Articles from General Knowledge TodayGKToday’s General Studies Manual for UPSC andState Public Services Examinations 2014: IndianPolity2013-12-09 18:12:56 GKToday

Module-1

The Constituent Assembly, Objectives Resolution, Salient features of IndianConstitution, Broad Features of our Parliamentary Democracy, meaning andinterpretation of Preamble, the Berubari Case and Kesavanand Bharati Case incontext with Preamble Manual Polity-1

Module-2

The Union and Its territories, Constitutional Provisions and Supreme Court decisionsregarding territory, formation of new states and changes in existing states,Citizenship Act and various provisions of citizenship in India. NRI, PIO and OCIbasics. Manual Polity-2

Module-3

The evolution of Fundamental Rights and DPSP, Advisory Committee onFundamental Rights, Sources and importance of Fundamental Rights,Classification of Fundamental Rights, Features of Fundamental Rights in India,Provisions made in articles in Part III, Constitutional Remedies and Types of writs,Fundamental rights during emergency. Manual Polity -3

Module-4

The Reservation and Doctrine of selective discrimination, Constitutional / LegalHistory of Reservation and various cases, The 117th Amendment Bill, Variousprovisions and issues with Right to Education Act, Abolition of untouchability andtitles, Various Issues Related to Right to Freedom, Issues related to Protection ofLife and Personal Liberty, The concept of implied fundamental rights, PreventiveDetention. Manual Polity-4

Module-5

The philosophy behind Directive Principles of State Policy, their sources, SalientConstitutional Provisions on DPSP, Distinction between Fundamental Rights andDirective Principles, Implementation of Directive Principles of State Policy,Amendment of the Directive Principles of State Policy, Conflict betweenFundamental Rights and Directive Principles and various cases, FundamentalDuties. Manual Polity-5

Module-6

The Three Branches of Government in India. Comparison of India governmentsystem with other countries, President of India-Evolution of the office, ElectionProcedure, Powers, Impeachment, Relevance of office of President, Role ofPresident in Government formation and during emergency. Vice President of India -Election, powers and functions. General Knowledge about past and presentpresidents and vice presidents of India. Manual Polity 6

Module-7

The Council of Ministers in Union Parliament, The CoM versus President / PrimeMinister / Cabinet, Collective and Individual Responsibility, Attorney General of India,Powers, functions and responsibilities of AG, Comptroller and Auditor General ofIndia - Appointment, Powers and functions. Manual Polity -7

Module-8

Composition of Parliament of India, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and comparisionbetween the two, Election of MPs and thier qualification / disqualificaton, Sessions ofParliament, Officers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The powers and privileges ofMPs and MLAs. The immunities of MPs in India, The Parliamentary terminology,Various rituals / practices in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, The business of lawmaking in India, Types of Bills and their comparisons, Types of charges,Discussions on bills, The process of budget making in India, Vote on account andappropriation bill, Types of questions. Various majorities in the parliament. ManualPolity 8

Module-9

The various Parliamentary Committees and their functions, Parliamentary Fora,Delimitation and Delimitation Act 2002, Reservation of Seats in Lok Sabha andRajya Sabha. Manual Polity 9

Module-10

The Supreme Court of India, Its role in Indian democracy and its jurisdiction,Comparison of Supreme Court of India with that of other countries of the world,Appointment of the Judges and Chief Justice. Powers and role of Chief Justice ofIndia, Various kinds of petitions, PIL, Judicial activism and overreach and issuesarising out of it, Judiciary in Indian states, Relations between executive and judiciary,appointment and powers of HC Judges, Removal of judges. Notable past / presentchief justices of India and thier contribution to Indian judiciary / society. Manual Polity-10

Module -11

Governor of an Indian State and his / her appointment, powers, functions, privilegesand duties. Council of Ministers in states and its relations with the governor, itsprivileges, The Legislative Assemblies and election of their members. Legislative

Councils, their creation and demolition. The Business of law making in states ofIndia. The Constitutional Provisions in context with Union Territories, Powers ofParliament to create local legislatures, The legal and constitutional position ofstatehood in Delhi and its struggle for a full fledges state. Powers and functions ofadministrators of Union Territories in India. The legislative process in UTassemblies. Manual Polity 11

Module-12

Panchayati Raj - its evolution in British India as well as Free India. The concept ofdemocratic decentralization and issues arising out of it. Salient features ofConstitution 73rd Amendment Act , Elections in Panchayats, Legal and financialpowers of the Panchayats and Gram Sabhas, The role of state governments indevolution of powers and issues arising out of it. The finance commission anddevolution to panchayats. Reservation for women in Panchayats. Manual Polity 12

Module-13

History of Enactment of 74th amendment, Major problems of Local UrbanGovernments, Evolution of Urban Local Governance in India, Salient provisions ofthe 74th amendment Act, Various local urban bodies, their legal powers, authoritiesand functions, The 12th schedule subjects. Salient features of Constitution Part IXB:Cooperatives, Various provisions related to Part IXB, Need for scheduled areas inIndia, various provisions related to scheduled areas, Features of the 5th and 6thschedule areas and their administration. The conflict between Part IX and Part X ofthe constitution of India, The enactment of PESA Act. Powers and authority of theGram Sabha and Panchayats in Scheduled areas. Manual Polity 13

Module 14

Relations between Union and States, Important topics and issues related to them inthe 7th schedule. Comparison of Union and State's law making power on varioussubjects, The administrative relations between States and Union, Various disputesbetween Union and State governments and provisions made in that regard.Relevance of Interstate Council.The Taxation powers of the Union and stategovernments, Consolidated and Contingecy Funds of India, Public Account of India,Various other funds created inside / outside of these funds. Increasing anddecreasing taxation in India, Constitutional Provisions regarding the FinanceCommission in India, Right to Property, Trade and Commerce within the territoriesof India, The reforms in Centre-State relations. Manual Polity 14

Module-15

Services under the Union and States, Creation and termination of All India Services,Tribunals-their establishment, functions and powers. Manual Polity 15

Module-16

The Constitutional Provisions related to Election Commission of India, Electoral Roll,

Power related to election related laws, Poll Petitions related to various importantoffices, Independence of ECI, Electoral reforms in India, Election of MPs and MLAs,Elections at the Local Governments, Various malpractices related to Elections,Model Code of Conduct, Various provisions related to Representations of PeoplesActs. Manual Polity 16

Module-17

Special Provisions Related to SCs, STs in Constitution and demand for addition ofmore classes, The National Commissions for SCs and STs, Provisions related toAnglo-Indians, Lingustic minorities, Official Languages of the Union and variouslinguistic issues pertaining to constitution. Emergency Provisions, ImmunityProvisions for President and Governor, Amendment of the Constitution. ImportantAmendments and their impact on Indian judiciary / society and government. ManualPolity 17