2. Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility

The Constitution of India is neither purely rigid nor purely flexible. There is a harmonious blend of rigidity and flexibility. Some parts of the Constitution can be amended by the ordinary law-making process of Parliament. However, certain provisions can be amended, only when a Bill for that purpose is passed in each House of Parliament by a majority of the total membership of that house and by a majority of not less than two-third of the members of that house present and voting. Then there are certain other provisions, which can be amended by the second method described above and must be further ratified by the legislatures of not less than one-half of the states before being presented to the President for his assent. It must also be noted that the power to initiate bills for amendment lies with the Parliament alone, and not with the state legislatures.

However, SC has identified the limited power of Parliament to amend the Constitution as part of basic structure. In other words, parliament cannot amend each and every part of the constitution.

In Pandit Nehru’s words spoken in the Constituent Assembly: "While we want the Constitution to be as solid and permanent as we can make it, there is no permanence in Constitution. There should be certain flexibility. If you make anything rigid and permanent, you stop the nation’s growth, the growth of a living, vital organic people….

In any event, we could not make this Constitution so rigid that it cannot be adapted to changing conditions. When the world is in turmoil and we are passing through a very swift period of transition, what we may do today may not be wholly applicable tomorrow."