100th Amendment of the Indian Constitution

The 100th Amendment to the Indian Constitution:

1. Gave effect to the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement originally signed in 1974 (Indira-Mujib Pact) but unimplemented for 41 years
2. Allowed the transfer of certain Indian territories to Bangladesh and acquisition of certain Bangladeshi territories by India
3. Required a constitutional amendment because Article 368 mandates Parliament's approval (with special majority) for any cession of Indian territory

After the 1947 Partition, both India and East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) were left with hundreds of tiny enclaves — small pockets of one country's territory completely surrounded by the other country's land.

• India had 111 enclaves inside Bangladesh
• Bangladesh had 51 enclaves inside India
• Total: 162 enclaves with hundreds of thousands of people living in a bizarre legal limbo — cut off from government services, schools, hospitals, and identity documents of either country

For 68 years, these residents could not vote, own property legally, or access basic services.

Under PM Narendra Modi (India) and PM Sheikh Hasina (Bangladesh):

• Ratified in May 2015
• On August 1, 2015, at midnight, the flags changed: 51 Bangladeshi enclaves inside India became Indian territory; 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh became Bangladeshi territory
• Residents were given the choice to stay (changing nationality) or move to their respective countries
• India received approximately 7,110 acres of new territory; Bangladesh received approximately 17,160 acres
• Net: Bangladesh received more land, but India considered this a fair price for permanently resolving an unresolvable boundary dispute