Important Articles, Amendments & Schedules
Indian Constitution — Fast Revision Point
1. Introduction
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the land, containing 395 Articles, 12 Schedules, and numerous Amendments. It defines the framework of governance, rights of citizens, and the relationship between the Centre and States.
A. Important Articles of the Indian Constitution
Articles Related to the Union & States
| Article | Topic |
|---|---|
| Art. 1 | India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States |
| Art. 2 | Admission or establishment of new States |
| Art. 3 | Formation of new States or alteration of boundaries |
| Art. 5–11 | Citizenship provisions |
| Art. 12–35 | Fundamental Rights |
| Art. 36–51 | Directive Principles of State Policy |
| Art. 51A | Fundamental Duties |
| Art. 72 | President’s Pardoning Power |
| Art. 73–78 | Powers of the Union Executive |
| Art. 79–122 | Parliament |
| Art. 123 | President’s Ordinance Power |
| Art. 124–147 | Supreme Court |
| Art. 148–151 | Comptroller & Auditor General |
| Art. 152–237 | State Government Structure |
| Art. 243–243O | Panchayati Raj (73rd Amendment) |
| Art. 243P–243ZG | Municipalities (74th Amendment) |
| Art. 280 | Finance Commission |
| Art. 324–329 | Election Commission |
| Art. 352–360 | Emergency Provisions |
| Art. 368 | Constitutional Amendment Procedure |
| Art. 370 (Removed) | Special Status of J&K |
B. Key Constitutional Amendments
| Amendment | Year | Key Feature / Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1951 | Added 9th Schedule; restricted Freedom of Speech |
| 24th | 1971 | Parliament’s power to amend Constitution affirmed |
| 25th | 1971 | Curtailment of Right to Property |
| 42nd | 1976 | Mini Constitution; Added Fundamental Duties, "Socialist, Secular" words |
| 44th | 1978 | Restored balance of powers post-Emergency |
| 52nd | 1985 | Anti-defection Law added (10th Schedule) |
| 61st | 1989 | Voting age lowered from 21 to 18 years |
| 73rd | 1992 | Panchayati Raj (Part IX) |
| 74th | 1992 | Municipalities (Part IXA) |
| 86th | 2002 | Right to Education (Article 21A) |
| 101st | 2016 | Goods and Services Tax (GST) introduced |
| 103rd | 2019 | 10% EWS Reservation |
| 104th | 2020 | Extended reservation for SC/ST in LS & State Assemblies |
C. Schedules of the Indian Constitution
| Schedule | Contents |
|---|---|
| 1st | Names of States & Union Territories |
| 2nd | Salaries of President, Judges, CAG, etc. |
| 3rd | Oath & Affirmations |
| 4th | Allocation of Rajya Sabha Seats |
| 5th | Administration of Scheduled Areas & Tribes |
| 6th | Autonomous District Councils (NE States) |
| 7th | Union, State & Concurrent Lists |
| 8th | 22 Official Languages |
| 9th | Acts & Laws protected from judicial review |
| 10th | Anti-Defection Law |
| 11th | Powers of Panchayats |
| 12th | Powers of Municipalities |
D. Emergency Provisions (Articles 352–360)
National Emergency
Art. 352 – Due to war, external aggression, armed rebellion. Declared by President. Example: 1962, 1971, 1975.
Duration: 6 months; can be extended with parliamentary approval.
State Emergency
Art. 356 – If State gov machinery fails.
Imposes President's
Rule.
Duration: 6 months, can go up to 3 years.
Financial Emergency
Art. 360 – If financial stability threatened.
Never imposed till date.
President can reduce salaries including judges.
Comparison of Emergencies
| Type | Article | Reason | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 352 | War/Aggression/Armed Rebellion | Suspension of Fundamental Rights |
| State | 356 | State Government failure | President’s Rule |
| Financial | 360 | Financial crisis | Salary cuts, economic control |
E. Hidden-Answer PYQs (Delhi Police + SSC + State Exams)
The total number of Articles in the Indian Constitution is —
A) 395 B) 370 C) 356 D) 400
Show Answer
A) 395
The term “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States” is mentioned in —
A) Article 2 B) Article 1 C) Article 3 D) Preamble
Show Answer
B) Article 1
Fundamental Rights are covered under which Articles?
A) 12–35 B) 36–51 C) 51–60 D) 5–11
Show Answer
A) 12–35
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment is known as —
A) Fundamental Rights Amendment B) Mini Constitution C) Panchayat Amendment D) GST Amendment
Show Answer
B) Mini Constitution
Which amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years?
A) 44th B) 52nd C) 61st D) 73rd
Show Answer
C) 61st
The 73rd Amendment Act deals with —
A) Urban Local Bodies B) Panchayati Raj C) Citizenship D) Election Commission
Show Answer
B) Panchayati Raj
The number of Schedules in the Indian Constitution is —
A) 8 B) 9 C) 10 D) 12
Show Answer
D) 12
The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution deals with —
A) Tribes and Scheduled Areas B) Languages C) Panchayats D) Union Territories
Show Answer
B) Languages
Financial Emergency can be declared under —
A) Article 352 B) Article 356 C) Article 360 D) Article 365
Show Answer
C) Article 360
Who has the power to declare a National Emergency?
A) Prime Minister B) President C) Parliament D) Supreme Court
Show Answer
B) President
F. Quick Revision Tables
Articles Overview
| Section | Range | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | 1–4 | Union and its Territory |
| Part II | 5–11 | Citizenship |
| Part III | 12–35 | Fundamental Rights |
| Part IV | 36–51 | DPSPs |
| Part IVA | 51A | Fundamental Duties |
| Part V–VI | 52–237 | Union & States |
| Part IX–IXA | 243–243ZG | Panchayats & Municipalities |
| Part XVIII | 352–360 | Emergency Provisions |
Amendments Snapshot
| Amendment | Feature |
|---|---|
| 42nd | Mini Constitution |
| 44th | Restored Rights |
| 73rd–74th | Local Government |
| 86th | Right to Education |
| 101st | GST |
| 103rd | EWS Reservation |
Schedules Snapshot
| No. | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | Structure of India |
| 5–6 | Scheduled Areas |
| 7–9 | Powers & Laws |
| 10–12 | Defection & Local Govt |
Emergencies Snapshot
| Type | Article | Trigger | Head Declaring |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 352 | War/Aggression | President |
| State | 356 | State Govt Failure | President |
| Financial | 360 | Economic Instability | President |
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