{"id":6115,"date":"2025-07-09T12:33:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T12:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/?p=6115"},"modified":"2025-07-10T12:57:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T12:57:58","slug":"basic-structure-doctrine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctrine of Basic Structure: Meaning, Evolution, Features, Significance &amp; Criticism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>The <strong>Doctrine of Basic Structure<\/strong>, as a hallmark of Indian judicial innovation, ensures that the foundational principles of the Constitution of India remain intact while the Constitution keeps on evolving through amendments. In navigating the complex interplay between change and continuity, the doctrine ensures that the soul of the Constitution remains untouched. This article of NEXT IAS aims to explain the meaning of the Doctrine of Basic Structure, its evolution, features, elements, significance, and criticisms.<\/em><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_56_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Meaning_of_the_Doctrine_of_Basic_Structure\" title=\"Meaning of the Doctrine of Basic Structure\">Meaning of the Doctrine of Basic Structure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Evolution_of_the_Doctrine_of_Basic_Structure\" title=\"Evolution of the Doctrine of Basic Structure\">Evolution of the Doctrine of Basic Structure<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Shankari_Prasad_Case_1951\" title=\"Shankari Prasad Case, 1951\">Shankari Prasad Case, 1951<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Golak_Nath_Case_1967\" title=\"Golak Nath Case, 1967\">Golak Nath Case, 1967<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#24th_Constitutional_Amendment_Act_1971\" title=\"24th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971\">24th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Kesavananda_Bharati_Case_1973\" title=\"Kesavananda Bharati Case, 1973\">Kesavananda Bharati Case, 1973<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#42nd_Constitutional_Amendment_Act_1976\" title=\"42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976\">42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Minerva_Mills_Case_1980\" title=\"Minerva Mills Case, 1980\">Minerva Mills Case, 1980<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Waman_Rao_Case_1981\" title=\"Waman Rao Case, 1981\">Waman Rao Case, 1981<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Elements_of_the_Basic_Structure_of_the_Indian_Constitution\" title=\"Elements of the Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution\">Elements of the Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Significance_of_the_Basic_Structure_Doctrine\" title=\"Significance of the Basic Structure Doctrine\">Significance of the Basic Structure Doctrine<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Criticism_of_the_Basic_Structure_Doctrine\" title=\"Criticism of the Basic Structure Doctrine\">Criticism of the Basic Structure Doctrine<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#What_is_the_Basic_Structure_of_the_Indian_Constitution\" title=\"What is the Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution?\">What is the Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/basic-structure-doctrine\/#Can_the_Basic_Structure_of_the_Constitution_be_Amended\" title=\"Can the Basic Structure of the Constitution be Amended?\">Can the Basic Structure of the Constitution be Amended?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a84ee61a60886a5173e11b8339f141d8\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Meaning_of_the_Doctrine_of_Basic_Structure\"><\/span><strong>Meaning of the Doctrine of Basic Structure<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Doctrine of the Basic Structure<\/strong> of the Constitution refers to the principle established by the<strong> Indian Judiciary<\/strong> that certain <strong>core principles and features <\/strong>of the Constitution are <strong>inviolable <\/strong>and <strong>cannot be amended or altered<\/strong> by the Parliament.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As per this doctrine, any amendment that seeks to alter or abolish these basic features is <strong>deemed unconstitutional and void<\/strong>. Thus, this doctrine <strong>acts as a safeguard against arbitrary or radical changes<\/strong> to the Constitution, ensuring its stability, continuity, and adherence to core constitutional values.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"730\" height=\"330\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Basic-Structure.jpg\" alt=\"doctrine of basic structure\" class=\"wp-image-6143\" style=\"width:676px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Basic-Structure.jpg 730w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Basic-Structure-460x208.jpg 460w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Basic-Structure-696x315.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9400d17f2159543bed6d925be070bf0e\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Evolution_of_the_Doctrine_of_Basic_Structure\"><\/span><strong>Evolution of the Doctrine of Basic Structure<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution<\/strong> is not expressly provided for in the Constitution. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is, actually, <strong>a judicial doctrine<\/strong>, which has evolved through a <strong>series of judgments of the Supreme Court<\/strong> on cases related to the amending power of the Parliament.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The debate regarding the scope of the power of the Parliament to amend the Constitution <strong>under Article 368<\/strong> started way back in 1951. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This issue initiated a <strong>tussle between the Legislature and the Judiciary,<\/strong> which ultimately culminated in the evolution of the doctrine of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/roles-powers-and-functions-of-parliament\/\">Roles, Powers and Functions of Parliament<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Evolution of this Doctrine<\/strong> over the years can be seen as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6bab18c7e3205ae8dc5497be348811dc\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shankari_Prasad_Case_1951\"><\/span><strong>Shankari Prasad Case, 1951<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that <strong>the term \u2018law\u2019 in Article 13<\/strong> includes only ordinary laws and not Constitutional Amendment Acts. Thus, F can take away or abridge any of the Fundamental Rights by enacting a Constitutional Amendment Act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7b1761f7e161fcf97cfd8e16d9110de8\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Golak_Nath_Case_1967\"><\/span><strong>Golak Nath Case, 1967<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In this case, the Supreme Court reversed its earlier stand and held that <strong>the term &#8216;law&#8217; in Article 13<\/strong> also includes Constitutional Amendment Acts. Hence, the Parliament cannot take away or abridge a Fundamental Right through a Constitutional Amendment Act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4f71980ca1eba78ba3c7033a98a0891e\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"24th_Constitutional_Amendment_Act_1971\"><\/span><strong>24th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To counter the Supreme Court verdict in the Golak Nath Case, the Parliament passed the <strong>24th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971<\/strong>, which amended <strong>Article 13 and Article 368.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It declared that the Parliament can take away or abridge any of the Fundamental Rights through a Constitutional Amendment Act under <strong>Article 368<\/strong> and such an act will not be considered a law under the meaning of Article 13.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3458202be750f26fd88e5673a3664cb9\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kesavananda_Bharati_Case_1973\"><\/span><strong>Kesavananda Bharati Case, 1973<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In this case, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the <strong>24th Constitutional Amendment Act <\/strong>and stated that the Parliament can take away or abridge any of the Fundamental Rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, it laid down a new <strong>Doctrine of the Basic Structure of the Constitution,<\/strong> according to which, the constituent power of Parliament under <strong>Article 368<\/strong> does not enable it <strong>to alter the \u2018<em>basic structure<\/em>\u2019 of the Constitution.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thus, the overall position after the pronouncement of this judgment is that the Parliament cannot take away or abridge a Fundamental Right that forms a part of the \u2018<strong><em>basic structure\u2019 of the Constitution<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ed73e8a88f47ec560b46691946035b6c\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"42nd_Constitutional_Amendment_Act_1976\"><\/span><strong>42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As a reaction to the new Doctrine of Basic Structure, the Parliament enacted the <strong>42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It amended Article 368 to declare that there is no limitation on the constituent power of Parliament. Accordingly, <strong>no amendment can be<\/strong> <strong>questioned in the court<\/strong> of law on any ground, including that of the contravention of the Fundamental Rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9c08b69ee6a9c3b05c7f4f03660f8ff4\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Minerva_Mills_Case_1980\"><\/span><strong>Minerva Mills Case, 1980<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In this case, the Supreme Court <strong>invalidated the above provision<\/strong> of the <strong>42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976<\/strong> on the ground that it excluded <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/judicial-review\/\">Judicial Review<\/a><\/strong> which is a \u2018<strong>basic feature<\/strong>\u2019 of the Constitution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-51ec882dfb8e0dfd686e9a9fe1d216ad\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Waman_Rao_Case_1981\"><\/span><strong>Waman Rao Case, 1981<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In this case, the Supreme Court adhered to the <strong>Doctrine of Basic Structure<\/strong> and clarified that it would apply to all the Constitutional Amendment Acts enacted after the date of the <strong>Kesavananda Bharati Case Judgment i.e. April 24, 1973.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Present Position<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Thus, the present position is that the <strong>Parliament under Article 368<\/strong> can amend any part of the Constitution, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/fundamental-rights\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/fundamental-rights\/\"><strong>Fundamental Rights<\/strong><\/a>, but without affecting the Basic Structure of the Constitution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b39721a9f52a40b95e670909ac375fa0\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Elements_of_the_Basic_Structure_of_the_Indian_Constitution\"><\/span><strong>Elements of the Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From the various judgments, the following have emerged as the <strong>basic features of the Constitution:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Supreme Court has not yet defined <strong>what constitutes the \u2018basic structure\u2019 of the Constitution.<\/strong> It has kept evolving the elements of basic structure through various judgments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some of the major elements of the Basic Structure of the Constitution as listed as follows:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Supremacy of the Constitution<br>&#8211; Sovereign, Democratic, and Republican nature of the Indian Polity<br>&#8211; Secular Character of the Constitution<br>&#8211; Separation of powers between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary<br>&#8211; Federal character of the Constitution<br>&#8211; Unity and integrity of the nation<br>&#8211; Welfare State (socio-economic justice)<br>&#8211; Judicial Review<br>&#8211; Freedom and dignity of the individual<br>&#8211; Parliamentary system<br>&#8211; Rule of law<br>&#8211; Harmony and balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles<br>&#8211; Principle of Equality<br>&#8211; Free and fair elections<br>&#8211; Independence of Judiciary<br>&#8211; Limited Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution<br>&#8211; Effective access to justice<br>&#8211; Principles (or essence) underlying fundamental rights<br>&#8211; Powers of the Supreme Court under Articles 32, 136, 141 and 142<br>&#8211; Powers of the High Courts under Articles 226 and 227<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-fe9c5c843a0d563fcfd6a0c6ff8d1a78\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Significance_of_the_Basic_Structure_Doctrine\"><\/span><strong>Significance of the Basic Structure Doctrine<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution<\/strong> holds a place of paramount significance in the constitutional framework of India. Its importance can be understood as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Preserves Constitutional Integrity<\/strong> &#8211; The doctrine <strong>strikes a balance<\/strong> between the <strong>need for constitutional flexibility<\/strong> and the imperative of <strong>maintaining the fundamental integrity and identity of the Constitution<\/strong>. This helps maintain the integrity and stability of the constitutional order.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maintains Supremacy of the Constitution<\/strong> &#8211; The doctrine upholds the principle that the <strong>Constitution is supreme and serves as the highest law of the land<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Upholds Constitutional Morality<\/strong> &#8211; It upholds the principles of <strong>constitutional morality<\/strong> and ensures that constitutional amendments adhere to the <strong>overarching values of justice, equality, and fairness.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prevents Authoritarianism<\/strong> &#8211; This doctrine acts as a <strong>bulwark against authoritarian<\/strong> <strong>tendencies <\/strong>to dismantle democratic institutions or undermine constitutional norms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ensures Stability and Consistency<\/strong> &#8211; The doctrine prevents frequent and radical changes to the constitution that could disrupt governance, thereby contributing to the <strong>stability and consistency of the legal system.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protects Democracy<\/strong> &#8211; By protecting the democratic values as \u2018basic features\u2019 of the Constitution, this ensures that <strong>India remains a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protects Fundamental Rights<\/strong> &#8211; By preserving these fundamental rights from infringement through constitutional amendments, this doctrine <strong>safeguards individual liberties and promotes social justice.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promotes Judicial Review<\/strong> &#8211; This doctrine empowers the judiciary to review constitutional amendments while enhancing its role as a <strong>guardian of the constitution and promoting the rule of law.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6a7e70c5b2a5824d36f40a5d0b119a99\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Criticism_of_the_Basic_Structure_Doctrine\"><\/span><strong>Criticism of the Basic Structure Doctrine<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the <strong>Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution<\/strong> has been instrumental in safeguarding constitutional integrity and protecting fundamental principles, it has also faced criticism from various quarters on the following grounds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lack of Constitutional Basis<\/strong> &#8211; One common criticism is that the doctrine is <strong>not supported by any explicit provision in the Constitution.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of Clarity<\/strong> &#8211; This doctrine <strong>lacks precise definition and clarity<\/strong> regarding its elements. This ambiguity opens the door to judicial discretion and interpretation, leading to uncertainty and inconsistency in its application.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inherent Subjectivity<\/strong> &#8211; The determination of what constitutes the Basic Structure is <strong>inherently subjective and varies based on individual judges\u2019 interpretations<\/strong> which can lead to conflicting decisions by different benches of the judiciary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Judicial Activism<\/strong> &#8211; Critics argue that the Basic Structure doctrine vests excessive power in the judiciary, enabling judges to engage in <strong>judicial activism<\/strong> and make <strong>subjective determinations<\/strong> about constitutional amendments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Violation of Separation of Powers<\/strong> &#8211; By allowing the judiciary to intervene in the <strong>legislative and constituent power of the Parliament,<\/strong> it leads to a violation of the principle of the separation of powers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Undemocratic Nature<\/strong> &#8211; At times, it leads to <strong>undemocratic practices<\/strong> as it allows unelected judges to override decisions made by <strong>democratically elected representatives.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stifling Constitutional Evolution<\/strong> &#8211; By imposing rigid constraints on the amending power of the legislature, the doctrine may impede the evolution of the Constitution in response to new challenges and circumstances in response to changing societal needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution<\/strong> stands as a cornerstone of constitutional jurisprudence, providing a framework for the preservation of fundamental principles and values inherent in the Constitution. It is a testament to the visionary foresight of the Indian judiciary that safeguards the foundational principles of the constitution from arbitrary changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-618812723183593a2c916a1fd5800128\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\"><\/span><strong>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1709029463797\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Basic_Structure_of_the_Indian_Constitution\"><\/span><strong>What is the Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The Doctrine of the Basic Structure of the Constitution refers to the principle established by the Indian Judiciary that certain core principles and features of the Constitution are inviolable and cannot be amended or altered by the Parliament.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1709029522463\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_the_Basic_Structure_of_the_Constitution_be_Amended\"><\/span><strong>Can the Basic Structure of the Constitution be Amended?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The Parliament can amend the provisions of the Constitution but cannot destroy its \u2018Basic Structure\u2019. Thus, the \u2018Basic Structure\u2019 cannot be amended.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Doctrine of Basic Structure, as a hallmark of Indian judicial innovation, ensures that the foundational principles of the Constitution of India remain intact while the Constitution keeps on evolving through amendments. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":6131,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[71],"class_list":["post-6115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-polity","tag-gs-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6115"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19042,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6115\/revisions\/19042"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}