UPSC Themes

UPSC CSE Mains 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks · 250 words

Indian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.

Theme

T82 Amending power & basic structure

What UPSC asks in this theme

Repeated: limits on Parliament's amending power, whether Parliament can destroy basic structure, Coelho case, judicial review as a basic feature.

What to cover

Writing the answer

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 4 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.

More PYQs from this theme

  1. GS22019

    “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?

  2. GS22016

    What was held in the Coelho case? In this context, can you say that judicial review is of key importance amongst the basic features of the Constitution?

  3. GS22013

    ‘The Supreme Court of India keeps a check on arbitrary power of the Parliament in amending the Constitution.’ Discuss critically.

All 20 GS2 2025 questions · Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations · Report a typo