Recent amendments and legislations

Recent Constitutional Amendments

1. 103rd Amendment: Introduced a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in educational institutions and government jobs.
2. 104th Amendment: Extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by another 10 years.
3. 105th Amendment: Restored the states' power to identify Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs).
4. 101st Amendment: Implemented the Goods and Services Tax (GST), creating a unified tax regime.

Recent Legislations

1. Farm Laws (2020): Enacted three laws to reform agricultural marketing but repealed after widespread protests.
2. Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019: Facilitated citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
3. Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019: Reorganized Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
4. Data Protection Bill: Aims to safeguard personal data and regulate data processing by organizations.
5. Labour Codes: Consolidated multiple labour laws into four codes—Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions.

Key Developments in Judicial Interpretation

1. SC upheld the constitutional validity of the 103rd Amendment regarding EWS reservations.
2. Judgments on triple talaq: Declared it unconstitutional, leading to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
3. Decisions related to the Right to Privacy and its status as a fundamental right (Puttaswamy Case).
4. Rulings on Section 377 decriminalizing consensual homosexual relationships.

Electoral Reforms

1. Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021: Linked voter ID with Aadhaar to prevent electoral malpractices.
2. Increased transparency in political funding through the introduction of Electoral Bonds.

Governance Reforms

1. National Education Policy (NEP), 2020: Revamped the education system, focusing on digital learning and multidisciplinary approaches.
2. Digital India Act: Aims to promote e-governance and address issues related to cybersecurity.
3. Ayushman Bharat Health Mission: Provides health insurance to economically vulnerable families.

Social Justice and Welfare

1. Implementation of One Nation, One Ration Card to ensure food security across states.
2. Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019: Safeguards the rights of transgender individuals.
3. Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill: Proposed to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years.

Environmental Laws

1. Draft EIA Notification: Proposed changes in the Environmental Impact Assessment process.
2. Forest Conservation Amendment Bill: Focuses on balancing environmental conservation and development needs.

Significance of These Changes

1. Reflects evolving priorities in governance and policymaking.
2. Enhances transparency, accountability, and citizen-centric governance.
3. Addresses pressing socio-economic and environmental issues effectively.
4. Strengthens the democratic framework and upholds the values of the Constitution.