---
title: "Golaknath v. State of Punjab (1967) — Definition & Meaning"
description: "Golaknath v. State of Punjab (1967) barred Parliament from amending fundamental rights, reversing Shankari Prasad. Key for UPSC GS2 polity on Article 368."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/golaknath-v-state-of-punjab-1967"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Golaknath v.
- State of Punjab was a 1967 Indian Supreme Court ruling that held Parliament cannot amend the Constitution to abridge or take away fundamental rights.
- What did the Supreme Court actually hold in Golaknath v. State of Punjab?
- How is Golaknath different from the basic structure doctrine?
- What was the doctrine of prospective overruling and why was it used?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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Example

In 2015, while striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission, the Supreme Court of India traced the limits on Parliament's amending power to the lineage beginning with Golaknath v. State of Punjab and culminating in Kesavananda Bharati.

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