Background and Context of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment Act, 1971
- In the year 1947 when India gained independence there were 563 princely states in present-day India. These princely states had a choice of either joining India or joining Pakistan otherwise, they can remain under British rule if they want to, or otherwise, they can also remain independent and form their own independent country. 560 Princely states agreed to join India instantly and the remaining 3 also merged with India later on.
- In 1949, the Government of India signed an agreement with the rulers of these states, which integrated them into the Indian democratic system. As part of this agreement, the rulers were granted certain privileges including the right to retain their titles, privileges, and the privy purse.
- The issue of privy purses became a contentious one in the 1960s. because some politicians and social activists argued that the payments are unfair and that the former rulers should not receive any special privileges.
- In 1971, the government of India under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment. which abolished the system of privy purses for the former rulers.
Twenty-Sixth Amendment Act, 1971
The 26th constitutional amendment was passed in 1971. It made many changes to the constitution which also included the abolition of the privy purse system for former Indian princes. This amendment also provides for the appointment of a commission to review the working of the Constitution every five years and submit a report to the President of India.
The concept of rulership and privy purse related to any clause and statement in the Constitution of India seemed to be incompatible with the very idea of an egalitarian society. So to end this clause, the 26th Constitutional Amendment Act was thus introduced so as to terminate this provision of privy purses and rulership and to move forward toward establishing an egalitarian society.