Indian Polity & Governance·Amendments
State Legislature — Amendments
Constitution VerifiedUPSC Verified
Version 1Updated 5 Mar 2026
| Amendment | Year | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th Amendment | 1956 | Reorganized states and union territories, affecting the composition and jurisdiction of State Legislatures. It redefined state boundaries and created new legislative units corresponding to linguistic reorganization. | Established the current framework of state boundaries and corresponding legislative jurisdictions, enabling better linguistic and cultural representation in State Legislatures. |
| 42nd Amendment | 1976 | Extended the term of Legislative Assemblies and Lok Sabha from 5 to 6 years during emergency, and made several changes to legislative procedures and powers. | Temporarily altered the democratic cycle but was largely reversed by the 44th Amendment, demonstrating the resilience of India's constitutional framework against authoritarian tendencies. |
| 44th Amendment | 1978 | Restored the original 5-year term for Legislative Assemblies, removed the right to property as a fundamental right, and strengthened democratic safeguards against emergency misuse. | Restored democratic normalcy and strengthened constitutional protections, ensuring regular elections and preventing indefinite extension of legislative terms. |
| 52nd Amendment | 1985 | Added the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) to prevent political defections and ensure stability of governments at both central and state levels. | Significantly reduced political instability caused by defections, strengthened party discipline, and ensured that governments could function with predictable support in legislatures. |