This post has been written by Shaily Jain, a second year law student from Amity Law School, Amity University, Chhattisgarh
42nd Amendment Act, 1976 is one of the foremost vital amendments to the Indian Constitution. It was ordered by Indian National Congress headed by Indira Gandhi at that point. Due to the expansive number of amendments this act has brought to the Indian Constitution, it is additionally known as ‘Mini-Constitution.’ The topic ‘42nd Amendment Act’ moreover called The Constitution Act, 1976
What is 42nd Amendment Act?
The act also called The Constitution Act, 1976 is named as one of the foremost questionable acts within the history of amendments to Indian Constitution. It revised/ presented different provisions given below:
- Attempted to reduce the power of the Supreme Court and High Courts
- Laid down Fundamental Duties for citizens
- Terms- Socialist, Secular and Integrity added to the Preamble
Why is 42nd Amendment called Mini Constitution?
The forty-second amendment attempted to change the essential structure of Indian Constitution. Check the table underneath to read what all corrections were brought by the constitution act, 1976 since of which it was called the ‘’Mini Constitution” :
| Amendments by 42nd Amendment Act | Details of the Amendments |
| Changes to Preamble | Words Socialist, Secular and Integrity added |
| Changes to 7th Schedule | Transferred five subjects from the state list to the concurrent list:
|
| Added Article 51A | 10 Fundamental Duties added for the citizens (Read below about the amendments registered in Article 51A) |
| Parliamentary Amendments |
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| Changes to the judicial powers of HC | Curtailed the judicial review power of the high courts |
| Added Articles 323A and 323B XIV-A to the Constitution | Part XIV-A added entitled as Tribunals dealing with Administrative Tribunals and tribunals for other matters |
| Added 4 new DPSPs to list |
|
How many duties are registered in 51st article of Indian Constitution by 42nd
Amendment?
Article 51A under Part IV-A of the Constitution (which consists of only one Article—51A) was added by the 42nd amendment act. It introduced 10 Fundamental Duties:
Fundamental Duties under Article 51A
- To respect the Constitution, national flag and national anthem
- To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national freedom struggle
- To protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country
- To defend the country and render national service
- To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people
- To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
- 7 .To protect and improve the natural environment and have compassion for living creatures
- To develop the scientific temper, humanism and spirit of enquiry
- To safeguard public property
- To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity