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Polity & Governance GS 2 In the news 5 times

Constitutional Amendment Process

Types of Majority Required

Delimitation and women's reservation changes involve multiple types of constitutional amendments, each requiring different voting thresholds. Understanding which articles are being amended — and what majority they require — is essential to understanding how these bills will move through Parliament.

Key details
  • Article 368(2): Most constitutional amendments require a Special Majority — majority of total membership of each House AND two-thirds of members present and voting
  • Article 368(2) proviso: Certain amendments also require ratification by at least half of state legislatures — these are entrenched provisions relating to federal structure (Articles 54, 55, 73, 162, 241, Chapter IV of Part V, Chapter V of Part VI, Seventh Schedule, etc.)
  • Women's reservation (Articles 330A, 332A, 334A): Added by 128th Amendment using Special Majority only — did not require state ratification (since it does not alter state legislative lists or the distribution of powers)
  • Delimitation amendment (changing seat numbers — Article 81, 82): Would require at minimum a Special Majority; if altering the Seventh Schedule's Concurrent List entries, could require state ratification
  • 131st Constitutional Amendment (proposed — delinks women's reservation from census): Will require Special Majority in both Houses; government needs NDA majority to ensure passage
In the news

Tracked since March 24, 2026 · last seen July 03, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

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