Question

The ‘Preamble of the constitution’ was amended by the __________________________.
A. 1st amendment
B. 26th amendment
C. 42nd amendment
D. 44th amendment

Answer 1

Hint:
1. The ‘Preamble of the constitution’ is a brief introductory statement which sets the guidelines and presents the principles of the constitution.
2. It is also known by the name of mini-constitution or the constitution act 1976, among the respective audience.

Complete answer:
Amending the constitution of India is a process of making changes to the nation’s fundamental law or the supreme law. The procedure of making an amendment to the constitution is laid down in Article 368 (part XX) of the constitution of India. These procedures are so that it ensures the sanctity/purity of the constitution of India and keeps a check on the arbitrary power of the Parliament of India.

The preamble (or the introduction to) of the constitution was amended under the Constitutional act, 1976 which was enacted by the Indian National Congress headed by Indira Gandhi. This act is also known as a mini –constitution due to the many amendments in the constitution through this act.

Now, the options we have are –

1st amendment – the first amendment to the constitution was enacted in the year 1951 and it made several changes to the fundamental rights provision of the Indian constitution.

26th amendment – the 26th amendment to the constitution was enacted in the year 1971 and it abolished the Privy Purse and all the rights, liabilities and obligation in respect of the privy purse (Privy Purse – was a payment made to the ruling families of erstwhile princely states).

42nd amendment – the 42nd amendment to the constitution was enacted in 1976 and it made changes to the preamble and is also known as a mini – constitution.

44th amendment – the 44th amendment was enacted in the year 1978 and was introduced to safeguard the recurrence of the tendency of the majority party to take over the fundamental rights in the future.

Therefore the answer is C

Note:
The 42nd Amendment changed the description of India from a "sovereign democratic republic" to a "sovereign, socialist secular democratic republic", and also changed the words "unity of the nation" to "unity and integrity of the nation”.

The Preamble of India has been amended only once in the lifetime of our constitution, that to be only by the first woman Prime Minister of India, Ms. Indira Gandhi.