Indian Polity & Governance·Amendments
Legislative Assembly — Amendments
Constitution VerifiedUPSC Verified
Version 1Updated 5 Mar 2026
| Amendment | Year | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th Amendment | 1956 | Reorganized states and union territories, affecting Legislative Assembly composition and boundaries. This amendment implemented the States Reorganization Act recommendations, creating new states and modifying existing ones based on linguistic principles. | Fundamentally restructured state boundaries and Legislative Assembly constituencies, establishing the modern state system and requiring fresh delimitation of assembly seats across reorganized states. |
| 42nd Amendment | 1976 | Extended the term of Legislative Assemblies and Lok Sabha from five to six years during the Emergency period. Also made several changes to legislative procedures and powers. | Temporarily altered the democratic cycle, though the 44th Amendment later restored the five-year term. Demonstrated the vulnerability of democratic institutions during emergency periods. |
| 52nd Amendment | 1985 | Added the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) to prevent defection of Legislative Assembly members. Established grounds for disqualification and procedures for decision-making by the Speaker. | Significantly strengthened party discipline in Legislative Assemblies, reduced political instability, but also limited individual MLA autonomy and freedom of conscience in voting. |
| 84th Amendment | 2001 | Froze delimitation of Legislative Assembly constituencies until after the first census following 2026, based on 1971 census figures for seat allocation between states. | Prevented changes in assembly strength due to population changes, ensuring states with better population control weren't penalized with reduced representation. |
| 104th Amendment | 2019 | Ended the provision for nomination of Anglo-Indian members to Legislative Assemblies by Governors, removing this special representation after 70 years. | Concluded a historical provision for minority representation, reflecting changed demographic and social circumstances in independent India. |