Which Constitutional Amendment Act of India is popularly known as the Mini Constitution because of the very wide range of changes it introduced?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of major constitutional amendments in India, particularly the one that significantly altered many parts of the Constitution during the mid 1970s. Because of the very large number of changes it brought in, one amendment is often referred to as the Mini Constitution. Identifying this amendment helps you understand the depth of constitutional change during that period and is a favourite topic in Indian polity questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question asks which Amendment Act is known as the Mini Constitution.
The options list the 2nd, 42nd, 48th, and 57th Amendments.
We are expected to recall which amendment introduced the largest and most wide ranging set of changes.

Concept / Approach:
The Forty Second Amendment Act of 1976, enacted during the Emergency period, made extensive changes to many parts of the Constitution. It amended the Preamble, strengthened Directive Principles, curtailed certain Fundamental Rights, increased the term of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, altered the balance between the Parliament and the judiciary, and touched many other provisions. Due to its comprehensive nature, commentators and textbooks often call it the Mini Constitution. The other amendments mentioned in the options made more limited changes and are not popularly known by this nickname.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Forty Second Amendment Act was passed in 1976 during the Emergency and is considered one of the most sweeping amendments in Indian constitutional history.Step 2: Remember that this amendment modified the Preamble by adding the words Socialist and Secular and the phrase Integrity of the Nation, and it also significantly changed parts on Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and the relationship between Parliament and the judiciary.Step 3: Recognise that because of these wide ranging changes, the Forty Second Amendment is often referred to as the Mini Constitution.Step 4: Among the options given, select 42nd Amendment as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any standard Indian polity textbook will have a separate discussion on the Forty Second Amendment, clearly labelling it as the Mini Constitution due to its scale and scope. These texts also contrast it with later amendments like the Forty Fourth Amendment Act, which reversed some of its provisions. No such nickname is associated with the 2nd, 48th, or 57th Amendments. This consistent academic and exam oriented usage confirms that the 42nd Amendment is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The 2nd Amendment mainly dealt with changes in the number of seats in Parliament and does not have the reputation of being a comprehensive revision of the Constitution, so it is not called the Mini Constitution.
The 48th Amendment made specific changes relating to a particular State and did not overhaul multiple parts of the Constitution, so it does not fit the description given in the question.

The 57th Amendment again dealt with a limited set of issues, particularly representation in certain States, and is nowhere described as a Mini Constitution in standard references, so this option is incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates mix up the Forty Second and Forty Fourth Amendments. The Forty Second Amendment is the broad, Emergency period amendment known as the Mini Constitution, whereas the Forty Fourth Amendment came later to restore and protect many civil liberties. Another error is to guess based only on the number, without recalling the actual content of the amendment. To avoid such mistakes, it is useful to associate the phrase Mini Constitution directly with the Forty Second Amendment and remember the key features it changed, such as the Preamble and the balance between rights and directives.

Final Answer:
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 is popularly known as the Mini Constitution.