First constitutional Amendment act
- Context: 2026 marks 75 years of passage of The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, amending the constitution for the first time.
About the First Amendment
Land Reforms and Right to Property
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- Amendments were made to Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31 to give the State authority to place reasonable limits on property rights.
- This made it possible to carry out land reforms and acquire land for public purposes, helping abolish the zamindari system.
Freedom of Speech and Expression
- Changes to Article 19(2) widened the scope for restricting free speech.
- Grounds such as public order, national security, and relations with foreign countries were added as valid reasons for such restrictions.
Social Justice for SCs and STs
- New provisions, Article 15(4) and Article 16(4), were introduced.
- These allow reservations in education and government jobs for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other backward classes.
Protection of Land Reform Laws
- Article 31A was added to safeguard land reform laws from being challenged on the basis of property rights.
- Article 31B along with the Ninth Schedule was introduced to keep such laws beyond judicial review.
Directive for Welfare of Weaker Sections
- Article 46 was reinforced to ensure the State actively promotes the educational and economic welfare of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections with special attention.
