Who amends the constitution in India?

Asked by: Miracle Lemke  |  Last update: March 8, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (45 votes)

The Parliament of India amends the Constitution, initiating changes through a bill in either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, which must pass with a special majority (two-thirds of members present and voting, plus a majority of the total membership) and receive the President's assent; some significant amendments also require ratification by half the state legislatures, involving both Parliament and states in the process.

Who has the power to amend the Indian constitution?

Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and Procedure therefor: (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may in exercise of its constituent power amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any provision of this Constitution in accordance with the procedure laid down in this article.

How many times did India amend their Constitution?

As of July 2025, there have been 106 amendments of the Constitution of India since it was first enacted in 1950. The Indian Constitution is the most amended national constitution in the world.

Can a president amend the Constitution in India?

An amendment of the Constitution can be initiated only by the introduction of a bill for the purpose in either House of Parliament (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) and not in the state legislatures. The bill can be introduced either by a minister or by a private member and does not require prior permission of the president.

Who was the first person to amend the Constitution?

In the fall of 1789, the First Congress submitted the first constitutional amendments to the states for ratification. When Virginia representative James Madison introduced those amendments, some members protested that the Constitution was so new that they ought not hurry to change it.

Why is the US Constitution so hard to amend? - Peter Paccone

22 related questions found

Who passed the 13, 14, and 15 amendments?

Congress passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, outlawing slavery, before the Civil War had ended. Once the war was over, white southerners passed laws (known as Black Codes) to keep freedmen from exercising their rights, and Congress responded by passing a Civil Rights Act in 1866 to ensure black citizenship.

Who amended the Constitution four times?

Thus, we can say that Belgium leaders amended their constitutions 4 times to enable everyone to live in unity.

Who has the power to change laws in India?

Under the Constitution, Parliament has the power to make laws for the whole of or any part of the territory of India. The State Legislatures have the power to make laws for the States.

Has anyone tried to change the Constitution?

The Constitution has been amended only 27 times since it was drafted in 1787, including the first 10 amendments adopted four years later as the Bill of Rights. Not just any idea to improve America deserves an amendment. The idea must be one of major impact affecting all Americans or securing rights of citizens.

Which article of the Indian Constitution cannot be amended?

Article 21 of the Constitution of India cannot be amended with a simple majority. Article 21 guarantees the protection of life and personal liberty, stating that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law.

Who wrote the Indian Constitution?

The authors of the Indian Constitution are B.R. Ambedkar (chairman of the drafting committee), Surendra Nath Mukherjee (chief draftsman of the Constituent Assembly), and B.N. Rau (constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly)

Which is the most amended Constitution in the world?

🇮🇳 India's Constitution is the world's longest: 146,385 words. It has been amended 100+ times.

What is an example of a failed amendment?

The first amendment ever proposed. In 1789, Congress approved a proposed amendment regulating the size of the House of Representatives. But the measure—the first in a series of 12—failed to garner enough support among the states.

Who is allowed to change the Constitution?

Amending the U.S. Constitution requires a two-step process involving either Congress or a national convention to propose amendments (requiring a two-thirds vote/request), and then three-fourths of the state legislatures (or state conventions) to ratify them. Congress proposes amendments via a two-thirds vote in both houses, or states can request a convention by two-thirds of their legislatures. The President has no formal role in the process. 

How many private member bills have passed in India?

E.g., only 14 private member bills have become law till date and the last such bill was passed in 1970.

What is the 97th amendment all about?

India's 97th Constitutional Amendment (2011) granted constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies, aiming to ensure their democratic, autonomous, and professional functioning by adding Part IX-B and Article 43B, making the right to form cooperatives a fundamental right and promoting better governance, timely elections, and financial transparency.
 

Which country has the most difficult Constitution to amend?

Ancient and virtually impervious to amendment, the United States Constitution has withstood all modern efforts to renovate its outdated architecture on elections, federalism, rights, and beyond.

Who proposed all 27 amendments?

Founding Father James Madison first proposed this amendment back in 1789 along with several other amendments that became the Bill of Rights, but it took 203 years for it to become the law of the land.

What are the three methods to amend the Constitution?

The process and scope of each type of amendment are discussed in detail below.

  1. By Simple Majority of Parliament.
  2. By Special Majority of Parliament.
  3. By Special Majority of the Parliament and Consent of Half States.
  4. FAQs.

Who can amend Indian law?

(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may in exercise of its constituent power amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any provision of this Constitution in accordance with the procedure laid down in this article.

Who has the final say in amending the Constitution?

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as ...

How to amend the Indian constitution?

Prelims. An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by an introduction of a bill in the Lok Sabha only. If such an amendment seeks to make changes in the federal character of the Constitution, the amendment also requires to be ratified by the legislature of all the States of India.

How many times has the Constitution of India been amended?

The amended constitution has a preamble and 470 articles, which are grouped into 25 parts. With 12 schedules and five appendices, it has been amended 106 times; the latest amendment was given assent on 28 September 2023.

Who can amend a Constitution?

Amending the U.S. Constitution requires a two-step process involving either Congress or a national convention to propose amendments (requiring a two-thirds vote/request), and then three-fourths of the state legislatures (or state conventions) to ratify them. Congress proposes amendments via a two-thirds vote in both houses, or states can request a convention by two-thirds of their legislatures. The President has no formal role in the process. 

Who passed the 14th amend?

The amendment was passed by Congress (proposed) on June 13, 1866 and ratified on July 9, 1868.