Which of the following were done by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act?

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 added the words "Socialist," "Secular," and "Integrity" to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
• It is also referred to as the “Mini Constitution” due to the extensive changes it introduced.
• The act aimed to strengthen the concept of India as a secular state by explicitly including the word "Secular" in the Preamble.
• It was enacted during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the context of the Emergency period.
• The changes brought by the amendment emphasized the importance of secularism in ensuring equality and non-discrimination based on religion.

Additional Information

• Secularism in India:
  • Secularism in India means that the state treats all religions equally and ensures freedom of religion.
  • It prohibits discrimination based on religion and ensures protection of minority rights.
  • The concept is enshrined under Articles 25 to 28 of the Indian Constitution.
• 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act Highlights:
  • It introduced changes to the Seventh Schedule, enhancing the power of the central government.
  • It brought provisions related to the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), emphasizing the role of the state in promoting welfare.
  • It curtailed judicial review by limiting the scope of fundamental rights during the Emergency.
• Voting Age Lowering:
  • The voting age in India was reduced from 21 to 18 through the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988, not the 42nd Amendment.
• Anti-Defection Law:
  • The Anti-Defection Law was introduced by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985, not the 42nd Amendment.
  • It aimed to curb political defections and ensure stability in governments.