Proposed Amendments to Seven Key Constitutional Articles

Proposed Amendments to Seven Key Constitutional Articles

  • Context:

  • The Union Government has introduced three sweeping legislative Bills in the Lok Sabha that collectively seek to amend seven Articles of the Indian Constitution.

  • These amendments broadly target sections pertaining to the Union Executive, the composition of Parliament and State Assemblies, and 'Special Provisions' relating to certain classes.

  • The Legislative Blueprint:

  • The proposed constitutional overhaul is driven by three specific pieces of legislation introduced in the lower house:

  • The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 introduced by the Union Law Minister.

  • The Delimitation Bill, 2026 is also moved by the Law Minister, this seeks to provide for the readjustment of the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to the States and Union Territories (UTs), as well as the total number of seats in the Legislative Assemblies.

  • The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 tabled by the Home Minister.

  • The Seven Articles Slated for Amendment:

  • Article 55:

  • This article governs the manner of the President's election.

  • It specifically mandates uniformity in the scale of representation of different States, as well as parity between the States and Parliament in calculating the number of votes electors are entitled to cast.

  • Article 81 dictates the current structural limits of the House, capping members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies at not more than 530 for States and 20 for Union Territories.

  • Article 82

  • The article mandates that upon the completion of each Census, the allocation of Lok Sabha seats and the division of States into territorial constituencies must be readjusted by an authority determined by Parliament.

  • Article 170 outlines the overall structure and composition of the State Legislative Assemblies.

  • Articles 330 and 332:

  • Article 330 provides for the reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

  • Similarly, Article 332 provides identical reservation guarantees for SCs and STs within State Legislative Assemblies.

  • Article 334:

  • This article provides an expiration timeline for special representations.

  • It outlines that reservations for SCs/STs and nominations for the Anglo-Indian community shall cease after 80 and 70 years, respectively, from the commencement of the Constitution.

  • 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019-Ended Anglo-Indian nomination in Parliament and State Assemblies