Which of the following constitutional amendment acts seeks that the size of the councils of ministers at the centre and in a state must not exceed 15% of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha and the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State, respectively?

Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368), Constitutional Amendments

1. An amendment refers to the process of modifying a document. Constitutional amendment is, thus, the process of making modifications to the constitution.

2. Constitutional amendments are required to keep the constitution relevant and to make necessary changes as per the demands of changing times, changing social situations etc.

3. Article 368 of the Indian constitution deals with amendments and its procedures.

4. Only the Parliament is authorized to make amendments to the constitution. 
The constitution can be amended by the parliament as long as it does not change the ‘basic structure’ of the constitution. This is known as the ‘basic structure doctrine’.

5. Some amendments can be passed by a simple majority of the Parliament. Some examples are:

(i) Formation of a new state or the alteration of boundaries of existing states.

(ii) Salaries and allowances of President, Vice-President etc.

(iii) Creation or abolition of legislative councils.

(iv) Conferment of more jurisdiction on the Supreme Court.

(v) Laws related to citizenship.

6. Most amendments to the constitution requires a special majority. This majority is 50% of the total membership of the house and two-thirds of the members of each House present and voting. Total membership implies the total strength of the house, irrespective of absence and vacancies. Examples of amendments that require special majority are:

(i) Changes to fundamental rights

(ii) Changes to the directive principles of state policy

(iii) Any other amendment that does not require simple majority or ratification of the states.

7. Some provisions of the constitution requires a special majority as well as ratification by at least half of the state legislatures. The moment at least half of the state legislatures gives consent to the amendment, the amendment is considered to be passed. There is no time limit within which the states should give their consent to the bill. 

8. The provisions that require a special majority and ratification by at least half of the state legislatures are: 

(i) Election of the President and its manner.

(ii) Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and its procedure (i.e., Article 368 itself).
(iii) Supreme Court and high courts.

(iv) Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the states.

(v) Any of the lists in the Seventh Schedule.

(vi) Representation of states in Parliament (Rajya Sabha).

(vii) Extent of the executive power of the Union and the states.

9. Some major amendments to the constitution are:

(i) The first amendment rationalized certain provisions regarding freedom of speech, acquisition of Zamindari land etc. It also empowered the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and economically backward classes.

(ii) The fourth amendment authorized the state to nationalize any trade.

(iii) The seventh amendment reorganized the states based on the recommendations of the State Reorganization Committee.

(iv) The forty-second amendment, due to the large number of changes it brought to the constitution, is known as the ‘mini constitution’. The words ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’ and ‘Integrity’ were added to the preamble. Certain topics were brought from the state list to the concurrent list.