Indian Polity & Governance·Amendments
Patterns and Triggers — Amendments
Updated 5 Mar 2026
| Amendment | Year | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42nd Amendment | 1976 | Added 'secular' and 'socialist' to the Preamble, strengthening the constitutional commitment to secularism and providing additional legal basis for preventing communal violence and maintaining religious harmony. | Strengthened the constitutional foundation for state intervention in communal matters and provided clearer mandate for maintaining secular fabric of society, influencing subsequent judicial interpretations in communal violence cases. |