2018 · Q72
Which one of the following Constitutional Amendments has enormously strengthened the powers of the Speaker/Chairman of the Houses of the Parliament/State Legislatures?
indian-polity-economyunion-government
- A61st Amendment which reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years
- BAnti-defection provisions of 52nd Amendment
- CRepealing of many of the provisions of 42nd Amendment by 44th Amendment
- D73rd Amendment that conferred extensive powers on Panchayat Bodies
Explanation
The 52nd Amendment (1985) added the Tenth Schedule — the anti-defection law — making the Speaker/Chairman the authority deciding disqualification petitions, which enormously strengthened their powers. The 61st Amendment only lowered the voting age to 18; the 44th Amendment rolled back Emergency-era provisions; the 73rd Amendment empowered panchayats, not presiding officers. Hence the anti-defection provisions of the 52nd Amendment.