{"id":30435,"date":"2026-09-28T18:04:25","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T12:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=30435"},"modified":"2026-09-29T17:53:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T12:23:18","slug":"42nd-constitutional-amendment-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/42nd-constitutional-amendment-act\/","title":{"rendered":"42nd Constitutional Amendment Act 1976, Provisions, Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <strong>42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976,<\/strong> is one of the most extensive amendments to the Constitution of India. Often called the \"Mini-Constitution\", it amended more than 40 Articles, changed the Seventh Schedule, inserted new provisions, and attempted to strengthen Parliament and the Executive during the Emergency period.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <strong>42nd Constitutional Amendment Act<\/strong> was enacted during the National Emergency of 1975\u201377 under the Indira Gandhi government. It introduced important and lasting changes, including the insertion of the words \"Socialist\", \"Secular\", and \u201cIntegrity\u201d into the Preamble and the addition of Fundamental Duties under Article 51A. The Supreme Court later invalidated several provisions that curtailed judicial review or gave Parliament unlimited amending power.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">42nd Constitutional Amendment Act 1976 Background<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act emerged during the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/national-emergency-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\">National Emergency in India<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (1975\u20131977), when the government sought broad constitutional changes. In February 1976, the Congress President appointed the Swaran Singh Committee to examine and suggest constitutional amendments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Committee submitted its final report on 22 May 1976, and several of its recommendations were incorporated into the amendment.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act proposed wide-ranging changes affecting the Preamble, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/fundamental-duties\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Fundamental Duties<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Directive Principles of State Policy, Centre\u2013State relations, the judiciary, and Parliament.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">42nd Constitutional Amendment Act Objectives<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 aimed to make wide-ranging changes to the Constitution, particularly during the Emergency. Its major objectives included:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Strengthening the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/directive-principles-of-state-policy-dpsp\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Directive Principles of State Policy<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to promote social and economic justice.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Emphasising national unity and integrity by adding these ideas to the Preamble and introducing Fundamental Duties.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Strengthening the Union Government by altering aspects of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/centre-state-relations\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Centre\u2013State relations<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Limiting judicial intervention in certain constitutional and legislative matters.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Providing for Fundamental Duties of citizens through a new Article 51A.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Giving greater importance to socio-economic objectives by expanding the scope of certain Directive Principles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reforming constitutional and administrative arrangements, including provisions for\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/tribunals\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>tribunals in India<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and elections.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">42nd Constitutional Amendment Act Provisions and Changes<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 introduced wide-ranging changes to the Constitution, affecting the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, DPSPs, Fundamental Duties, judiciary, Parliament, and Centre\u2013State relations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Preamble:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u201cSocialist\u201d, \u201cSecular\u201d and \u201cIntegrity\u201d were added to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/preamble-of-indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Preamble of Indian Constitution<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, reflecting the constitutional commitment to social and economic justice, secularism and national unity.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Fundamental Duties: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A new Part IVA containing Article 51A was inserted. It introduced 10 Fundamental Duties for citizens, including respecting the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\">Indian Constitution<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, protecting national unity, promoting harmony, and protecting the environment.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Directive Principles of State Policy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Several DPSPs were strengthened to promote social and economic justice. New provisions directed the State to provide free legal aid (Article 39A), ensure workers\u2019 participation in management (Article 43A), and protect the environment and forests (Article 48A).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Article 31C: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Amendment expanded the protection under Article 31C to laws implementing any of the Directive Principles, instead of only those implementing Articles 39(b) and 39(c).\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This expansion was subsequently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Judicial Review: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Amendment attempted to restrict the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Courts in constitutional matters. It sought to prevent courts from questioning certain constitutional amendments and laws, thereby increasing the role of Parliament.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Centre\u2013State Relations: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Amendment strengthened the Union's position in relation to the States. It transferred five subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List: education, forests, protection of wild animals and birds, administration of justice, and weights and measures.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Parliament and State Legislatures: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The term of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies was increased from 5 years to 6 years. This provision was later reversed by the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/44th-constitutional-amendment-act\/\" target=\"_blank\">44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, restoring the term to five years.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>President: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Article 74 was amended to make it explicit that the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/president-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>President of India<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> must act in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Tribunals: <\/b>A<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> new Part XIV-A was inserted. Article 323A provided for Administrative Tribunals, while Article 323B provided for tribunals dealing with specified matters such as taxation, labour disputes and elections.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Constitutional Amendment Power: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Amendment attempted to establish that no constitutional amendment could be questioned in any court on any ground. It also declared that there would be no limitation on Parliament's constituent power to amend the Constitution.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These provisions were later struck down by the Supreme Court in Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">42nd Constitutional Amendment Act Case Laws<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 made wide-ranging changes to the Constitution. Several important Supreme Court cases subsequently examined these changes and shaped the basic structure doctrine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Although decided before the 42nd Amendment, the judgment established the Basic Structure Doctrine, holding that Parliament can amend the Constitution but cannot alter its basic structure.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This became the principal constitutional basis for reviewing several provisions introduced by the 42nd Amendment.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India (1980):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Supreme Court struck down Sections 4 and 55 of the 42nd Amendment. Section 4 expanded Article 31C to give precedence to all Directive Principles over Fundamental Rights under Articles 14 and 19, while Section 55 attempted to make Parliament\u2019s amending power unlimited. The Court held that limited amending power and judicial review are part of the basic structure.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India (1997):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Supreme Court held that the power of judicial review of legislative and administrative action by the High Courts under Article 226 and by the Supreme Court under Article 32 is part of the basic structure.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is relevant to the 42nd Amendment because it sought to restrict judicial review through provisions relating to tribunals and constitutional adjudication.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">42nd Constitutional Amendment Act Criticism<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act was criticised because several of its provisions altered the balance between Parliament, the judiciary, Fundamental Rights and the States. The major criticisms were:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Excessive Centralisation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It strengthened the Union at the expense of the States, particularly by transferring subjects to the Concurrent List and expanding Union influence.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Curtailment of Judicial Review:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Provisions attempting to restrict the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/supreme-court-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Supreme Court of India<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and High Courts' power of judicial review were criticised for weakening an important constitutional check on government power.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Weakening of Fundamental Rights:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The expansion of Article 31C gave greater protection to laws implementing DPSPs, potentially reducing the enforceability of Fundamental Rights.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Excessive Parliamentary Power:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Amendment attempted to make Parliament's constituent power virtually unlimited, including by preventing courts from questioning constitutional amendments.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">42nd Constitutional Amendment Act Impacts<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 had both enduring and reversed consequences. After the Emergency ended and the Janata Party government came to power in 1977, several controversial provisions were reconsidered.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>43rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1977:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Reversed several provisions that had curtailed the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Courts, thereby restoring important aspects of judicial review.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/44th-constitutional-amendment-act\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>44th Constitutional Amendment Act<\/b><\/a><b>, 1978:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Reversed several Emergency-era changes, including restoring the five-year term of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies and strengthening safeguards relating to the proclamation of Emergency.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Rebalancing Constitutional Institutions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The post-Emergency constitutional developments strengthened the role of judicial review, Fundamental Rights and institutional checks, limiting the centralising effects of the 42nd Amendment.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Greater Emphasis on Socio-economic Transformation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Through changes favouring DPSPs and provisions relating to socio-economic objectives, the Amendment sought to strengthen the constitutional basis for pursuing social and economic justice.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">42nd Constitutional Amendment Act<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> UPSC PYQs<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>Q1:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Which principle among the following was added to the Directive Principles of State Policy by the 42<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">nd<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Amendment to the Constitution? <\/span><b>(UPSC Prelims 2017)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a.) Equal pay for equal work for both men and women<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">b.) Participation of workers in the management of industries<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">c.) Right to work, education, and public assistance<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">d.) Securing living wage and human conditions of work to workers<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Ans: (b)<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, known as the \u201cMini-Constitution\u201d, made wide-ranging changes to the Constitution. Check about its provisions, changes, case law, criticism.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":30493,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,27],"tags":[2078,40,632],"class_list":["post-30435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-notes","category-upsc-polity-notes","tag-42nd-amendment-act","tag-quest","tag-upsc-polity-notes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30435"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30494,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30435\/revisions\/30494"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}