42nd Amendment Changes — Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs Connections
Supreme Court upholds validity of 103rd Amendment providing EWS reservation
November 2022The Supreme Court's validation of the 103rd Amendment providing 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections connects to the 42nd Amendment's expansion of social justice provisions. Just as the 42nd Amendment added Article 39A for equal justice and free legal aid, the EWS reservation represents the continuing evolution of constitutional provisions for social equity. The Court's approach in testing the 103rd Amendment against the basic structure doctrine directly stems from the precedent set in challenging the 42nd Amendment's provisions in Minerva Mills case. The debate over whether economic criteria alone can justify reservation echoes the 42nd Amendment's emphasis on socialist principles and economic equality.
UPSC Angle: Questions may link the constitutional philosophy of social justice in 42nd Amendment with contemporary reservation policies, testing understanding of constitutional evolution and basic structure doctrine application.
Environmental clearance controversies and Article 48A implementation
January 2024Recent controversies over environmental clearances for development projects directly invoke Article 48A, which was added by the 42nd Amendment. This provision mandating environmental protection has become the constitutional foundation for environmental litigation and policy-making. The tension between development and environmental protection reflects the broader conflict between different Directive Principles that the 42nd Amendment sought to address. Modern environmental activism and court interventions trace their constitutional legitimacy to this provision introduced during the Emergency period, showing how even controversial amendments can have lasting positive impacts.
UPSC Angle: Expect questions linking Article 48A with contemporary environmental issues, testing knowledge of how 42nd Amendment provisions remain relevant in current governance challenges.