Question

Who was the Prime Minister of India when the 42nd Amendment Bill bringing in the changes in the Constitution was passed?

• A. Rajiv Gandhi
• B. V.P. Singh
• C. Indira Gandhi
• D. Morarji Desai

Hint:

This amendment was passed in 1976, right during the Emergency period.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question needs the Prime Minister in office when the 42nd Amendment Act, which reshaped several parts of the Constitution, was passed.

1. Rajiv Gandhi: He became Prime Minister only in 1984, well after the 42nd Amendment was passed in 1976, so the timing rules him out.
2. V.P. Singh: He held office from 1989 to 1990, more than a decade after this amendment, so this option does not match either.
3. Indira Gandhi: She was Prime Minister during the Emergency period (1975 to 1977), and the 42nd Amendment was passed in 1976 under her government, adding words like socialist and secular to the Preamble and expanding Parliament's powers.
4. Morarji Desai: He became Prime Minister in 1977, after the Emergency ended and after this amendment was already in force, so he does not fit the timeline.

So option C is correct: Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister when the 42nd Amendment Bill was passed.

Let's summarize:

• The 42nd Amendment was passed in 1976, during the Emergency.
• Indira Gandhi led the government at that time.
• It added terms like socialist, secular, and integrity to the Preamble.

Tying this amendment to the Emergency years makes the Prime Minister easy to recall.