Which of the following Article was not inserted in Constitution of India by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The correct option is 4: 43 B. This article was definitively *not* inserted into the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. The 42nd Amendment, often called the 'Mini-Constitution,' introduced many significant changes, including several new Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) to Part IV. However, Article 43B, which mandates the state to endeavor to promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control, and professional management of co-operative societies, was inserted much later. This important DPSP regarding co-operative societies was added to the Constitution by the **97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011**. This amendment reflected the government's commitment to strengthening the cooperative movement in the country, but its origin post-dates the 42nd Amendment by over three decades, making it the article that was *not* inserted in 1976.

The incorrect options are 1 (39 A), 2 (43 A), and 3 (48 A):
These three articles are incorrect because all of them were explicitly inserted into Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. Article 39A was added to secure 'Equal justice and free legal aid,' aiming to ensure the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity for all citizens. Article 43A, which relates to the 'Participation of workers in the management of industries,' was inserted to ensure a greater role for labor in industrial decision-making. Lastly, Article 48A, dealing with the 'Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life,' introduced an important ecological and conservation mandate for the State. Since the question asks for the Article *not* inserted by the 42nd Amendment, these options are incorrect as they were, in fact, inserted by it.