---
title: "Kesavananda Bharati: Basic Structure Doctrine"
description: "Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) established the basic structure doctrine, limiting Parliament's power to amend the Constitution in India."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/kesavananda-bharati"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Kesavananda Bharati v.
- State of Kerala (1973) is the Supreme Court verdict that established the basic structure doctrine, limiting Parliament's power to amend the Constitution under Article 368.
- What is the basic structure doctrine established in Kesavananda Bharati?
- Which earlier case did Kesavananda Bharati overrule?
- What was decided about Article 31C in the case?

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

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In 1973, a 13-judge Supreme Court bench in Kesavananda Bharati ruled 7:6 that Parliament could not destroy the Constitution's basic structure, a doctrine later used in Minerva Mills (1980) to strike down parts of the 42nd Amendment.

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