W HY H AVE T HERE B EEN SO M ANY A MENDMENTS ? On January , the Constitution of India completed years of its existence. In these fifty-six years, it was amended times. Given the relatively difficult method of amending the Constitution, the number of amendments appears quite high.
Let us try to find out how it is that so many amendments took place and what it means. Let us first look at the brief history of the amendments: look carefully at the graphs below. The same information is presented in two different ways. The first graph depicts the number of constitution amendments made every ten years; the bar indicates the number of amendments in that period.
The second graph depicts the time taken for every ten amendments; the bar depicts the years taken for ten amendments. You will notice that the two decades from to saw a large number of amendments. On the other hand, the second graph tells one more story: ten amendments took place between a short span of three Why was our Constitution amended so many times? Is there something wrong with our society or with the Constitution?
Subject of amendment Special Ratification majority by States Citizenship clause Right to freedom of religion Changes in the Union List Changes in State boundaries Provision regarding Election Commission