BJP Two-Thirds Majority: Whether it is a discussion on legislative amendments or constitutional changes that are on the table, the BJP Two-Thirds Majority has always been a topic that has been getting much discussion in India. Some people think that a mere majority is sufficient for amendments to the Constitution. But the Indian Constitution mandates that a number of changes to its text must be passed by a special majority. Hence, the significance of understanding the BJP Two-Thirds Majority lies in grasping how Parliament functions, how amendments are to be passed in the Constitution and the importance of the number of seats in both Houses of Parliament.
This article details the enterprising numbers, constitutional implications, meaning and sometimes asked questions in an easy-to-understand way.
What is BJP Two-Thirds Majority?
- Where the BJP Two-Thirds Majority, either on its own or combined with other parties, in Parliament, it has adequate parliamentary strength to move most of the Constitutional Amendment Bills through in Parliament.
- The process of considering a special legislation is different from that for an ordinary law.
- A majority of all members in the House of Parliament is needed.
- Further, this amendment must gain the support of BJP Two-Thirds Majority of the members present and voting in each House.
- The amendment should be passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as separate houses; they must do this separately in this particular case, and there is no provision for joint sitting.
- Some of the constitutional amendments, moreover, must be ratified by many State Legislatures equal to ½ or more of the 50 to be in force.
- So the required quorum for the two Houses on the day of voting will determine the exact number of votes required.
Examples of Constitutional Amendments Passed with a Special Majority
Several landmark constitutional amendments have required a special majority, including:
| Constitutional Amendment | Significance |
| 42nd Amendment | Extensive constitutional changes |
| 44th Amendment | Restoration of democratic safeguards |
| 73rd Amendment | Panchayati Raj Institutions |
| 74th Amendment | Urban Local Bodies |
| 86th Amendment | Right to Education |
| 101st Amendment | Goods and Services Tax (GST) |
| 103rd Amendment | 10% EWS Reservation |
| 106th Amendment | Women’s Reservation in Legislatures |
How Are Constitutional Amendments Passed? – BJP Two-Thirds Majority
- Under Article 368 of the Constitution, an introduction of a Constitutional Amendment Bill can be made in either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.
- It is introduced into the Parliament of both Houses and debated and discussed separately.
- Must be approved by a majority of the total membership of each House.
- It must be backed by a two-thirds majority in each House in attendance and voting.
- A Constitutional Amendment Bill against the motion moved by the two Houses of the national Assembly does not provide for a joint sitting in case of disagreement.
- Alteration of any of the articles of the Constitution can be adopted by two-thirds of the State legislatures if it impacts the federal structure, including the authority of States, or the election of the President.
- On parliamentary and state clearance (if any), the bill is signed by the President of India and becomes a part of the Constitution.
PYQs on Constitutional Amendments & Special Majority
| Exam | Year | Question | Options | Correct Answer |
| UPSC CSE (Prelims) | 2013 | Which Article of the Constitution deals with the amendment of the Constitution? | (A) Article 356 (B) Article 368 (C) Article 370 (D) Article 352 | (B) Article 368 |
| UPSC CSE (Prelims) | 2017 | A Constitutional Amendment Bill may be introduced in: | (A) Lok Sabha only (B) Rajya Sabha only (C) Either House of Parliament (D) Joint Sitting | (C) Either House of Parliament |
| SSC CGL | 2023 | Which type of majority is generally required to pass a Constitutional Amendment Bill under Article 368? | (A) Simple Majority (B) Absolute Majority (C) Special Majority (D) Effective Majority | (C) Special Majority |
| SSC CGL | 2022 | Which Constitutional Amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India? | (A) 97th Amendment (B) 99th Amendment (C) 101st Amendment (D) 103rd Amendment | (C) 101st Amendment |
| SSC CHSL | 2021 | A Constitutional Amendment Bill requires the approval of: | (A) Lok Sabha only (B) Rajya Sabha only (C) Both Houses of Parliament separately (D) Joint Sitting of Parliament | (C) Both Houses of Parliament separately |
| RRB NTPC | 2021 | Which of the following Constitutional Amendment Bills also requires ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures? | (A) Amendment affecting Centre-State relations (B) Money Bill (C) Finance Bill (D) Appropriation Bill | (A) Amendment affecting Centre-State relations |
| RRB Group D | 2022 | Which House of Parliament has no provision for a joint sitting in the case of a Constitutional Amendment Bill? | (A) Lok Sabha (B) Rajya Sabha (C) Both Houses (D) None of the above | (C) Both Houses |
| RRB JE | 2019 | The President of India gives assent to a Constitutional Amendment Bill after it is passed under which Article? | (A) Article 123 (B) Article 356 (C) Article 368 (D) Article 324 | (C) Article 368 |
| SSC MTS | 2023 | The minimum parliamentary majority required for most Constitutional Amendments is known as: | (A) Simple Majority (B) Special Majority (C) Effective Majority (D) Absolute Majority | (B) Special Majority |
| CDS (GK) | 2020 | Which statement is correct regarding Constitutional Amendment Bills? | (A) They can be passed in a joint sitting. (B) They can be introduced only in Lok Sabha. (C) They must be passed separately by each House with a special majority. (D) They do not require the President’s assent. | (C) They must be passed separately by each House with a special majority. |
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Conclusion on BJP Two-Thirds Majority in Parliament
The BJP Two-Thirds Majority is more than merely a political milestone. It is essentially the threshold of the Constitution for many important amendments under Article 368. The proposition that the passage of the constitutional amendments will necessitate absence from the floor of BJP Two-Thirds Majority of the House membership and by a majority of House membership also largely determines parliamentary arithmetic. Having gained such insights, citizens have a better understanding of the procedure for amending India’s Constitution, and how these changes are debated, approved and added to the Constitution in the context of India’s democratic form of governance.
