Question

Which of the following statement(s) about the 97th Constitutional Amendment is/are true?

1. The 97th Amendment added the right to form cooperative societies as a fundamental right under Article 19(c).

2. It introduced Part IX-B, which includes Articles 243ZH to 243ZT, related to cooperative societies.

3. The 97th Amendment was passed by the Lok Sabha on 27 December 2012.

4. Article 43B promotes voluntary formation, democratic control, and professional management of cooperative societies.

• A. 1, 2, and 4 only
• B. 1, 2, and 3 only
• C. 2, 3, and 4 only
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1, 2, and 4 only

97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011

Impact on Cooperative Societies

• The 97th Amendment Act significantly impacted the cooperative sector in India, aiming to strengthen and promote cooperative societies.

• Fundamental Right: It inserted the phrase "cooperative societies" in Article 19(1)(c), thereby granting the right to form cooperative societies as a fundamental right.

• New Part IX-B: A new Part IX-B was added to the Constitution, specifically dealing with "The Cooperative Societies". This part spans from Article 243ZH to Article 243ZT.

• Directive Principles: Article 43B was introduced under the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). This article promotes the voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control, and professional management of cooperative societies.

Legislative Process and Dates

• The bill for the 97th Amendment was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 7, 2011.

• It was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 27, 2011, and by the Rajya Sabha on December 28, 2011.

• The Act received the President's assent on January 12, 2012, and came into force on February 15, 2012. (Note: Statement 3 in the question has an incorrect year).

Significance for Competitive Exams

• Amendments related to fundamental rights and directive principles are frequently tested in competitive exams.

• Understanding the specific articles added or amended is crucial for questions on constitutional law and governance.

• The addition of Part IX-B is a significant constitutional development that aspirants should be aware of.