QUESTION 12
GS2
15 marks
“Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution is a limited power and it cannot be enlarged into absolute power.” In the light of this statement explain whether Parliament under Article 368 of the Constitution can destroy the Basic Structure of the Constitution by expanding its amending power?
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Explain whether Parliament can use Article 368 to expand its power and destroy the basic structure.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Evolution: Shankari Prasad, Golaknath, 24th Amendment, Kesavananda (basic structure)≈50 words
- 2Attempts to expand: 42nd Amendment clauses (Art. 368(4),(5)) struck down in Minerva Mills (1980)≈50 words
- 3Principle: limited amending power is itself basic structure≈50 words
- 4Recent: NJAC (2015)≈50 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Case evolutionMinerva MillsPrincipleRecent exampleConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only Kesavananda
- Not answering the 'expanding power' part
Draw this
- Timeline of amendment-power cases
Value addition
- CaseMinerva Mills v Union (1980): limited amending power is part of the basic structure; Parliament cannot enlarge it.Supreme Court, 1980
- CaseSupreme Court Advocates-on-Record Assn (2015) struck down the 99th Amendment (NJAC) for violating judicial independence.Supreme Court, 2015
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Alfred Thomas · Page 7 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Akash Kumar · AIR 101 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 29 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Alfred Thomas · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.