Eight Constitution Amendments Enacted in the Last Twelve Years, Government Informs Parliament

Key Highlights:

• Eight Constitution Amendments have been enacted in India during the last twelve years.
• These amendments address diverse areas including judicial appointments, international agreements, and social justice.
• The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 introduced reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
• Information was provided by the Union Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Detailed Insights:

• The Constitution (Ninety-Ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 aimed to establish the National Judicial Appointments Commission to replace the collegium system.
• The Constitution (One Hundredth Amendment) Act, 2015 related to the land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh.
• The Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016 introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India.
• The Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018 granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.
• The Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019 provided reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in government jobs and educational institutions.
• The Constitution (One Hundred and Fourth Amendment) Act, 2019 extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for ten years.
• The Constitution (One Hundred and Fifth Amendment) Act, 2021 clarified the power of states to identify Socially and Educationally Backward Classes.
• The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 mandates reservation of seats for women in the House of People and State Legislative Assemblies.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Constitutional Amendment: A formal change or addition to the Constitution of India, requiring a special majority in Parliament.
• Collegium System: A system where judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by a body of senior judges.
• Goods and Services Tax (GST): An indirect tax levied on the supply of goods and services, replacing multiple cascading taxes.
• National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC): A constitutional body empowered to examine complaints and welfare measures for socially and educationally backward classes.