NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document (NCERT 2026–27)

These Class 11 Political Science Chapter 9 solutions cover Constitution as a Living Document from the textbook Indian Constitution at Work, updated for the 2026–27 session. The chapter explains why the same Indian Constitution has worked for more than seven decades, how it can be amended under Article 368, why so many amendments have been made, and how the judiciary — especially through the basic structure doctrine of the Kesavananda Bharati case — has helped the Constitution stay a living, evolving document. Below you get answers to every NCERT exercise question reproduced verbatim, plus extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason questions, exam tips and FAQs.

Class: 11 Subject: Political Science Book: Indian Constitution at Work Chapter: 9 Chapter Name: Constitution as a Living Document Session: 2026–27
On this page

Class 11 Political Science Chapter 9 – Overview

Chapter 9, Constitution as a Living Document, explores how the Indian Constitution adopted on 26 November 1949 (in force from 26 January 1950) continues to govern the country even after seven decades, while constitutions of many other nations were rewritten repeatedly. The makers struck a balance between treating the Constitution as a sacred document and accepting it as an instrument that may need change. The chapter explains the three ways of amendment — by simple majority (in some articles), by special majority of both Houses, and by special majority plus ratification by half the States under Article 368. It examines why so many amendments (106 by 2024) have been made — technical/administrative changes, differing interpretations between Parliament and the Judiciary, and changes through political consensus — and discusses controversial amendments like the 42nd. Finally, it highlights the basic structure doctrine from the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), reaffirmed in Minerva Mills (1980), which limits Parliament’s amending power and makes the judiciary the final authority on what cannot be changed — itself a living example of an evolving Constitution.

Key Terms & Concepts

Living document: a constitution that keeps responding to changing situations and circumstances through both political practice and judicial interpretation, instead of being a frozen, closed rulebook.

Flexible vs rigid: a flexible constitution can be changed easily; a rigid one is difficult to amend. The Indian Constitution combines both — some parts are easy to change, others are deliberately hard.

Article 368: the article that lays down Parliament’s constituent power to amend the Constitution “by way of addition, variation or repeal” and the procedure to be followed.

Simple majority amendment: some articles (e.g. Article 2 and Article 3, which use the words ‘by law’) can be changed by an ordinary law of Parliament without using the Article 368 procedure.

Special majority: an amendment bill must be passed in each House separately by a majority of the total membership of that House AND by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. There is no joint sitting for amendment bills.

Ratification by States: for amendments affecting federal provisions (distribution of powers, representation), in addition to special majority, the legislatures of at least half the States must approve the amendment by simple majority.

Parliamentary sovereignty (in amendment): only the elected representatives of the people initiate and decide amendments; no outside body or referendum is required, and the President cannot return an amendment bill.

Basic structure doctrine: the principle laid down by the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) that Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution but cannot alter or destroy its basic structure; the judiciary is the final authority on what the basic structure is.

Letter vs spirit: the basic structure doctrine reflects respect for the intent and spirit behind the Constitution, not merely its literal text.

Key amendments to remember: the 42nd (the most controversial, made during the 1975 Emergency), the 44th (restored balance), the 52nd and 91st (anti-defection), the 61st (voting age 21 to 18), and the 73rd and 74th (local self-government).

NCERT Exercises — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Exercises section. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.

1. Choose the correct statement from the following.A constitution needs to be amended from time to time because,(a) Circumstances change and require suitable changes in the constitution.(b) A document written at one point of time becomes outdated after some time.(c) Every generation should have a constitution of its own liking.(d) It must reflect the philosophy of the existing government.

ANSWER Correct statement: (a) Circumstances change and require suitable changes in the constitution. A constitution must respond to the changing needs of society. As social, economic and political circumstances evolve, some provisions need modification — this is exactly why the makers built an amending procedure into the document. The other options are wrong: (b) a constitution does not automatically become “outdated” with the passage of time — the Indian Constitution still works after seven decades; (c) a constitution is meant to provide a durable framework for future generations, not be rewritten by each generation; and (d) it must reflect the lasting vision and values of the people, not the philosophy of whichever government is in power.

2. Write True / False against the following statements.a. The President cannot send back an amendment bill for reconsideration of Parliament.b. Elected representatives alone have the power to amend the Constitution.c. The Judiciary cannot initiate the process of constitutional amendment but can effectively change the Constitution by interpreting it differently.d. Parliament can amend any section of the Constitution.

ANSWER a. True. An amendment bill, like other bills, goes to the President for assent, but for an amendment bill the President has no power to send it back for reconsideration — assent must be given. b. True. All amendments are initiated only in Parliament, and after passage they require only Parliament’s special majority (and, in some cases, State legislatures). No outside agency or referendum is involved; sovereignty of the elected representatives is the basis of the amending power. c. True. The Judiciary cannot start an amendment, but through differing interpretations (as in the basic structure doctrine) it can effectively change the meaning and working of the Constitution — an “informal amendment.” d. False. After the Kesavananda Bharati ruling, Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution but cannot alter or destroy its basic structure. So it cannot amend every section without limit.

3. Which of the following are involved in the amendment of the Indian Constitution? In what way are they involved?a. Votersb. President of Indiac. State Legislaturesd. Parliamente. Governorsf. Judiciary

ANSWER a. Voters — not directly involved. There is no referendum for amending the Constitution. Voters are involved only indirectly, through the elected representatives they send to Parliament and the State legislatures. b. President of India — involved, but with no discretion. An amendment bill goes to the President for assent; however, the President cannot withhold assent or return it for reconsideration. c. State Legislatures — involved for some amendments. Amendments affecting federal provisions (distribution of powers, representation) need ratification by the legislatures of at least half the States, by simple majority. d. Parliament — central role. All amendments are initiated only in Parliament and must be passed by both Houses, generally by special majority. e. Governors — not involved. Governors have no role in the amendment of the Constitution. f. Judiciary — involved indirectly. The Judiciary cannot initiate an amendment, but it interprets the Constitution and, through the basic structure doctrine, decides whether an amendment is valid or violates the basic structure.

4. You have read in this chapter that the 42nd amendment was one of the most controversial amendments so far. Which of the following were the reasons for this controversy?a. It was made during national emergency, and the declaration of that emergency was itself controversial.b. It was made without the support of special majority.c. It was made without ratification by State legislatures.d. It contained provisions, which were controversial.

ANSWER The reasons for the controversy were (a) and (d). (a) True — the 42nd amendment was passed during the internal Emergency declared in June 1975, and the declaration of that emergency was itself highly controversial; many opposition MPs were in jail when it was passed. (d) True — it contained sweeping and controversial provisions: it amended the Preamble, the Seventh Schedule and 53 articles, tried to override the Kesavananda ruling, extended the Lok Sabha’s term from five to six years, and curtailed the review powers of the Judiciary. (b) and (c) are not correct — the amendment was passed with the required special majority and following the proper procedure; the controversy was not about how it was passed but about when it was passed and what it contained.

5. Which of the following is not a reasonable explanation of the conflict between the legislature and the judiciary over different amendments?a. Different interpretations of the Constitution are possible.b. In a democracy, debates and differences are natural.c. Constitution has given higher importance to certain rules and principles and also allowed for amendment by special majority.d. Legislature cannot be entrusted to protect the rights of the citizens.e. Judiciary can only decide the constitutionality of a particular law; cannot resolve political debates about its need.

ANSWER The statement that is NOT a reasonable explanation is (d) — “Legislature cannot be entrusted to protect the rights of the citizens.” This is an unreasonable and sweeping claim. In a democracy the legislature is the elected body of the people and is very much entrusted with protecting citizens’ rights and welfare; the conflict between the legislature and judiciary does not arise because the legislature cannot be trusted. Statements (a), (b), (c) and (e) are all reasonable explanations: different interpretations of the Constitution are genuinely possible, debates and differences are natural in a democracy, the Constitution does give special importance to some principles while allowing amendment by special majority, and the judiciary is limited to deciding constitutionality and cannot settle purely political debates.

6. Identify the correct statements about the theory of basic structure. Correct the incorrect statements.a. Constitution specifies the basic tenets.b. Legislature can amend all parts of the Constitution except the basic structure.c. Judiciary has defined which aspects of the Constitution can be termed as the basic structure and which cannot.d. This theory found its first expression in the Kesavananda Bharati case and has been discussed in subsequent judgments.e. This theory has increased the powers of the judiciary and has come to be accepted by different political parties and the government.

ANSWER a. Incorrect. Correction: The Constitution does not specify or list the basic tenets anywhere. The idea of a ‘basic structure’ is not mentioned in the Constitution at all; it emerged from judicial interpretation. b. Correct. The legislature can amend any and all parts of the Constitution, but it cannot violate or destroy the basic structure. c. Correct. Since the Constitution does not list the basic structure, it is the Judiciary that decides, case by case, which features form part of the basic structure and which do not. d. Correct. The theory found its first expression in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) and has been elaborated in later judgments such as the Minerva Mills case (1980). e. Correct. The doctrine has effectively increased the powers of the judiciary (making it the final authority on amendments) and has been accepted by different political parties and governments over the decades.

7. From the information that many amendments were made during 2000-2003, which of the following conclusions would you draw?a. Judiciary did not interfere in the amendments made during this period.b. One political party had a strong majority during this period.c. There was strong pressure from the pubic in favour of certain amendments.d. There were no real differences among the parties during this time.e. The amendments were of a non-controversial nature and parties had an agreement on the subject of amendments.

ANSWER The correct conclusions are (c) and (e). The period 2001–2003 was marked by coalition politics, with different parties in power in different States and sharp rivalry. Yet ten amendments were passed in just three years. This shows that (c) there was strong public pressure in favour of certain measures, and (e) the amendments were largely of a non-controversial nature on which the parties reached agreement. The other options are wrong: (a) is not a valid conclusion from the mere number of amendments; (b) is false because no single party had a strong majority — it was a coalition era; and (d) is false because the period had bitter party rivalry, yet consensus was reached on the specific amendments.

8. Explain the reason for requiring special majority for amending the Constitution.

ANSWER The makers of the Constitution wanted to keep the document above ordinary law and protect it from frequent, casual or partisan changes, while still allowing genuine amendment. A special majority achieves exactly this balance between rigidity and flexibility. A special majority means an amendment bill must be passed in each House separately by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. This high threshold ensures that an amendment cannot be pushed through by a thin or temporary majority. As Dr. Ambedkar argued, those wanting change should at least secure a two-thirds majority; if they cannot get even that, their dissatisfaction cannot be deemed to be shared by the general public. The requirement therefore forces a broad consensus across parties and reflects underlying public opinion, so that the Constitution is changed only when there is wide agreement, not at the whim of the ruling party.

9. Many amendments to the Constitution of India have been made due to different interpretations upheld by the Judiciary and Parliament. Explain with examples.

ANSWER A number of amendments are the product of differing interpretations of the Constitution given by the Judiciary and the government of the day. When the two clashed, Parliament inserted amendments to assert its own interpretation as the authentic one. This was especially frequent between 1970 and 1975. Examples of the issues that caused conflict: (i) the relationship between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy; (ii) the scope of the right to private property; and (iii) the extent of Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution. On each of these, the Judiciary and Parliament disagreed. Outcome: Whenever Parliament did not agree with a judicial interpretation, it amended the Constitution to overcome the ruling — for instance, the 42nd amendment was partly an attempt to override the Supreme Court’s Kesavananda ruling and to limit judicial review. In turn, the Court reaffirmed the basic structure doctrine in the Minerva Mills case (1980). This continuing dialogue between Parliament and the Judiciary is itself a sign of the Constitution being a living document.

10. If amending power is with the elected representatives, judiciary should NOT have the power to decide the validity of amendments. Do you agree? Give your reasons in 100 words.

ANSWER I do not fully agree. It is true that only elected representatives can initiate and pass amendments, reflecting the people’s sovereignty. However, democracy is not only about majority rule — it is equally about the rule of law and checks on the arbitrary use of power. If Parliament could change anything without limit, a temporary majority might destroy the very framework that protects democracy and citizens’ rights. Through the basic structure doctrine, the Judiciary does not block ordinary amendments; it only ensures that the Constitution’s core values are not destroyed. This balance between elected power and constitutional limits keeps the Constitution a living, democratic document.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What is meant by calling the Constitution a ‘living document’?

ANSWERA living document is one that keeps responding to changing situations like a living being. The Indian Constitution remains effective because it can be amended according to changing needs and is open to fresh interpretations by the judiciary, so it evolves rather than staying a frozen, static rulebook.

Q2. Why is the Indian Constitution described as both flexible and rigid?

ANSWERSome parts of the Constitution can be amended by a simple majority of Parliament (flexible), while other parts need a special majority, and federal provisions also need ratification by half the States (rigid). By combining both, the makers allowed easy correction of minor faults while protecting the core from frequent change.

Q3. State any two amendments made through political consensus.

ANSWERTwo amendments made through political consensus are the 61st amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years, and the 73rd and 74th amendments, which strengthened local self-government (panchayats and municipalities). The anti-defection amendments (52nd and 91st) are also examples of consensus.

Q4. What role did the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) play in the evolution of the Constitution?

ANSWERIn the Kesavananda Bharati case the Supreme Court laid down the basic structure doctrine: Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution but cannot destroy its basic structure, and the Judiciary is the final authority on what that structure is. This ruling has guided all later interpretations and balanced rigidity with flexibility.

Q5. Why is no referendum required for amending the Indian Constitution?

ANSWERThe makers based the amending procedure on parliamentary sovereignty — only the elected representatives of the people are empowered to take final decisions on amendments. Once passed by the required majority in Parliament (and, where needed, by State legislatures), no referendum, constitution commission or other outside agency is required.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe the different methods of amending the Indian Constitution.

ANSWERThe Constitution can be amended in three ways. First, some articles can be changed by a simple majority of Parliament, just like an ordinary law — for example, Articles 2 and 3, which use the words ‘by law’ for admitting or altering States. Second, most other parts are amended under Article 368 by a special majority: the bill must be passed in each House separately by a majority of the total membership and a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, with no joint sitting. Third, amendments that touch federal provisions — the distribution of powers between the Centre and States, or representation — require special majority plus ratification by the legislatures of at least half the States by simple majority. In all cases, amendments are initiated only in Parliament, no referendum is needed, and the President must give assent and cannot return the bill.

Q2. “The number of amendments to the Indian Constitution does not by itself show a weakness.” Explain with reference to the contents of amendments made so far.

ANSWERBy 2024 the Constitution had been amended 106 times, which seems high given the difficult procedure, but the contents show this is not a weakness. The amendments fall into three groups. (1) Technical or administrative amendments made only clarifications or minor changes — such as raising the retirement age of High Court judges (15th amendment), revising judges’ salaries (54th amendment), and periodically extending reservation of seats for SCs and STs. (2) Amendments arising from differing interpretations between Parliament and the Judiciary, especially during 1970–1975, when Parliament amended the Constitution to assert its view. (3) Amendments through political consensus, such as the anti-defection laws (52nd, 91st), lowering the voting age (61st), and local government reforms (73rd, 74th). Many amendments simply kept the Constitution responsive to changing needs without altering its basic premises, showing it is a living, working document rather than a flawed one.

Q3. Explain how the judiciary has contributed to making the Constitution a living document.

ANSWERThe judiciary has played a major role in keeping the Constitution alive through interpretation. Its most important contribution is the basic structure doctrine, laid down in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973): although the word ‘basic structure’ appears nowhere in the Constitution, the Court read it into the document by respecting the spirit behind it rather than just its letter. This set limits on Parliament’s amending power, allowed amendment of all other parts, and made the judiciary the final authority on what the basic structure is. The Court reaffirmed this in the Minerva Mills case (1980) and has since elaborated it across many cases. The judiciary has also interpreted provisions on reservations (the fifty per cent ceiling and the ‘creamy layer’), the right to education, and the right to life and liberty, effectively amending the Constitution informally without a formal amendment. By balancing rigidity and flexibility in this way, the judiciary has helped the Constitution evolve and respond to new situations.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. The Constitution of India was adopted on:

(a) 26 January 1950    (b) 26 November 1949    (c) 15 August 1947    (d) 26 January 1949

2. The procedure for amending the Constitution is laid down in:

(a) Article 356    (b) Article 370    (c) Article 368    (d) Article 32

3. The basic structure doctrine was laid down in the case of:

(a) Minerva Mills    (b) Kesavananda Bharati    (c) Golaknath    (d) Maneka Gandhi

4. A special majority for an amendment bill requires the support of:

(a) a simple majority of those present    (b) half the total membership AND two-thirds of those present and voting    (c) three-fourths of all members    (d) a unanimous vote

5. Which amendment is considered the most controversial, made during the 1975 Emergency?

(a) 44th amendment    (b) 52nd amendment    (c) 42nd amendment    (d) 73rd amendment

6. The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the:

(a) 52nd amendment    (b) 61st amendment    (c) 73rd amendment    (d) 91st amendment

7. Regarding an amendment bill, the President of India:

(a) can reject it    (b) can send it back for reconsideration    (c) must give assent and cannot return it    (d) can call a referendum

8. Ratification by at least half the State legislatures is required for amendments that:

(a) change ordinary laws    (b) affect the distribution of powers between Centre and States    (c) revise judges’ salaries    (d) extend reservations

9. The basic structure doctrine was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in 1980 in the case of:

(a) Golaknath    (b) Minerva Mills    (c) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain    (d) S. R. Bommai

10. Articles 2 and 3, which use the words ‘by law’, can be amended by:

(a) special majority    (b) special majority plus State ratification    (c) a simple majority of Parliament    (d) a referendum

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(b), 4-(b), 5-(c), 6-(b), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(b), 10-(c).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: The Indian Constitution is called a living document.

Reason: It can be amended and reinterpreted to respond to the changing needs of society.

A-R 2. Assertion: Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution without any limit.

Reason: The basic structure doctrine prevents Parliament from altering the basic structure of the Constitution.

A-R 3. Assertion: A special majority is required to amend most parts of the Constitution.

Reason: The makers wanted to protect the Constitution from frequent and casual changes while still allowing genuine amendment.

A-R 4. Assertion: No referendum is required to amend the Indian Constitution.

Reason: The amending procedure is based on the sovereignty of the elected representatives of the people.

A-R 5. Assertion: The term ‘basic structure’ is clearly listed in the Constitution.

Reason: The basic structure doctrine emerged from judicial interpretation in the Kesavananda Bharati case.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(A), 4-(A), 5-(D).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the three methods of amendment (simple majority, special majority, special majority + State ratification) and the exact meaning of special majority. Always link the ‘living document’ idea to two engines of change: formal amendments and judicial interpretation. Know the key cases — Kesavananda Bharati (1973) for the basic structure doctrine and Minerva Mills (1980) for its reaffirmation — and important amendments (42nd, 44th, 52nd/91st, 61st, 73rd/74th). For ‘explain’ and opinion questions (like Q10), give a balanced two-sided answer and stay within the word limit.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Saying Parliament can amend “any part without limit” — it cannot touch the basic structure.
  • Confusing special majority with a simple majority — remember it needs half the total membership AND two-thirds of those present and voting.
  • Thinking the basic structure is listed in the Constitution — it is a product of judicial interpretation.
  • Claiming a referendum or a constitution commission is needed for amendments — only Parliament (and some State legislatures) are involved.
  • Saying the President can return an amendment bill — for amendment bills the President must give assent.
  • Treating the large number of amendments (106) as proof the Constitution is weak — most are technical or consensus-based.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 9 of Class 11 Political Science about?

Chapter 9, Constitution as a Living Document, from Indian Constitution at Work, explains why the same Indian Constitution has worked for decades, how it is amended under Article 368, why so many amendments have been made, and how the judiciary — through the basic structure doctrine of the Kesavananda Bharati case — keeps the Constitution a living, evolving document.

What are the three methods of amending the Indian Constitution?

The three methods are: amendment by simple majority of Parliament (for some articles like Articles 2 and 3); amendment by special majority of both Houses under Article 368; and amendment by special majority plus ratification by the legislatures of at least half the States for provisions affecting the federal structure.

What is the basic structure doctrine?

The basic structure doctrine, laid down by the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), holds that Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution but cannot alter or destroy its basic structure. The judiciary is the final authority on what constitutes the basic structure, and the doctrine was reaffirmed in the Minerva Mills case (1980).

← Chapter 8: Local Governments Indian Constitution at Work (all chapters) Chapter 10: The Philosophy of the Constitution →
Scroll to Top