Polity Notes

Covers the Constitution of India, governance, political systems, rights, duties, and key government institutions, essential for understanding the country's legal and administrative framework.

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Amendment of the Constitution

Procedure for Amendment

Types of Amendments

Criticism of the Amendment Procedure

Basic Structure of the Constitution

Basic Structure of the Constitution

Emergence of the Basic Structure

Elements of the Basic Structure

Cabinet Committees

Features of Cabinet Committees

List of Cabinet Committees

Functions of Cabinet Committees

Groups of Ministers

Central Council of Ministers

Constitutional Provisions

Nature of Advice by Ministers

Appointment of Ministers

Oath and Salary of Ministers

Responsibility of Ministers

Composition of the Council of Ministers

Council of Ministers vs Cabinet

Role of the Cabinet

Role Descriptions

Kitchen Cabinet

Centre–State Relations

Legislative Relations

Administrative Relations

Financial Relations

Trends in Centre–State Relations

Chief Minister

Appointment of Chief Minister

Oath, Term and Salary of Chief Minister

Powers and Functions of Chief Minister

Relationship with the Governor

Citizenship

Meaning and Significance

Constitutional Provisions

Citizenship Act, 1955

Single Citizenship

Overseas Citizenship of India

Constitutional Bodies

Election Commission

Union Public Service Commission

State Public Service Commission

Finance Commission

Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (SCs)

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (STs)

National Commission for Backward Classes (BCs)

Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities

Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)

Attorney General of India

Advocate General of the State

Directive Principles of State Policy

Directive Principles of State Policy

Features of the Directive Principles

Classification of the Directive Principles

New Directive Principles

Sanction Behind Directive Principles

Criticism of the Directive Principles

Utility of Directive Principles

Conflict Between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles

Implementation of Directive Principles

Directives Outside Part IV

List of Directive Principles

Emergency Provisions

National Emergency

President's Rule

Financial Emergency

Criticism of the Emergency Provisions

Federal System

Federal System

Federal Features of the Constitution

Unitary Features of the Constitution

Critical Evaluation of the Federal System

Fundamental Duties

Swaran Singh Committee Recommendations

List of Fundamental Duties

Features of the Fundamental Duties

Criticism of Fundamental Duties

Significance of Fundamental Duties

Verma Committee Observations

Fundamental Rights

Fundamental Rights

Features of Fundamental Rights

Definition of State Laws Inconsistent with Fundamental Rights

Right to Equality

Right to Freedom

Right Against Exploitation

Right to Freedom of Religion

Cultural and Educational Rights

Right to Constitutional Remedies

Writs—Types and Scope

Armed Forces and Fundamental Rights

Martial Law and Fundamental Rights

Effecting Certain Fundamental Rights

Present Position of Right to Property

Exceptions to Fundamental Rights

Criticism of Fundamental Rights

Significance of Fundamental Rights

Rights Outside Part III

List of Fundamental Rights

Governor

Appointment of Governor

Conditions of Governor’s Office

Term of Governor’s Office

Powers and Functions of Governor

Constitutional Position of Governor

High Court

Composition and Appointment

Qualifications, Oath and Salaries

Tenure, Removal and Transfer

Acting, Additional and Retired Judges

Independence of High Court

Jurisdiction and Powers of High Court

Historical Background

The Company Rule (1773–1858)

The Crown Rule (1858–1947)

Inter-State Relations

Inter-State Water Disputes

Inter-State Councils

Inter-State Trade and Commerce

Zonal Councils

Judicial Activism

Meaning of Judicial Activism

Judicial Review and Judicial Activism

Justification of Judicial Activism

Activators of Judicial Activism

Apprehensions of Judicial Activism

Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Restraint

Judicial Review

Meaning of Judicial Review

Importance of Judicial Review

Constitutional Provisions for Judicial Review

Scope of Judicial Review

Judicial Review of the Ninth Schedule

Making of the Constitution

Demand for a Constituent Assembly

Composition of the Constituent Assembly

Working of the Constituent Assembly

Committees of the Constituent Assembly

Enactment of the Constitution

Enforcement of the Constitution

Experts Committee of the Congress

Criticism of the Constituent Assembly

Important Facts

Municipalities

Evolution of Urban Bodies

74th Amendment Act of 1992

Types of Urban Governments

Municipal Personnel

Municipal Revenue

Central Council of Local Government

Non-Constitutional Bodies

NITI Aayog

National Human Rights Commission

State Human Rights Commission

Central Information Commission

State Information Commission

Central Vigilance Commission

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

Lokpal and Lokayuktas

National Investigation Agency (NIA)

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

Other Constitutional Dimensions

Co-operative Societies

Official Language

Public Services

Rights and Liabilities of the Government

Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes

Panchayati Raj

Evolution of Panchayati Raj

73rd Amendment Act of 1992

Compulsory and Voluntary Provisions

PESA Act of 1996 (Extension Act)

Finances of Panchayati Raj

Reasons for Ineffective Performance

Parliament

Organisation of Parliament

Composition of the Two Houses

System of Elections to Lok Sabha

Duration of Two Houses

Membership of Parliament

Presiding Officers of Parliament

Leaders in Parliament

Sessions of Parliament

Devices of Parliamentary Proceedings

Legislative Procedure in Parliament

Joint Sitting of Two Houses

Budget in Parliament

Multifunctional Role of Parliament

Ineffectiveness of Parliamentary Control

Position of Rajya Sabha

Parliamentary Committees

Parliamentary Forums

Parliamentary Group

Parliamentary System

Parliamentary System

Features of Parliamentary Government

Features of Presidential Government

Merits of the Parliamentary System

Demerits of the Parliamentary System

Reasons for Adopting Parliamentary System

Distinction between Indian and British Models

Political Dynamics

Political Dynamics: Meaning and Types, Party System in India, Recognition of National and State Parties

Role of Regional Parties: Features, Classification, Rise, Role, and Dysfunctions

Elections: Electoral System, Election Machinery, and Election Process

Election Laws: Representation of the People Acts, Delimitation Act, and Other Related Laws

Electoral Reforms: Committees, Pre-1996, 1996, Post-1996, and Reforms Since 2010

Voting Behaviour: Meaning, Significance, Determinants, and Role of Media

Coalition Government: Meaning, Features, Formation, Merits, and Demerits

Anti-Defection Law: Provisions, Evaluation, and 91st Amendment Act (2003)

Pressure Groups: Meaning and Techniques, and Pressure Groups in India

National Integration: Meaning, Obstacles, National Integration Council, National Foundation for Communal Harmony

Foreign Policy: Principles, Objectives, Gujral Doctrine, Nuclear Doctrine, Connect Central Asia, and Act East Policy

Preamble of the Constitution

Preamble of the Constitution

Text of the Preamble

Ingredients of the Preamble

Key Words in the Preamble

Significance of the Preamble

Preamble as Part of the Constitution

Amendability of the Preamble

President

Election of the President

Qualifications, Oath and Conditions

Term, Impeachment and Vacancy

Powers and Functions of the President

Veto Power of the President

Ordinance-Making Power of the President

Pardoning Power of the President

Constitutional Position of the President

Prime Minister

Appointment of the Prime Minister

Oath, Term and Salary

Powers and Functions of the Prime Minister

Role Descriptions

Relationship with the President

Chief Ministers who became Prime Ministers

Public Interest Litigation

Meaning of PIL

Features of PIL

Scope of PIL

Principles of PIL

Guidelines for Admitting PIL

Salient Features of the Constitution

Salient Features of the Constitution

Criticism of the Constitution

Scheduled and Tribal Areas

Administration of Scheduled Areas

Administration of Tribal Areas

Special Provisions for Some States

Provisions for Maharashtra and Gujarat

Provisions for Nagaland

Provisions for Assam and Manipur

Provisions for Andhra Pradesh or Telangana

Provisions for Sikkim

Provisions for Mizoram

Provisions for Arunachal Pradesh and Goa

Provisions for Karnataka

State Council of Ministers

Constitutional Provisions

Nature of Advice by Ministers

Appointment of Ministers

Oath and Salary of Ministers

Responsibility of Ministers

Composition of the Council of Ministers

Cabinet

State Legislature

Organisation of State Legislature

Composition of Two Houses

Duration of Two Houses

Membership of State Legislature

Presiding Officers of State Legislature

Sessions of State Legislature

Legislative Procedure in State Legislature

Position of Legislative Council

Privileges of State Legislature

Subordinate Courts

Constitutional Provisions

Structure and Jurisdiction

National Legal Services Authority

Lok Adalats

Permanent Lok Adalats

Family Courts

Gram Nyayalayas

Supreme Court

Composition and Appointment

Qualifications, Oath and Salaries

Tenure and Removal

Acting, Adhoc and Retired Judges

Seat and Procedure

Independence of the Supreme Court

Jurisdiction and Powers

Supreme Court Advocates

Tribunals

Administrative Tribunals

Tribunals for Other Matters

Union and its Territory

Union and its Territory

Union of States

Parliament’s Power to Reorganise the States

Exchange of Territories with Bangladesh

Evolution of States and Union Territories

Union Territories and Special Areas

Creation of Union Territories

Administration of Union Territories

Special Provisions for Delhi

Advisory Committees of Union Territories

Vice-President

Election

Qualifications, Oath and Conditions

Term and Vacancy

Powers and Functions

Indian and American Vice-Presidents Compared