Green Jobs and Just Transition — Amendments

Amendment	Year	Description	Impact
42nd Amendment Act	1976	This amendment inserted Article 48A into the Directive Principles of State Policy, mandating the State to 'endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.'	This provision provides a direct constitutional directive for environmental protection, which underpins all policies aimed at fostering a green economy and, by extension, green jobs. It shifted the constitutional emphasis towards active environmental stewardship.
Judicial Interpretation of Article 21	Ongoing	Though not an amendment, the expansive judicial interpretation of Article 21 to include the 'right to a clean and healthy environment' has had a profound impact.	This interpretation has elevated environmental protection to a fundamental right, compelling the State to take proactive measures, including promoting sustainable economic activities and regulating polluting industries, thereby creating a demand for green jobs and the necessity of a just transition.
Original Constitution (Articles 39(a) and 43)	1950	These articles, part of the original constitution, guide the State to secure adequate means of livelihood and a living wage.	These principles are fundamental to the 'just' aspect of the transition, ensuring that economic shifts do not compromise the livelihoods and dignity of workers, and that new green jobs are also 'decent jobs.' They provide the ethical and policy imperative for social protection and reskilling initiatives during economic restructuring.