Indian Polity Part 1: Preamble and the Basic Structure Doctrine, Exam-Ready Notes

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Two anchors open any polity answer: what the Preamble promises and what Parliament cannot amend.

On this page

  1. Preamble file
  2. Basic Structure doctrine
  3. Amendment routes
  4. Revise in 30 seconds

Preamble file

  • Berubari: not part of the Constitution; Kesavananda: part of it; LIC: not enforceable.
  • 42nd Amendment added socialist, secular, integrity; 2024 SC upheld the 1976 insertions.

Basic Structure doctrine

  • Kesavananda 1973: Parliament cannot destroy the identity of the Constitution.
  • Illustrative elements: supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, separation of powers, judicial review, federalism, free and fair elections.
  • Applied: NJAC struck 2015; 99th Amendment fell with it.

Amendment routes

  • Article 368: simple majority (outside 368), special majority, special + half the states.

Revise in 30 seconds

  • Preamble: Berubari no, Kesavananda yes, not enforceable.
  • 42nd added socialist-secular-integrity.
  • Basic structure: identity Parliament cannot amend.
  • NJAC fell to basic structure, 2015.

Quick revision

  • Berubari: not part of the Constitution; Kesavananda: part of it; LIC: not enforceable.
  • 42nd Amendment added socialist, secular, integrity; 2024 SC upheld the 1976 insertions.
  • Kesavananda 1973: Parliament cannot destroy the identity of the Constitution.
  • Illustrative elements: supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, separation of powers, judicial review, federalism, free and fair elections.
  • Applied: NJAC struck 2015; 99th Amendment fell with it.
  • Article 368: simple majority (outside 368), special majority, special + half the states.