The latest amendment to the Indian Constitution is the Constitution (105th Amendment) Act, 2021. It was introduced on August 9, 2021 by Dr. Virendra Kumar, the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment[1].

The key changes made by the 105th Amendment are:

Redefining Powers of States for Identifying OBCs

• It amends clauses 1 and 2 of Article 342A and introduces clause 3[1].
• The amendment clarifies that states can prepare and maintain their own lists of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs), also known as Other Backward Classes (OBCs)[1].
• This addresses the ambiguity created by the 102nd Amendment which had defined the scope of the Central List of OBCs but did not specify the role of state governments in declaring communities as backward[1].

Changes to Articles 338B and 366

• The 105th Amendment also brings changes to Articles 338B (9) and 366 (26C)[1].
• Article 338B is about the National Commission for Backward Classes.
• Article 366 contains definitions, with 26C defining "socially and educationally backward classes".

In summary, the 105th Amendment restores the power of states to identify OBCs, which was earlier taken away by the 102nd Amendment. It clarifies the respective roles of the Centre and states in maintaining the OBC list[1].

Citations: [1] https://byjusexamprep.com/upsc-exam/what-is-the-latest-amendment-in-indian-constitution (opens in a new tab) [2] https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/types-of-amendment/ (opens in a new tab) [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amendment_of_the_Constitution_of_India (opens in a new tab) [4] https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/amendments-in-indian-constitution-for-upsc/ (opens in a new tab) [5] https://news.abplive.com/news/india/independence-day-major-constitution-amendments-and-the-changes-they-brought-in-last-76-years-1622741 (opens in a new tab)

What are the key changes introduced by the 105th Amendment How does the 105th Amendment impact state governments What were the main reasons behind the 105th Amendment How many amendments have been made to the Indian Constitution so far What are the different types of amendments in the Indian Constitution

How many amendments have been made to the Indian Constitution so far?

As of September 2023, there have been 106 amendments made to the Indian Constitution. The most recent amendment is the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, which provides for one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies[1][2][3].

Citations: [1] https://testbook.com/question-answer/total-number-of-amendments-in-indian-constitution--6017e104b54da625f91be2a6 (opens in a new tab) [2] https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/amendments-in-indian-constitution-for-upsc/ (opens in a new tab) [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amendments_of_the_Constitution_of_India (opens in a new tab) [4] https://byjusexamprep.com/upsc-exam/what-is-the-latest-amendment-in-indian-constitution (opens in a new tab) [5] https://legislative.gov.in/the-constitution-amendment-acts/ (opens in a new tab)

Which amendment introduced the concept of reservation for women What was the significance of the 86th Amendment Act, 2002 How has the Indian Constitution evolved over the years What are the major changes brought by the 95th Amendment Act, 2009 How does the 106th Amendment affect political representation