Constitutional Amendments
Types of Majority Required
Constitutional amendments in India are governed by Article 368. Different types of amendments require different majorities: (a) a simple majority (more than 50% of members present and voting) for ordinary legislation; (b) a special majority (majority of total membership of the House AND two-thirds of members present and voting) for most constitutional amendments; (c) special majority plus ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures for amendments affecting federal provisions (Articles 54, 55, 73, 162, the lists in the Seventh Schedule, representation of States in Parliament, and Article 368 itself).
- Article 368(2): Most constitutional amendments require a special majority in each House separately — there is no joint sitting for constitutional amendments.
- The 106th Amendment (Women's Reservation) required a special majority — it was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both Houses.
- Any amendment to unlink the census-delimitation precondition from the Women's Reservation Act would itself require a special majority constitutional amendment.
- The 42nd Amendment, 1976 is considered the most controversial amendment, adding numerous provisions including the Preamble words "socialist" and "secular" and extending Parliament's term — many provisions were later reversed by the 44th Amendment, 1978.
- The 44th Amendment, 1978 also removed the right to property from Fundamental Rights (Article 31) and made it a legal right under Article 300A.
● Tracked since March 10, 2026 · last seen June 30, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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