended numerous times since the country's independence. Notably, the constitution is amended roughly twice a year, making it the most frequently amended national governing document in the world. As of July 2025, there have been 106 amendments since the constitution was enacted in 1950.
The first amendment was made on June 18, 1951, just a year after the constitution came into force, demonstrating the document's early evolution. The first amendment addressed significant issues, including prohibiting discrimination based on caste and religion. This rapid amendment showcases the dynamic nature of India's constitutional development.
The Indian Constitution is unique in its level of detail in spelling out governmental powers. This specificity often necessitates constitutional amendments to address matters that would typically be handled by statute in other democracies. For example, the 122nd Amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax, and the Eighty-sixth Amendment provided the Right to Education for children aged six to fourteen, illustrating the wide-ranging impact of these amendments.
The amendment procedure is carefully outlined, with three types of amendments classified according to the required level of majority and ratification. The first type of amendment requires a simple majority in each house of the Indian Parliament. The second type mandates a 'special majority' in each house, while the third type necessitates ratification by at least half of the state legislatures.
The Indian Constitution is a living document that adapts to the needs of its people. With over 100 amendments in seven decades, it stands as a testament to the country's evolving democracy, rights, and freedoms.
Constitutional Amendments: States' Rights and the US Constitution
You may want to see also
The constitution is amended via a simple majority, special majority, or a special majority with state legislature ratification
As of July 2025, the Indian Constitution has been amended 106 times since its enactment in 1950, making it the most amended national constitution in the world. The frequency of amendments—approximately twice a year—is due to the level of detail in the Constitution, which requires many matters to be addressed by constitutional amendment rather than statute.
There are three types of amendments to the Indian Constitution, governed by Article 368. The first type of amendment requires 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.
A simple majority is when more than half of the members of a body support a proposal. In the context of the Indian Parliament, a simple majority is more than half of the effective strength of the house. This means that vacant seats are deducted from the total number of seats. For example, if there are 245 members in the Rajya Sabha and 45 vacancies, then the effective strength of the house is 200. A simple majority in this case would be 101 votes.
A special majority is any type of majority other than an absolute, effective, or simple majority. Special majorities are further classified into four types, with different clauses. The first type of special majority is defined in Article 249, which requires a majority of two-thirds of members present and voting. The second type of special majority is defined in Article 368. The third type of special majority is also defined in Article 368, but it also requires ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures by a simple majority. The fourth type of special majority is defined in Article 61, which requires a majority of two-thirds of the total strength of the house.
In addition to these procedures, some constitutions require that amendments be enacted through a special procedure that is more stringent than the process for passing ordinary legislation. Examples of such special procedures include supermajorities in the legislature, direct approval by the electorate in a referendum, or a combination of both.
Voting on Amendments: When is it Allowed?
You may want to see also
