Question

Article 48-A and Article 51-A (g) were inserted in the Constitution by

• A. The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1978
• B. The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976
• C. The Constitution (43rd Amendment) Act, 1978
• D. The Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978

Hint:

The 42nd Amendment (1976) is one of the most significant amendments. It's essential to remember the key articles it inserted or amended, such as adding the words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' to the Preamble, and inserting Fundamental Duties (Art 51-A) and environmental directives (Art 48-A).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question is about a specific constitutional amendment that introduced key provisions related to environmental protection into the Constitution of India.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Both the articles mentioned are cornerstones of environmental jurisprudence in India.
- Article 48-A was added to the Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV). It states: "The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country."
- Article 51-A was added as a new part, Part IV-A, laying down the Fundamental Duties of citizens. Clause (g) of this article states that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India "to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures."
Both these provisions were inserted into the Constitution by the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, during the period of the Emergency. This amendment made numerous changes and is often referred to as the 'Mini-Constitution'.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976.

Answer 2

The question tests two very specific facts at once: which amendment inserted Articles 48-A and 51-A(g), and the exact year of that amendment, since three of the four options use the correct amendment number but the wrong year or vice versa. Let's check each option carefully.

1. The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1978: The amendment number, 42nd, is correct, since it is indeed the 42nd Amendment that added these provisions. But the year is wrong. The 42nd Amendment was passed during the Emergency and came into force in 1976, not 1978.
2. The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976: Both the number and the year are correct. The 42nd Amendment, enacted in 1976, added Article 48-A to the Directive Principles in Part IV, directing the state to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife, and added Part IV-A containing Article 51-A, the Fundamental Duties, whose clause (g) asks every citizen to protect the natural environment and have compassion for living creatures.
3. The Constitution (43rd Amendment) Act, 1978: This amendment number is wrong. The 43rd Amendment, passed in 1978 after the Emergency ended, mainly restored some of the judicial and other powers that the 42nd Amendment had curtailed. It has nothing to do with Articles 48-A or 51-A.
4. The Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978: The 44th Amendment, also from 1978, is chiefly known for removing the right to property from the list of fundamental rights and making it a plain legal right under Article 300-A, again unrelated to the environmental provisions in question.

Only one option gets both the amendment number and the year right at the same time.

So the correct answer is The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976.