RAS question
Article 239AA, which provides for a special status to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, was inserted by:
Correct answer: (D) 69th Amendment Act, 1991.
Article 239AA, which gives special constitutional provisions to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, was inserted by the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991.
Explanation
Article 239AA is the constitutional basis for Delhi's special arrangement as the National Capital Territory. The India Code text of the Constitution states that, from the commencement of the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991, the Union territory of Delhi shall be called the National Capital Territory, with its administrator designated as the Lieutenant Governor. Article 239AA also provides for a Legislative Assembly for the National Capital Territory and a Council of Ministers. Its autonomy is limited: the Assembly may legislate on applicable State List and Concurrent List matters, but police, public order and land are excluded. That is why the 69th Amendment, not the local-government amendments, is the relevant answer.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Article 239AA is connected with the Sixty-ninth Amendment, not the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992. The 73rd Amendment concerns Panchayati Raj institutions, not Delhi's special National Capital Territory arrangement.
- (B) The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 is not the amendment responsible for Article 239AA or Delhi's special status. Article 239AA was inserted through the Sixty-ninth Amendment Act, 1991.
- (C) The 74th Amendment Act, 1992 concerns municipalities and is not the source of Article 239AA. Delhi's special National Capital Territory framework comes from the Sixty-ninth Amendment.
Concept
This tests Union territory governance and special constitutional arrangements under Part VIII. RAS repeats this area because Delhi's elected government, Lieutenant Governor and reserved subjects often appear in questions on Centre-territory relations.