What was added in the 42nd Constitutional Amendment?
Asked by: Marjory Steuber Sr. | Last update: May 18, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (2 votes)
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, famously known as the "Mini Constitution," added the words Socialist, Secular, and Integrity to the Preamble, introduced 10 Fundamental Duties for citizens, expanded Directive Principles (DPSPs) like free legal aid, established Administrative Tribunals, and moved education to the Concurrent List, significantly altering India's constitutional framework.
What was added in the 42nd Amendment Act?
The 42nd Amendment granted power to the President, in consultation with the Election Commission, to disqualify members of State Legislatures. Prior to the Amendment, this power was vested in the Governor of the State.
What changes did the 42nd Amendment bring?
The 42nd Amendment was introduced in 1976 during Indira Gandhi's Emergency period. It added the words 'Socialist,' 'Secular,' and 'Integrity' to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. The amendment expanded the list of Fundamental Duties for Indian citizens.
What words were added to the Constitution through the 42nd Amendment?
The 42nd Amendment Act: It was enacted by Indian National Congress headed by Indira Gandhi. Words 'Socialist', 'Secular' and 'Integrity' were added in Preamble. The 42nd Amendment Act is also known as 'Mini-Constitution'.
What words were added in the Preamble during Emergency?
It is Soul of the constitution but this Preamble for Bharat was changed by 42nd Constitutional Amendment act of 1976, adding words Socialist, Secular and integrity”.
Congress Explains Why 'Secular' Was Added To Preamble Through 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act
What are the three new words in the Preamble?
It has been amended by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 which added three new words – Socialist, Secular, and Integrity.
What are the changes in the Preamble of the 42nd Amendment?
It fundamentally altered the Preamble by adding three new words: 'Socialist,' 'Secular,' and 'Integrity. ' The Preamble now reads: "Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic... assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation."
Why is part 7 removed?
Part VII of the Indian Constitution was repealed by the Seventh Amendment Act of 1956 because it dealt with Part B States (former princely states) that became redundant after India reorganized its states on a linguistic basis, making the old classification of Part A, B, C states obsolete and establishing the modern system of States and Union Territories, as explained in sources like IAS Origin and Testbook.
Which were the new words added to the Constitution in 1976?
Insertion of the words Socialist and Secular:
The words "Socialist" and "Secular" were added to the Preamble through the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, during the period of Emergency under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government.
What is the difference between 42nd & 44th Amendments?
Ans. The 42nd Amendment significantly expanded executive powers and restricted civil liberties, while the 44th Amendment aimed to restore democratic principles, limit executive authority, and safeguard Fundamental Rights.
How many directive principles were added by the 42nd Amendment of 1976?
First 42nd Amendment 1976 – It added four new directive principles- Article 39, Article 39A, Article 43A and Article 48A.
What was the last Amendment to be changed?
Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 27 – “Financial Compensation for the Congress” Amendment Twenty-seven to the Constitution was ratified on May 7, 1992. It forbids any changes to the salary of Congress members from taking effect until the next election concludes.
What prevented the Equal Rights Amendment from passing in 1977?
By 1977, only 35 states had ratified the ERA. Though Congress voted to extend the ratification deadline by an additional three years, no new states signed on. Complicating matters further, lawmakers in five states — Nebraska, Tennessee, Idaho, Kentucky, and South Dakota — voted to rescind their earlier support.
Who proposed the 42nd Amendment?
The 42nd Amendment Act was enacted by Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India. It transformed India from a unitary system of governance to a federal one. This amendment effectively changed the “Indian Union” into a federation with three federal systems of government in addition to the Indian Union.
What are the major changes in the 42nd Amendment?
42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976
Also known as the constitution act, 1976, this act made the following changes in the constitution: Reduce the power of the supreme court and the high court. Laid down fundamental duties for citizens. Terms- socialist, secular and integrity were added to the Preamble.
What words don't appear in the Constitution?
The word “privacy” does not appear anyone in the Constitution.
When was the word secular added to the Constitution?
Two expressions—'secular' and 'socialist' and the word 'integrity' were inserted in the Preamble vide the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976. These amendments were made in 1976.
Why is the 7th Amendment not incorporated?
history of this amendment and the Court's jurisprudence in this area show that the Seventh Amendment provision of civil jury trials should remain unincorporated as to the states. A. Non-Incorporation Is Consistent With The History And Purpose Of The Seventh Amendment And The Court's Older Jurisprudence.
What is article number 7?
Article 7 of Indian Constitution deals with the complex migration issues that followed Partition . It aims to set clear criteria for determining who retains Indian citizenship . Key Provisions: No Citizenship: Post-March 1 migrants to Pakistan are not Indian citizens.
What is the constitutional amendment of 1956?
The Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, was enacted on November 1, 1956, to fundamentally reorganize India's states and territories.
What are the three new words added to the Preamble?
The words "socialist", "secular" and "integrity" were later added during the Indian emergency by Indira Gandhi.
What is the difference between the 42nd and 44th Amendment?
The 42nd Amendment had curtailed judicial review and shifted power to the executive. The 44th Amendment restored judicial independence by re-emphasizing the judiciary's power of review and its role as the guardian of the Constitution.
What is the difference between socialist and secular?
Socialist signified the state's commitment to reducing inequality and ensuring distributive justice through a mixed economy model. Secular reaffirmed the principle of equal respect for all religions, ensuring that the state maintains neutrality in religious matters without endorsing any faith.
Is a Preamble legally binding?
A preamble is not legally enforceable, but it is an important aid in gaining an understanding of why an agency is acting or refusing to act.
What is socialist in Preamble?
The word socialist was added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd amendment act of 1976, during the Emergency. It implies social and economic equality. Social equality in this context means the absence of discrimination on the grounds only of caste, colour, creed, sex, religion, or language.