the 32nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1973, which is mainly related to the State of Andhra Pradesh and the protection of the rights of people belong

32nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1973

The Constitution of India is a living document, which means it can be changed from time to time when needed. These changes are made through Constitutional Amendments. Some amendments deal with national issues, some deal with rights, while others focus on political and administrative arrangements within states. 

One such amendment is the 32nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1973, which is mainly related to the State of Andhra Pradesh and the protection of the rights of people belonging to the Telangana region. This amendment is closely connected to the internal social and political situation of Andhra Pradesh and the demands for regional equality.

To understand the 32nd Amendment properly, we must know the background, the reason behind its creation, and the effects it had on the people and the state. Let us discuss everything step-by-step in simple language.

Highlights: 32nd Constitutional Amendment (1973)

Year of Amendment	1973
Popular Name	32nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1973
Related State	Andhra Pradesh (especially Telangana region)
Key Articles Added	Article 371D and Article 371E
Main Purpose	Ensure fair opportunities in government jobs and education across regions of Andhra Pradesh
Article 371D	President can create local zones and rules for regional allocation; tribunal for disputes
Article 371E	Enables Parliament to establish a Central University in Andhra Pradesh
Why Needed	Address regional imbalance and concerns from the Telangana movement
Impact	Improved fairness in jobs and admissions; tensions reduced but not fully resolved
Long-Term Outcome	Continued demands led to formation of Telangana state in 2014

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Background: Formation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Concerns

After independence, India reorganized states based on languages. As a result, in 1956, the state of Andhra Pradesh was formed by combining:

• The Telugu-speaking areas of Hyderabad State, known as Telangana

• And the Andhra State, which had been formed earlier from Madras Presidency

However, both regions had different historical, cultural, and economic backgrounds. The Telangana region had been part of the Hyderabad princely state, while the Andhra region was under British rule earlier. Telangana was culturally rich but economically less developed due to historical reasons. Meanwhile, the Andhra region had comparatively better access to education and employment.

Because of these differences, people in the Telangana region feared that they would be dominated by those from the Andhra region in matters like:

• Government jobs

• Educational opportunities

• Land ownership

• Political representation

To address these concerns, the Gentlemen’s Agreement (1956) was made, promising specific safeguards for Telangana. But over time, people felt that these safeguards were not properly implemented. This led to the Telangana movement in 1969, where people demanded justice and equal opportunities.

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Why the 32nd Amendment Became Necessary

The Telangana agitation created a strong demand for either:

• Separation of Telangana as a separate state, or

• Strong constitutional safeguards within a united Andhra Pradesh

To prevent the division of the state and maintain peace, the Government of India decided to introduce constitutional measures to protect the interests of the Telangana region.

So, in 1973, the Parliament passed the 32nd Constitutional Amendment Act to establish special arrangements within Andhra Pradesh that would ensure fair distribution of:

• Educational opportunities

• Government jobs

• Development funds

The goal was not only to maintain unity but also to ensure that no region felt neglected.

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Main Provisions of the 32nd Amendment

The 32nd Amendment inserted Article 371D and Article 371E into the Constitution. Let’s break them down in simple words.

Article 371D – Special Provisions for Andhra Pradesh

This is the most important part of the 32nd Amendment. It gave the President of India the power to issue orders to ensure equal opportunities for people belonging to different parts of Andhra Pradesh in:

• Government employment

• Admission to educational institutions

This meant that recruitment and educational admissions could be organized region-wise so that people from Telangana and other regions had a fair chance.

Key points under Article 371D:

• The state could be divided into zones for job and admission purposes.

• Local candidates would get reservation based on their local area.

• The aim was to make sure one region did not dominate the other.

• A Central Tribunal could be formed to settle disputes regarding these matters.

Article 371E – Establishment of a Central University

This provision allowed the Parliament to establish a Central University in Andhra Pradesh. The goal was to improve higher education opportunities in the state so that students, particularly from Telangana, had better access to advanced education.

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Objective of the 32nd Amendment

The main aim of this amendment was to preserve regional balance within the unified Andhra Pradesh. It recognized that although the state was formed on linguistic unity, there were economic and educational inequalities between regions.

The amendment focused on:

• Regional justice

• Equal opportunities

• Administrative fairness

• Social harmony

Instead of allowing the state to break apart, the government tried to build confidence among the people of Telangana by promising constitutional protection.

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Impact of the 32nd Amendment

The amendment successfully introduced a system known as the “Local Zoning System”. Under this, job opportunities and educational admissions were distributed fairly among regions. This system continued for many years and helped reduce feelings of discrimination to some extent.

However, the impact was not completely successful. Many people in Telangana felt that:

• Development was still slower in their region

• Rich resources of Telangana were being used more in the Andhra region

• Political power was more centered in one region

Although the amendment helped, it did not fully solve the problem of regional imbalance.

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Continued Telangana Movement and the Formation of Telangana State

Despite the 32nd Amendment, discontent continued in Telangana for decades. This led to:

• Renewed protests in the late 1990s and 2000s

• Massive political movements demanding a separate Telangana state

Finally, in 2014, Telangana was separated from Andhra Pradesh and became a new state with Hyderabad as its capital. This event shows that while the 32nd Amendment was a sincere attempt to solve the issue, it could not fully address the socio-political reality.

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Importance of the 32nd Amendment

The 32nd Amendment is important because:

• It reflects how the Constitution can be used to address regional inequalities.

• It shows that linguistic unity alone cannot guarantee emotional and economic unity.

• It teaches that balanced development is necessary for maintaining peace and unity.

For students, this amendment is especially relevant in understanding federalism, regional politics, and constitutional safeguards.

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Conclusion

The 32nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1973, was a major step by the Government of India to protect the rights and interests of the Telangana region while keeping Andhra Pradesh united. It introduced special provisions to ensure fair distribution of opportunities and attempted to bridge regional gaps. 

Although it was a well-intentioned amendment and had some positive impacts, it could not entirely remove the sense of inequality. Eventually, this long-standing demand led to the formation of Telangana as a separate state in 2014.

Overall, the 32nd Amendment remains a significant chapter in India’s constitutional and political history, reminding us that unity must always be accompanied by fairness and balanced development.