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UPSC Prelims 2019 · Polity · Federalism, Schedules & Amendments
The Ninth Schedule was introduced in the Constitution of India during the prime ministership of
- (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
- (b) Lal Bahadur Shastri
- (c) Indira Gandhi
- (d) Morarji Desai
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
The First Amendment Act, 1951, under Nehru, created the Ninth Schedule with Art. 31B.
The idea
Art. 31B protected Ninth Schedule laws from challenge for violating Fundamental Rights. I.R. Coelho (2007): laws added after 24 April 1973 (the Kesavananda date) can be tested against the basic structure.
Why the others are wrong
(b) Shastri’s term (1964–66) came later; the 17th Amendment (1964) added laws to the Schedule but did not create it.
(c) Indira Gandhi’s era added many laws to it (e.g. 29th, 34th, 39th Amendments), but did not create it.
(d) Morarji Desai’s government made the 44th Amendment, which is about something else.
The trap
The Ninth Schedule is linked with the Emergency and big amendments, which points to Indira Gandhi. It was created in 1951.
🔒 Ninth Schedule = 1st Amendment 1951, Nehru, Art. 31B · post-24 April 1973 additions reviewable (I.R. Coelho 2007).
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