Reforming Democratic Governance: The 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025

Abstract

The proposed Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025 marks a critical intervention in India's constitutional and democratic framework, responding to persistent concerns regarding ethical governance, criminalisation of politics, erosion of public trust, and weakening accountability mechanisms within the executive. Situated at the intersection of constitutionallaw, political ethics, and democratic theory, the Bill attempts to address longstanding gaps in the regulation of ministerial conduct, particularly in relation to criminal antecedents, procedural accountability, and constitutional responsibility. This article undertakes a detailed legal and constitutional analysis of the 1 30th Amendment Bill with specific focus on constitutional ethics, Articles 75 and 164 of the Constitution, judicial responses to criminalisation of politics, the role of constitutional authorities, and comparative perspectives from established democracies such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa. The article argues that while constitutional amendments may provide structural and normati ve clarity, the long-term future of Indian democracy ultimately depends upon cultivating constitutional morali ty, strengthening institutional integrity, and fo stering ethical political culture alongside legal reform