Indian Polity and Governance

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Aspirant Forum presents the Indian Polity and Governance (GS-2) for the UPSC examinations. Indian Polity and Governance are a part of the General Studies Paper 2 (GS-2) of the IAS Mains Examination. If covered properly, this section can be a well scoring part of the paper.

This section will provide you various topics and articles on different subjects, that are important from the examination point of view. While we try to put online every article possible, as soon as we can, it would be a pleasure to conduct a healthy discussion on the forum about the topics.

Members can put in their views and perspectives on the issues and thus contribute to a healthy scholarly debate. We welcome the participation from anyone and everyone.

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Evolution of the Contitution
1. The Company Rule (1773-1858)	Regulating Act, 1773 Amending Act, 1781 Pitts India Act, 1784 Amending Act of 1786 Charter Act, 1793 Charter Act, 1813 Charter Act, 1833 Charter Act, 1853
2. The Crown Rule (1858-1947)	Government of India Act, 1858 Indian Councils Act, 1861 Indian Councils Act, 1892 Indian Councils Act, 1909 Government of India Act, 1919 Simon Commission Government of India Act, 1935 Indian Independence Act, 1947
3. Drafting and Sources of Indian Constitution	Seminal Sources External Sources Developmental Sources Constitutional Practices Important Committees of the Constituent Assembly and their Chairman

Salient Features of Indian Constitution
1. Constitution and Types	What is a Constitution? Types of Constitution Functions of the Constitution Historical evolution of the Constitution Constituent Assembly Objectives of the Constitution Unitary features Federal features
2. Types of Political System	Types of Political System Types of Government Parliamentary form of government Features of the Presidential System Features of Semi-Presidential System
3. Types of Majorities as per the Indian Constitution	Absolute Majority Effective Majority Simple Majority Special Majority
4. Preamble and Values in the Constitution	The objectives laid down in the Preamble Whether the Preamble is a part of the Constitution or not? Whether Preamble can be amended or not?
5. Amendment of The Constitution	Procedure for amendment Types of Amendments Amenability of FR’s Ingredients of basic structure
6. Doctrine and Terms	Doctrine of severability Validity of Re-Constitutional Laws Doctrine of Eclipse Doctrine of Harmonious Construction Doctrine of Pith and Substance Doctrine of Colourable Legislation (Article 246) Doctrine of Territorial Nexus Doctrine of Laches Due Process of Law Procedure Established by Law
7. Other Constitutional Dimensions	Schedules and Subjects Ofﬁcial Languages

Union & its Territory
1. ARTICLE 1-4	Article 1: Name and Territory of the Union Committee/commission for State Re-organisation The State Reorganization Commission (SRC) 1953 Article 2: Admit or Establish new State Article 3: Formation of new States and alternation of areas, boundaries or names of existing States Article 4: Laws made under articles 2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of the First and the Fourth Schedule and Supplemental Delimitation Commission

Union & its Territory

1. ARTICLE 1-4

Article 1: Name and Territory of the Union
Committee/commission for State Re-organisation
The State Reorganization Commission (SRC) 1953
Article 2: Admit or Establish new State
Article 3: Formation of new States and alternation of areas, boundaries or names of existing States
Article 4: Laws made under articles 2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of the First and the Fourth Schedule and Supplemental
Delimitation Commission

Citizenship
1. Constitutional Provisions	Constitutional provisions of citizenship Citizenship Act, 1955 The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2016 Special privileges enjoyed by citizens in India Rights and Duties of Citizens
2. Indian Diaspora	Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Non-Resident Indians

Fundamental Rights
1. Evolution Objectives and Features	Meaning Objectives Features Importance Restrictive limitations on fundamental rights
2. Article 12 and Article 13	Deﬁnition of state Laws Inconsistent with Fundamental Rights
3. Right to Equality	Article 14: Equality before the law or the Equal protection of Law Article 15: Prohibition of Discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth Article 16: Equality of Opportunity in matters of Public Employment Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability Article 18: Abolition of Titles
4. Right to Freedom	Article 19 Article 20: (Protection in respect of conviction for offenses) Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty Article 22: Protection against arrest and detention
5. Right against Exploitation	Article 23: Prohibition of Trafﬁc in human beings and forced labour Article 24: Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc
6. Right to Freedom of Religion	Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation or religion Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs Article 27: Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion. Article 28: Freedom from attendance religious instruction or worship in educational institutions
7. Cultural and Educational Rights	Article 29: Protection of interest of Minorities Article 30: Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions
8. Right to Constitutional Remedies	Article 32: Right to Constitutional Remedies
9. FR’s other Dimensions	Article 33 Article 34 Article 35 Article 35A

Directive Principlesof State Policy(DPSP)
1. Evolution, objectives, and features	Basic features Types Amendments Implementation
2. Socialistic Principles	Article: 38 Article:39 Article: 39A Article: 41 Article: 42 Article: 43 Article: 43-A Article: 47
3. Gandhian Principles	Article: 40 Article: 43 Article: 46 Article: 47 Article: 48
4. Liberal-Intellectual Principles	Article: 44 Article: 45 Article: 48 Article: 48A Article: 49 Article: 50 Article: 51
5. Directive Principle Outside Part IV	ARTICLE 335 IN PART XVI ARTICLE 350-A IN PART XVII Article 351 in Part XVII

Fundamental Duties
1. Article: 51A	Features Relation between of Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties List of Fundamental Duties 86th Constitutional Amendment Act 2003 : RTE
2. Recent developments	Fundamental Duties – Awareness Campaigns is the Duty of Centre National Anthem – Mandatory in Cinema Halls – Article 51(a) Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 Triple Talaq Issue Uniform Civil Code MGNREGA: Right to Work Making Aadhar mandatory

System of Governance
1. Centre-State Relations	Legislative relations (Articles) 245 Related to Territorial Powers Related to Legislative Powers Related to Parliament’s Powers to make Laws in State Sarkaria Commission’s Opinion on Legislative Relations Administrative Relations Delegation of Union Functions to the States Sarkaria Commission’s Opinion on Administrative Relations Financial relations National Integration Council
2. Inter State Relation	Inter state water dispute Inter state councils Inter state trade and commerce Zonal Councils
3. Special Provisions for some States	Provisions for Maharashtra and Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam and Manipur Provisions for Jammu and Kashmir (A370) (now abrogated)
4. Types of Emergencies	National Emergency Constitutional/State Emergency /President’s Rule Financial Emergency

Union Executive
1. President	Eligibility Conditions of Ofﬁce Term of Ofﬁce Election Manner of Election Impeachment of the President Impeachment of the President Vacancy in the Ofﬁce of President Powers of the President
2. Vice President	Qualiﬁcation Conditions of Ofﬁce Term of Ofﬁce Election Removal Vacancy Functions of the Vice-President
3. The Prime Minister	Appointment Eligibility Powers and Functions of Prime Minister Relationship between the President and the Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister Prime Minister’s Ofﬁce
4. Union Council of Minister	Article 74: Council of Ministers to aid and advice President Article 75: Other Provisions as to Ministers Article 77: Conduct of Business of the Government of India Article 78: Duties of Prime Minister Nature of advice by Ministers Strength of the Council Appointment of a Non-legislator as a Minister Collective responsibility of the Ministers Individual Responsibility of Ministers

Union Legislature
1. Organisation of Parliament	Organisation of Parliament Qualiﬁcations and Disqualiﬁcations for being a Member of Parliament (Article 84) Functions of the Parliament Functioning of the Parliament Sessions of Parliament Devices of Parliamentary Proceedings Parliamentary Privileges and Immunities Collective Privileges of the House Individual Privileges Houses of the Parliament
2. Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha	Lok Sabha Composition Rajya Sabha Composition Presiding Ofﬁcers of the Parliament Speaker Powers & Functions of the speaker Deputy Speaker Panel of Chairpersons of Lok Sabha Speaker ProTem Chairman of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Panel of Vice-Chairpersons of Rajya Sabha Chairman and Deputy chairman of the Council of States
3. Legislative Procedure and Committees of Parliament	Legislative Procedure in Parliament Ordinary Bill Money Bill Financial Bill Constitution Amendment Bill Lapsing of Bills Annual Financial Statement: Budget (Article 112) Demand of Grants Appropriation Bill Cut motions Stages in Enactment of Budget Other Grants Related Information of Budget Parliamentary committees

Union Executive
1. Governor	Article 152: Deﬁnition Article 153: Governors of States Article 154: Executive power of State Discretionary power Article 155: Appointment of Governor Article 156: Term of ofﬁce of Governor Article 157: Qualiﬁcations for Appointment as Governor Article 158: Conditions of Governor’s ofﬁce Article 159: Oath or afﬁrmation by the Governor Article 160: Discharge of the functions of the Governor in certain contingencies Article 161 Article 162: Extent of executive power of State Recommendations on the ofﬁce of Governor ARC (Administrative Reforms Commission) Sarkaria Commission National Commission to Review the working of the Constitution
2. The Chief Minister and the CoM	Powers and Functions of Chief Minister Composition of the Council of Ministers Responsibility of Ministers Advocate-General for the State

Union Executive

1. Governor

Article 152: Deﬁnition
Article 153: Governors of States
Article 154: Executive power of State
Discretionary power
Article 155: Appointment of Governor
Article 156: Term of ofﬁce of Governor
Article 157: Qualiﬁcations for Appointment as Governor
Article 158: Conditions of Governor’s ofﬁce
Article 159: Oath or afﬁrmation by the Governor
Article 160: Discharge of the functions of the Governor in certain contingencies
Article 161
Article 162: Extent of executive power of State
Recommendations on the ofﬁce of Governor
ARC (Administrative Reforms Commission)
Sarkaria Commission
National Commission to Review the working of the Constitution

2. The Chief Minister and the CoM

Powers and Functions of Chief Minister
Composition of the Council of Ministers
Responsibility of Ministers
Advocate-General for the State

State Legislature
1. Legislative Assembly	Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) Powers and Functions Speaker & Deputy Speaker Parliament’s Control over State Legislature
2. Legislative Council (Article 169)	Qualiﬁcations Powers and Functions

Local Government
1. Panchayati Raj	Evolution of the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 Compulsory and Voluntary Provisions
2. Urban Local Government	74th Constitutional Amendment Act Types of Urban Governments In India

Union Territories and Special Areas
1. Union Territories	Creation of Union Territories Administration of UT’s Special provisions for Delhi Special Category Status
2. Schedule and Tribal Areas	Administration of Schedule Areas Administration of Tribal areas

The Judiciary
1. The Supreme Court	Chief Justice of India Acting Chief Justice of India Appointment of Supreme Court Judges Qualiﬁcations for Supreme Court Judges Removal of a Supreme Court Judges Process of Impeachment Ad hoc and Retired Judges Salaries and allowances of Supreme Court Judges Chief Justices of India (Since 1951) Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court Judicial Independence Judiciary Executive Relations
2. The High Court Subordinate Courts & Lok Adalats	The High Courts Jurisdiction of the High Courts Subordinate Courts Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 Alternative dispute Resolution Lok Adalat All India Judicial Service E-governance in Judiciary Judicial Impact Assessment Judges Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010 National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)

Contitutional and Non-Contitutional Bodies
1. Constitutional Bodies	Finance Commission Comptroller and Auditor General of India Attorney-General of India Other Constitutional Bodies All India Services Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) State Public Service Commission (SPSC) Joint State public Service Commission (JSPSC) National Commission for SCs National Commission for STs Special Ofﬁcer for Linguistic Minority The Advocate General (Article 165)
2. Non-Constitutional	Special ofﬁcer for linguistic Minorities Central Information Commission State Information Commission Lokpal and LokAyukta National Human Rights Commission State Human Right Commission CVC (Central Vigillance Commission)

Contitutional and Non-Contitutional Bodies

1. Constitutional Bodies

Finance Commission
Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Attorney-General of India

Other Constitutional Bodies

All India Services
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
State Public Service Commission (SPSC)
Joint State public Service Commission (JSPSC)
National Commission for SCs
National Commission for STs
Special Ofﬁcer for Linguistic Minority
The Advocate General (Article 165)

2. Non-Constitutional

Special ofﬁcer for linguistic Minorities
Central Information Commission
State Information Commission
Lokpal and LokAyukta
National Human Rights Commission
State Human Right Commission
CVC (Central Vigillance Commission)

Political Dynamics
1. Political Parties and Election	Electoral System in India Electoral Reforms Since 1988 Types of Political Parties Party System in India Political Parties in India
2.Pressure Groups	Meaning and Techniques Pressure Groups in India Types of pressure groups

Governance
1. Governing Institutions in India	Structure of Ministries/departments Political head Secretariat organization secretary Functions of the secretariat Functions of attached and subordinate ofﬁce Other organizations Public sector undertakings The Executive organization Advantages of the separation of secretariat and executive organization. Strengths and weaknesses of the existing structure Recommendations for improving the Organizational structure
2. Audit and other Transparency initiatives	CVC CAG Lokpal Lok Ayukta
3. Role of SHG, NGOs, Civil Society	SHGs NGOs Functions Role of NGOs in development Micro Finance Institutions Salient features Role of MFIs in development
4. Social Sector Bills	The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 Child Labour (Prohibition and Amendment) Bill, 2016 Maternity Beneﬁt Bill, 2016 Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act Mental Health Care Bill, 2013 Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Anti Trafﬁcking Bill with Stringent Penalty HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill- 2014 – Amendments Domestic Violence Act, 2005 – SC Widens Ambit Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 with more Beneﬁt Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016 The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act
5. Welfare Schemes	Health Education Start-up and Skill Development Start Up India Scheme Vulnerable Sector Inclusive growth Rural Development Miscellaneous schemes

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