TNPSC Group 1 · Indian Polity – Constitutional Amendments and Key Acts
Constitutional Amendments Key Acts – TNPSC Group 1 Polity MCQ Practice Set
Question 1
Which Constitutional Amendment is known as the ‘Mini Constitution’ due to the sweeping changes it made to the Indian Constitution?
Answer: A
The 42nd Amendment Act (1976), enacted during the Emergency under Indira Gandhi, made extensive changes to the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and the basic structure of the Constitution. It added the words ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, and ‘Integrity’ and is hence called the Mini Constitution.
Exam Trick
42 = ‘Mini Constitution’ — Remember: 42nd was during Emergency (1975-77), so massive changes were pushed through Parliament.
Question 2
The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act (1978) restored which Fundamental Right that was downgraded to a legal right by the 44th Amendment itself?
Answer: A
The 44th Amendment Act (1978) deleted Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31, thereby removing the Right to Property from the list of Fundamental Rights. It was made a statutory/legal right under Article 300A. This was done to prevent misuse by wealthy individuals against land reform legislation.
Exam Trick
44th Amendment = Property Right REMOVED from FR. Remember: 44 sounds like ‘for-for’ meaning the right was taken ‘away for good’ from Fundamental Rights.
Question 3
Which Constitutional Amendment introduced Panchayati Raj Institutions as constitutional bodies and added the 11th Schedule to the Indian Constitution?
Answer: B
The 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 (effective April 24, 1993) gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions by adding Part IX and the 11th Schedule (containing 29 subjects) to the Constitution. April 24 is now celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day. The 74th Amendment Act did the same for Urban Local Bodies.
Exam Trick
73 = Village Panchayats (Rural), 74 = Municipalities (Urban). Remember: 7+3=10, villages are the base/ground level of governance.
Question 4
The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act (2002) inserted which Article to make free and compulsory education a Fundamental Right for children?
Answer: A
The 86th Amendment Act (2002) inserted Article 21A, which made free and compulsory education a Fundamental Right for children between 6 to 14 years of age. It also amended Article 45 (DPSP) to provide early childhood care for children below 6 years, and added Article 51A(k) as a fundamental duty of parents to provide education to their children.
Exam Trick
86th = RTE. Article 21 = Right to Life, so 21A is an extension — Right to Education as part of Right to Life. Remember: 21+A = Life + Education together.
Question 5
Which Constitutional Amendment provided for 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in educational institutions and government jobs?
Answer: C
The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 inserted Articles 15(6) and 16(6) providing 10% reservation for EWS in the general category. The 101st Amendment introduced GST, the 102nd gave constitutional status to OBC Commission (NCBC), and the 104th extended SC/ST reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies for another 10 years.
Exam Trick
103rd = EWS 10% Reservation. Remember: 103 has ’10’ in it → 10% EWS quota. Easy memory link!
