Constitutional Amendments — Current Affairs 2026
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Supreme Court upholds 103rd Constitutional Amendment providing 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections
November 2022The Supreme Court's 3:2 majority judgment upholding the 103rd Amendment marked a significant development in constitutional amendment jurisprudence. The Court held that economic criteria can be a valid basis for reservation and that the 50% ceiling established in Indra Sawhney case applies only to caste-based reservations. The judgment demonstrates how constitutional amendments continue to evolve India's social justice framework while testing the boundaries of the basic structure doctrine. The dissenting judges raised concerns about the amendment violating the basic structure by breaching equality principles.
UPSC Angle: Expect questions on the relationship between constitutional amendments and social justice, the scope of reservation policies, and the application of basic structure doctrine to recent amendments.
Debate over Constitutional Amendment for Simultaneous Elections gains momentum
September 2024The proposal for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies has reignited debates about constitutional amendments affecting India's federal structure. Such an amendment would require changes to multiple constitutional provisions and would need state ratification under Article 368. The proposal raises questions about federalism, electoral democracy, and the practical challenges of constitutional implementation. Legal experts debate whether simultaneous elections would require amendment to the basic structure of the Constitution, particularly its federal character and democratic governance principles.
UPSC Angle: Questions likely on federal implications of simultaneous elections, amendment procedures for electoral reforms, and the relationship between constitutional amendments and democratic governance.