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::Polity & Governance::

Indian Polity And Governance (Prelims)

EVOLUTION OF THE CONSTITUTION

• The Company Rule (1773-1858)
  • Regulating Act, 1773
  • Amending Act, 1781
  • Pitt’s India Act, 1784
  • Amending Act of 1786
  • Charter Act, 1793
  • Charter Act, 1813
  • Charter Act, 1833
  • Charter Act, 1853
• 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
• 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

• 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
• 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
• Types of Majorities as per the Indian Constitution
  • Absolute Majority
  • Effective Majority
  • Simple Majority
  • Special Majority
• Preamble and Values in the Constitution
  • The objectives laid down in the Preamble
  • Whether the Preamble is a partof the Constitution or not?
  • Whether Preamble can be amended or not?
    • Ideals (mentioned in the Preamble)
    • Democratic
    • Sovereign
    • Socialist
    • Secular
    • Republic
    • Justice
    • Equality
    • Liberty
    • Fraternity
    • Integrity
• Amendment of the Constitution
  • Procedure for amendment
  • Types of Amendments
  • Amendability of FR’s
  • Ingredients of basic structure
• 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 Colorable Legislation (Article 246)
  • Doctrine of Territorial Nexus
  • Doctrine of Laches
  • Due Process of Law
  • Procedure Established by Law
• Other Constitutional Dimensions
  • Schedules and Subjects
  • Official Languages

UNION & ITS TERRITORY

• ARTICLE 1-4
  • Article 1: Name and Territory of the Union
  • Committee/commission for StateRe-organisation
  • The State Reorganization Commission(SRC) 1953
  • Article 2: Admit or Establish new State
  • Article 3: Formation of new States andalternation of areas, boundaries or names of existing States
  • Article 4: Laws made under articles2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of the First and the Fourth Schedule and Supplemental.
  • Delimitation Commission

CITIZENSHIP

• Constitutional Provisions
  • Constitutional provisions of citizenship
  • Citizenship Act, 1955
  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2016
  • Methodology of getting citizenship
  • Modes of Losing the Citizenship of India
  • Concept of dual citizenship
  • Special privileges enjoyed bycitizens in India
  • Rights and Duties of Citizens
• Indian Diaspora
  • Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
  • Non-Resident Indians

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

• Evolution Objectives And Features
  • Meaning
  • Objectives
  • Features
  • Importance
  • Restrictive limitations on fundamental rights
• Article 12 and Article 13
  • Definition of state
  • Laws Inconsistent with Fundamental Rights
• Right to Equality
  • Article 14: Equality before the lawor the Equal protection of Law
  • Article 15: Prohibition of Discriminationon the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
  • Article 16: Equality of Opportunityin matters of Public Employment
  • Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability
  • Article 18: Abolition of Titles
• Right to Freedom
  • Article 19
  • Article 20: (Protection in respectof conviction for offenses)
  • Article 21: Protection of life andpersonal liberty
  • Article 22: Protection against arrestand detention
• Right against Exploitation
  • Article 23: Prohibition of Trafficin human beings and forced labour
  • Article 24: Prohibition of employmentof children in factories, etc
• 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
• Cultural and Educational Rights
  • Article 29: Protection of interest of Minorities
  • Article 30: Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions
• Right to Constitutional Remedies
  • Article 32: Right to Constitutional Remedies:
    • Habeas Corpus
    • Mandamus
    • Certiorari
    • Prohibition
    • Quo Warranto
• FR’s other Dimensions
  • Article 33
  • Article 34
  • Article 35
  • Article 35A         

DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY (DPSP)

• Evolution, objectives, and features
  • Basic features
  • Types
  • Amendments
  • Implementation
• Socialistic Principles
  • Article: 38
  • Article:39
  • Article: 39A
  • Article: 41
  • Article: 42
  • Article: 43
  • Article: 43-A
  • Article: 47
• Gandhian Principles
  • Article: 40
  • Article: 43
  • Article: 46
  • Article: 47
  • Article: 48
• Liberal-Intellectual Principles
  • Article: 44
  • Article: 45
  • Article: 48
  • Article: 48A
  • Article: 49
  • Article: 50
  • Article: 51
• Directive Principle Outside Part IV
  • ARTICLE 335 IN PART XVI
  • ARTICLE 350-A IN PART XVII
  • Article 351 in Part XVII

FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES

• Article: 51A
  • Features
  • Relation between of Fundamental Rightsand Fundamental Duties
  • List Of Fundamental Duties
  • 86^th Constitutional Amendment Act 2003 : RTE
• Recent Developments
  • Fundamental Duties – Awareness Campaigns is the Duty of Centre
  • National Anthem – Mandatoryin Cinema Halls – Article 51(a)
  • Prevention of Insults toNational Honour Act, 1971
  • Triple Talaq Issue
  • Uniform Civil Code
  • MGNREGA: Right to Work
  • Making Aadhar mandatory

SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE

• Centre-State Relations
  • Legislative relations (Articles) 245
  • Related to Territorial Powers
  • Related to Legislative Powers
  • Related to Parliament’s Powersto make Laws in State
  • Sarkaria Commission’s Opinionon Legislative Relations
  • Administrative Relations
  • Delegation of Union Functionsto the States
  • Sarkaria Commission’s Opinionon Administrative Relations
  • Financial relations
  • National Integration Council
• Inter State Relation
  • Inter state water dispute
  • Inter state councils
  • Inter state trade and commerce
  • Zonal Councils
• Special Provisoions for some States
  • Provisions for Maharastra and Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam and Manipur
  • Provisions for Jammu and Kashmir (A370) (now abrogated)
• Types of Emergencies
  • National Emergency
  • Constitutional/State Emergency /President’s Rule
• Financial Emergency

UNION EXECUTIVE

• 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
    • Executive powers (Article 53)
    • Legislative Powers
    • Financial Powers
    • Ordinance Issuing Power (Article 123)
    • Judicial/Pardoning Power
    • Military
    • Diplomatic
    • Emergency Powers
• Vice President
  • Qualification
  • Conditions of Office
  • Term of Office
  • Election
  • Removal
  • Vacancy
  • Functions of the Vice-President
• 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
• Union Council of Minister
  • Article 74: Council of Ministers to aidand advice President
  • Article 75: Other Provisions as to Ministers
  • Article 77: Conduct of Businessof 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

• Organisation of Parliament
  • Organisation of Parliament
  • Qualifications and Disqualifications forbeing 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
• 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 Pro Tem
  • 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
• 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

STATE EXECUTIVE

• Governor
  • Article 152: Definition
  • Article 153: Governors of States
  • Article 154: Executive power of State
    • Powers of Governor
    • Executive power
    • Legislative power
    • Financial Power
    • Judicial Power
  • 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
• The Chief Minister and the CoM
  • Powers and Functions of Chief Minister
    • In Relation to Council of Ministers
    • In relation to the Governor
    • In Relation to State Legislature
    • Other Powers and Functions
  • Composition of the Council of Ministers
  • Responsibility of Ministers
  • Advocate-General for the State

STATE LEGISLATURE

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

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

UNION TERRITORIES AND SPECIAL AREAS

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

THE JUDICIARY

• 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 SupremeCourt Judges
  • Chief Justices of India (Since 1951)
  • Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
  • Judicial Independence
  • Judiciary Executive Relations
• 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 AccountabilityBill, 2010
  • National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)

CONSTITUTIONAL & NON CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES

• Constitutional Bodies
  • Finance Commission
    • Constitution
    • Functions
  • Comptrollerand Auditor General of India
    • Comptroller and Auditor-General
  • Attorney-General of India
    • Appointment
    • Functions and Responsibilities
  • 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)
• Non Constitutional
  • Special officer for linguistic Minorities
  • Central Information Commission
  • State Information Commission
  • Lokpal and Lok Ayukta
  • National Human Rights Commission
  • State Human Right Commission
  • CVC (Central Vigillance Commission)

POLITICAL DYNAMICS

• Political Parties and Election
  • Electoral System in India
  • Electoral Reforms Since 1988
  • Salient features of the Representation of People Act, 1950
    • Salient features of Representation of Peoples Act, 1951
    • Elections in India
    • Electoral reforms since 1988
    • Criminalization of politics
    • Negative or neutral voting
    • State funding of Election
    • Irregularities in polling
  • Types of Political Parties
  • Party System in India
  • Political Parties in India
    • Problems in the working of parties
    • Casteism and Politic
    • Strengthening of Anti-defection measures
  • Pressure Groups
    • Meaning and Techniques
    • Pressure Groups in India
    • Types of pressure groups
      • Role of pressure groupin developing countries
      • Functions of pressure groups in India
      • Pressure groups methods
      • Pressure groups and Democracy
      • Criticism of pressure groups       

GOVERNANCE

• 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 ofsecretariat and executive organization.
  • Strengths and weaknesses of theexisting structure
  • Recommendations for improvingthe Organizational structure
• Audit and other Transparency initiatives
  • CVC
  • CAG
  • Lokpal
  • Lok Ayukta
• Role of SHG, NGOs, Civil Society
  • SHGs
    • Characteristics
    • Role of SHGs in development
  • NGOs
    • Functions
    • Role of NGOs in development
  • Micro Finance Institutions
    • Salient features
    • Role of MFIs in development
• Social Sector Bills
  • • The Juvenile Justice (Care andProtection of Children) Act
    • Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016
    • Child Labour (Prohibitionand 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 WidensAmbit
    • Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesBill, 2014 with more Benefit
    • Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights)Bill 2016
    • The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act
• Welfare Schemes
• • • Health                                                       
      • National Health Mission
      • National Ayush Mission
      • Jan Aushadhi Scheme
      • Mission Indradhanush
      • NFHS-4 survey
    • Education
      • Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat
      • Mid Day Meal Scheme
      • GIAN (Global Initiative ofAcademic Networks)
      • SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active –Learning for Young Aspiring Minds)
    • Start-up and Skill Development
      • Start Up India Scheme
      • Stand up India Scheme
      • National Student Start-up Policy
      • National Skill Development Mission
      • Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
      • Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana
      • Skill Development Initiative Scheme
      • Self-Employment & Talent Utilisation (SETU)
      • Atal Innovation Mission
    • Vulnerable Sector
      • Social Security
      • Atal Pension Yojana
      • Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
      • Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
      • Nai Roshni Scheme
      • USTAAD Scheme (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development)
      • Nai Manzil Scheme
      • Women and Child Development
      • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
      • Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
      • Digital Gudda Guddi Board
      • Ujjawala Scheme
      • Janani Suraksha Yojana
      • Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram
      • SC/ST
      • Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana
      • Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana
      • Disability
      • Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan)
      • Rural and Urban Development
      • Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
      • Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan
      • Shyama Prasad Mukharjee Rurban Mission
      • Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
      • Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
      • Swachch Bharat Abhiyan
      • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin
      • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban
      • Housing for all by 2022
      • Smart Cities Mission
      • Hriday – National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana
      • Amrut (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation)
    • Inclusive growth
      • Measurement criteria
      • Government initiatives for inclusive growth
      • Basic Amenities: Housing/Drinking Waters/Sanitations
      • Sustainable Development
    • Rural Development
      • Rural development and poverty alleviation
      • Review of the existing Programmes
      • Development Administration
      • Panchayati Raj
      • Agriculture and Rural Development
    • Miscellaneous schemes
      • Digilocker
      • Bharatnet Project (National Optical Fibre Network)
      • INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)
      • SAKAAR
      • Digital India
      • Namami Gange Project (Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission Project)
      • Ganga Gram Yojana
      • Khelo India
      • PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation)
      • Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)              

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• India’s Foreign Policy
  • Evolution of India’s Foreign Policy
  • Post 1990 Scenario
  • Global Issues
• South Asia
  • India – Nepal Relations
  • India and Bhutan
  • India-Afghanislam Relations
  • India-Bangladesh Relations
  • India-Maldives Relations
  • India-Sri Lanka Relations
  • India-Myanmar Relations
  • India-Pakistan Relations
  • SAARC
  • NAM (Non-Alignment Movement): Relevance
• Central Asia
  • Mongolia
  • Kazakhastan
  • Tukmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
• West Asia
  • India – UAE Relations      
  • India IRAN Relations
  • Israel and Palestine Relations
  • India – Israel Relations
  • India – Saudi Arabia
• Asia – Pacific
  • Asia-Pacific Region
  • India-South East Asia Relations
  • India-Asean Cooperation
  • Indo-Japan Relations
  • Indo-Australia Relations
  • India – South Korea Relations
  • India-Vietnam
• Africa
  • India-South Africa Relations
  • India-Nigeria Relations
  • India-Kenya Relations
  • India-Sudan Relations
• Europe
  • India-Russia Relations
  • India-France Relations
  • India-Germany Relations
  • India-United Kingdom Relations
  • India-EU Kingdom Relations
• US-China
  • India-USA Relations
  • India-China Relations
• Indian Ocean Region
  • Seychelles
  • Mauritius
  • Maldives
• Indian Diaspora
  • Indian Diaspora in West
  • Indian Diaspora in Gulf
  • Indian Diaspora in Eastand Middle East

Constitutional/Non-Constitutional Bodies

CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES

• Election Commission
• Union Public Service Commission
• State Public Service Commission
• Finance Commission
  • 14^th Finance Commission and Local Governments
  • 15^th Finance commission: Issues with Term and References
• State Finance Commission
• Law Commission
  • 268^th Report of Law Commission on Bail Reforms
  • Law Commission report on Hate Speech
• Pay Commission
  • 7^th Pay Commission
• National Commission for SCs
• National Commission for STs
• Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) , Functioning and Autonomy of CAG
• National Commission for Backward Classes
• Attorney General of India
• Advocate General of the State
• Co-operative Societies
• Tribunals
  • Problems with Tribunals, Problems arising out of sidestepping the HC

STATUTORY, REGULATORY AND VARIOUS QUASI-JUDICIAL BODIES

• Rationalization Of Autonomous Bodies
• National Human Rights Commission
• National Commission for Women
• State Human Rights Commission
• Central Information Commission
• State Information Commission
• Central Vigilance Commission
  • Preventive Vigilance
• Central Bureau of Investigation
  • Autonomy of CBI
• Lokpal and Lokayuktas
  • Issues related to the appointment of Lokpal
  • Ammendment to Lokpal Act
• Quasi judicial bodies
• NITI Aayog
  • NITI Aayog’s Report on Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)
• Model Land leasing Law prepared by NITI Aayog

Contemporary Issues: Governance (Mains)

SECOND ARC REPORT

• Functions of Government                  
• Issues in Organizational Structure of GOI
• Good Governance and Citizen Centric Administration
• e-Governance      
• Ethics in Governance

INITIATIVES FOR TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY

• Public Accountability Concept                        
• Virtual ID for AADHAR
• Social Media & Accountability
• Accountability & Transparency in NGOs
• Autonomy of CBI
• Analysis of Functioning Of CAG
• People Centric Governance
• Pro-Active Governance & Timely Implementation (PRAGATI)
• Right Based Approach in Policy Making
• Direct Benefi t Transfer               
• Issues Related to Making Aadhaar Mandatory
• Reforms Needed In Indian Bureaucracy
• Performance Appraisal System In Bureaucracy       
• Curb on VIP Culture
• Social Audit Law

ORGANISATION/BODIES

• 14th Finance Commission Analysis
• 7th Pay Commission Report &Repercussions                                                   
• AFSPA & Second ARC                                     
• Role of NITI Aayog
• Significance of Public Accounts Committee      
• Right to Information
• Accountability & Transparency in NGOs

SCHEME

• PradhanMantri Jan-DhanYojana (PMJDY)                   
• Swachh Bharat Mission
• National Skill Development Mission                                                                           
• National Food Security Act, 2013
• SansadAdarsh Gram Yojana
• Smart City Mission
• Saubhagya Plan
• NAMAMI GANGE                                                
• Critical Analysis of Stand up India scheme
• MGNREGA

POLICIES

• NITI Aayog’s Report on Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)           
• Law Commission’s 268th Report on Bail Reforms
• Model Land Leasing Law Prepared by NITI Aayog                                                     
• T K  Visanathan Committee on Hate Speech    
• Law Commission Report on Tribunals in India                                                   
• Law Commission Report on United Nations Convention against Torture
• National Education Policy

MISCELLANEOUS

• Inter-State Water Dispute
• Debate on Directly Elected Mayor
• Debate on the Issue of Lobbying in India
• Media Role & Censorship Issue
• The Role of States in India’s Foreign Policy

Features Of Indian Polity & Constitution (Mains)

UPSC SYLLABUS

• Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
• Separation of powers Fundamental Rights, Preamble, DPSP, Fundamental Duties, etc.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
• Salient features of RP Act.

HISTORICAL UNDERPINNING

• Constitution: Why and How?
• Historical Background

EVOLUTION

• Constituent Assembly and its vision of future
• Making of the Constitution
• Constitution as a living document
• Democracy and diversity
• Outcomes of democracy
• Crisis of Democratic order
• National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution
• Comparison of the Indian Constitutional scheme with that of other countries

FEATURES

• Sources of the Constitution
• Salient features of the Constitution
• The Philosophy of the Constitution
• System of Government: Parliamentary & Presidential System
• Role of Convention under the Constitution
• Comparison between Judicial Review and Parliamentary Supremacy

AMENDMENTS

• The Constitution Amendment of the Constitution
• Keshvananda and Bharti Case Judgement
• 42^nd and 44^th Amendment to the Constitution
• The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019 (124th Constitution Amendment Bill) to provide 10% reservation in government jobs and educational  institutions to the economically weaker sections (EWS)
• (125^th Amendment) Bill, 2019

SIGNIFICANT PROVISIONS

• Preamble of the Constitution
  • Debate : Is Preamble part of the Constitution and its amendment
• Citizenship
  • National Register of Citizens
• Fundamental Rights
  • Rule of Law
  • Procedure Established by Law vs Due Process of Law
  • Exceptions to Fundamental Rights
  • Amenability of Fundamental Rights
  • Rights following from other provision  of the Constitution
• Major Debates/ Issues around Fundamental Rights:
  • Limitations upon the Freedom
  • Freedom of Press and Censorship
  • Free Speech: Rights & Limits and Hate speech
  • Data protection: Privacy Vs. Innovation
  • RTI amendments
  • Sedition-Law- Comprehensive public discussion regarding Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code 1860
  • Right To Information Act 2005.
  • Defamation-Should it be decriminialised
  • ‘Living wills’/ Euthanasia
  • Restriction on the entry of women in places of worship
  • Reservation in India – Explained in Layman’s Terms
  • Reservation in promotion
  • Aadhaar and Privacy issues
  • Constitutionality of article 35A
• Directive Principles of the State Policy
  • Scope of DPSP: Economic and Social Democracy
  • Implementation of Directives
  • Conflict between Fundamental Rights and role of judiciary in harmonizing them
  • Challenge of implementing Uniform civil code
• Fundamental Duties
• Union Territories
  • Chief Minister Vs Lieutenant Governor: Rules, Rights and Responsibilities
• Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir
  • Kashmir Unrest
• Special Provisions for some States
• Scheduled and Tribal areas
• Official Language
  • Reasons for the 58^th Amendment

MAJOR DOCTRINES

• Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution
• Doctrine of Harmonious Construction
• Doctrine of Eclipse
• Doctrine of Pith and Substance
• Doctrine of Incidental or Ancillary Powers
• Doctrine of Colourable Legislation
• Doctrine of Severability
• Doctrine of Territorial Nexus
• Doctrine of Laches

PRESSURE GROUPS AND FORMAL/INFORMAL ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE POLITY

• Pressure Groups
• Popular Struggles and Movements
• Rise of Popular movements

ELECTION & THE REPRESENTATIVES OF PEOPLE’S ACT

• Political Parties
  • Criminalisation of politics
  • Freebies Politics in India
  • Issues Related to the Working of Political Parties
  • Inner Party Democracy
  • Significance of Strong Opposition in Democracy
• Elections
  • Role of Civil Society in Free and Fair Election
  • What is Tactical Voting and Proportional Representation?
  • What is Absentee Ballot?
• Voting Behaviour
• Election Laws
  • Representation of People (Amendment) Bill 2010- Voting rights to NRI
  • Introduction of NOTA
  • Bill on Right to Recall Legislators
• Electoral reforms
  • Demand For A Hybrid Electoral System
  • Simultaneous Elections
  • About Paper Trail units
  • Election Funding (Electoral bonds) Corporate funding laws
  • State Funding in elections
  • Women voices in elections
  • Law Commission Report on Electoral Reforms
• Anti-Defection Law
  • Anti-Defection Law: Is it time for reconsideration?

DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY

• The role of NGOs
  • NGOs and Development/ Crackdown on NGOs
  • Accountability and transparency in NGOs
• SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders

MAJOR ISSUES

• Dalit assertion and Politics of reservation
• Should India spend more on science or Social welfare?
• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005
• Agrarian crisis: Issues in farmer economy
• Issues related to Social Media
• Media freedom and Responsible reporting
• Marital rape
• Section 377: Constitutionality Vs Morality
• Legalising Sports Betting In India

MECHANISM, LAWS, INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES CONSTITUTED FOR THE PROTECTION AND BETTERMENT OF THESE VULNERABLE SECTIONS

• Special Provisions relating to Certain Classes
  • Muslim Personal law: Polygamy/ Triple talaq
• Scheduled and Tribal Areas
  • SC/ST Act judgment: Protecting the innocent or diluting the Protection?

Contemporary Issues: Features of Indian Polity & Constitution (Mains)

RECENT BILLS & ACTS

• 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act
• Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018
• Triple Talaq Ordinance                                                                                                 
• Citizenship (Amendment) Bill
• Draft Emigration Bill, 2019                                                                                     
• Consumer Protection Bill, 2018
• Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018                                                                          
• Lokpal & Lokayukta Amendment Act, 2016
• The Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2019        
• Data (Privacy & Protection) Bill, 2017
• The Transgender Persons (Protection of  Rights) Bill, 2016    
• The Indian Institute of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill , 2017 (autonomy of institutes)

ELECTIONS

• Criminalization of Politics
• Issues Related to the Working of Political Parties
• Enact Strong Laws to Cleanse Politics, says Supreme Court
• How effective is Election Commission in Ensuring Fair Elections                        
• Freebies Politics in India
• Election Commission Proposal for Countering Bribe-for-Votes
• Law Commission Report on Electoral Reforms                                                  
• State Funding in Elections
• Role of Civil Society in Free and Fair Election
• Women Voices in Elections
• Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) Issue                                             
• About Paper Trail Units
• Anti-Defection Law                                    
• Office of Profit & RPA

MISCELLANEOUS

• Constituent Assembly and its vision of future
• Making of the Constitution
• Constitution as a living document
• Democracy and diversity
• Outcomes of democracy
• Crisis of Democratic order
• National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution
• Comparison of the Indian Constitutional scheme with that of other countries

Contemporary Issues: (Executive, Judiciary, Legislature) (Mains)

UNION & STATE GOVERNMENT

• Imposition of President Rule: An Analysis
• Is President a mere Rubber Stamp?
• Politicization of the Post of Governor
• Lacunas in Parliamentary Functioning in India                                                                   
• Significance of Strong Opposition in Democracy
• Ordinance Making Power in India
• Balance between Fundamental Rights & Parliamentary Privileges                                      
• Special Provisions for other States
• Special Category Status to States                                   
• National Register of Citizens in Assam
• Gorkhaland Crisis                       
• Issue Related to Office of Profit                                                                                         
• Women Reservation in Parliament        
• Centre vs State: Case of AAP vs LG

JUDICIARY

• Shortage of Judges in Indian Courts
• Issue Related to Appointment of Judges
• Procedure for Removal of Judges: Critical Analysis
• Should Judiciary be under RTI
• Judicial Accountability
• Post Retirement Appointment of Judges
• Issue of Judicial Overreach                                               
• Judicial Reform: How to Reduce Pendency of Cases?
• Future Challenges of the Indian Judiciary
• All-India Judicial Service
• Draft witness protection scheme
• Contempt of Court
• Government as the Biggest Litigant in India                         
• Public Interest Litigation                                                    
• National Litigation Policy
• Administrative Tribunals
• Sabrimala Temple Verdict
• Right to Convert
• Alternate Dispute Redressal Mechanism
• Should India abolish Death Penalty?

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Education Qualification Made Mandatory for Contesting Local Government Elections
• Reforms needed in Municipalities in Sync with Urban Development Missions                    
• Municipal reforms for sustainable development of Cities
• 14th Finance Commission & Local Governments
• Telangana: Tribal Hamlets to Village Panchayat Status                           
• Maharashtra Government Recently Launched a new Initiative to
• Dharavi- one of the Largest Slums in the World
• Panchayat Raj                                                    
• Strengthening Participation of Women in Panchayat                                                       
• PESA in Tribal Areas                        
• Deepening Grass Root Democracy in Sixth Schedule Areas
• 2^nd ARC Recommendations

ELECTIONS

• Criminalization of Politics
• Issues Related to the Working of Political Parties                                                           
• Enact Strong Laws to Cleanse Politics, says Supreme Court                                            
• How effective is Election Commission in Ensuring Fair Elections                                     
• Freebies Politics in India
• Election Commission Proposal for Countering Bribe-for-Votes                                           
• Law Commission Report on Electoral Reforms
• State Funding in Elections
• Role of Civil Society in Free and Fair Election                                                      
• Women Voices in Elections
• Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) Issue
• About Paper Trail Units
• Anti-Defection Law                     
• Office of Profit & RPA

MISCELLANEOUS

• Revisiting Section 124-A of IPC

Executive, Judiciary, Legislature (Mains)

UPSC SYLLABUS

• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States
• Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure
• Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive
• Ministries and Departments of the Government
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary
• Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES PERTAINING TO THE FEDERAL STRUCTURE

• Union and its territory
  • Formation of state and Altercation of boundaries
• Nature of Federal System
• Peculiar features of Indian federalism
• A Critique of the Federal System
  • Challenges of Nation building
  • Challenges Of Special Status State And Problems
• Demand for New states: Gorkhaland, Nagalim, Vidharbha, Purvanchal etc.
• Era of One-Party dominance
• Regional aspirations
• Emergency Provisions
  • Imposition of President Rule
  • Fundamental Rights during Emergency
• Conversion of state to UT unilateraly by centre-A constitutional question

STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE

• Governor
  • Provisions related to removal of Governor (Article 156)
  • Discretionary Powers
  • Politicization of the Post of Governor
• Chief Minister
• State Council of Ministers

STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE UNION EXECUTIVE

• President
  • President of India – Discretionary Powers- Imposition of President’s rule
  • Is President a mere Rubber Stamp
• Vice President
• Prime Minister
• Central Council of Ministers
• Cabinet Committees

PARLIAMENT

• Parliament
  • Sessions of Parliament: Adjournment, Prorogation, Dissolution etc.
  • Lacunas in Parliamentary Functioning in India
  • When Does a Bill Lapse in Indian Parliament?
  • Types of Majorities Used in the Indian
  • Election to Rajya Sabha: The Procedure.
  • Relevance of Rajya Sabha
  • Government Budgeting: Indian Budget for
  • Budget Documents Made Simple: Key to Budget Documents.
  • Cut Motions: Policy Cut, Economy Cut, and Token Cut.
  • Misuse of Ordinance promulgation power
  • Office of the Speaker: Powers and Issues
  • Issue related to office of profit
  • Breach Of Privilege: Special privileges   to MP’s and its implications
• Parliamentary Committees
  • Parliamentary Committees in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
  • Diminishing importance of parliamentary committees

STATE LEGISLATURE

• State Legislature
  • Full statehood to Delhi: Should it be granted or not?
  • Relevance of Council of State    

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNION AND STATES

7^th Schedule

SEPARATION OF POWER

• Power Sharing
• Centre-State Relations
  • Inter-State Council vs National Development Council.
  • Separate State Flag in Karnataka
  • NITI Aayog: The new ‘think-tank’ to replace Planning Commission.
• Foreign Policy
• States demand a say in Foreign Policy?

DISPUTE REDRESSAL MECHANISMS AND INSTITUTIONS

• Inter-State Relations
  • Inter-state River Water Dispute
  • Inter-state Councils
• Parliamentary Forums
• Parliamentary Groups
• Administrative Tribunals
• National Integration

DEVOLUTION OF POWERS AND FINANCES UP TO LOCAL LEVELS AND CHALLENGES THEREIN

• Local Governments
  • Nagaland Reservation in Urban Bodies
  • Education Qualification made mandatory for contesting Local Government Elections
• Panchayati Raj and PESA 1996
• Municipalities
  • in Municipalities in Sync with Urban Development Missions

STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE JUDICIARY

• Higher Judiciary Appointments
  • Collegium system and issues.
  • Collegium Vs. NJAC
  • CJI removal
• Judicial Review
• Judicial Activism
  • Judicial activism and judicial Overreach
  • Judicial Accountability & RTI Act
• Public Interest Litigation
  • Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2017 Controversy
  • National Litigation Policy
• Other Judicial Issues
  • All India Judicial Services
  • Proposal for National Court of Appeal
  • Judicial Pendency
  • Judicial Reforms
  • Problems with Tribunals, Problems arising out of sidestepping the HC
  • Alternate Dispute Redressal (ADR)
• Major Judgements of Supreme Court
  • RIGHT TO CONVERT-the Supreme Court’s judgement regarding a person’s right to choose a religion, Issue of Religious  Conversion in India,
  • Reservation in promotion, Argument in favour of reservation in promotion, Argument against the reservation in  promotions
  • Supreme Court judgement on Caste, Religion in Polls
  • Validity of Aadhaar but with certain caveats
  • Cauvery River Verdict
  • Concept of Defamation in India
  • Should the SC proceedings be live streamed?

Executive, Judiciary, Legislature (Mains)

UPSC SYLLABUS

• Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
• Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability
• E-governance-applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential
• Citizens Charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
• Role of civil services in a democracy
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

GOVERNANCE

• Concept of Good Governance
• Issues Concerning Governance
• Right Based Approach in Policy Making
• Public Policy Making and Policy Implementation
• How to Establish Good Governance

TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY

• Right to Information
  • Information sharing and transparency in government
  • RTI and Official Secret Act: Who’s winning and why Judiciary wants to remain isolated
• Citizen’s Charters
  • Benefits of Citizen Charter
  • Citizen Charter in India: An Evaluation
  • Problems Faced in Implementing the Charters
  • Steps to improve Citizen Charters
  • Indian Approach to Citizen Charter: Sevottam Model
  • Administrative Reforms Commission’s Seven Step Model for Citizen Centricity
  • Right to Service
• Extent of regulations and openness of media and social networking sites
  • K. Visanathan Committee On Hate Speech
  • Role of MEDIA in bringing Transparency and Accountability
  • Social Media and Accountability
• E-Governance
  • Role of E-Governance in bringing Transparency and Accountability
  • Major E-Governance Projects and challenges in their implementation
• Role of civil services in a democracy
  • Linkage of Civil Services and Democracy
  • Debate on Lateral Entry in Civil Services
  • Relation between Civil Servants and Political Executives
  • Performance Appraisal System in Bureaucracy
  • Reforms Needed In Indian Bureaucracy
• Codes of Ethics and Code of Conduct
  • Paid news abuse by social media a poll menace
  • Model code of conduct
• Utilization of Public funds
  • Significance of Public Accounts Committee
  • Challenges of corruption and incompetence

REGULATORY STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE REFORMS

• Functions and responsibilities of various Bodies
  • Analysis of Autonomy and functioning of CAG, CBI, CVC and NHRC
  • Lokpal and rise of Ombudsman era: a critical evaluation of journey traveled  so far
  • State and operational effectiveness of Local governments in India
  • Corporate Governance in India – Why is it so critical
• Police Reforms in India
• Curb On VIP Culture
• Prison Reforms in India
• Improving Governance In Public Systems

DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY

• Role of Self Help Group in Development
• Shortcomings and Recommendations to  Improve Self Help Group
• Role and functions of NGOs in the Development
• Challenges Faced by NGOs in India
• Issue of Fund Mismanagement
• Role of Microfinance Institutions in Development Process
• Issues Related to Microfinance Institutions and Recommendations
• Role of Foreign aid in Development
• The role and function of pressure groups in India
• Changing Pattern of Pressure Group Politics in India

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Concept of Human Development
  • Economic Growth and Human Development: Two-Way Link
  • Measurement of Human Development
• Understanding Poverty
  • Dimensions of Poverty
  • Linkage between Poverty and Development
  • Recommendations of Rangarajan Committee Report
  • Poverty Alleviation Strategy Since Independence
  • Programmes for Poverty Alleviation
  • Concept of Inequality
  • World Inequality Report 2018: Findings of the Report
  • Income Inequality in India
  • Recommendations to Reduce Inequality
• HUNGER
  • Manifestations of Hunger and its causes
  • Challenges to Food Security
  • Global Hunger Index Report, 2018
  • Recommendations
• Institutional Measures for Welfare of Vulnerable Sections
  • Issues Related to the Weaker Sections & Vulnerable groups in India
  • Constitutional Provisions for the  Welfare of Society
  • Institutional Measures for the Welfare of the Society
  • Issues with the Institutional Mechanisms
• HEALTH
  • Public Health System of India
  • Shortcomings of the Healthcare Sector
  • Urgency of achieving Universal Health  Coverage
  • Evaluation of SWACHH BHARAT MISSION
  • Global Nutrition Report 2018
  • Initiatives Taken In Health Sector : Ayushman Bharat
  • National Health Policy
• EDUCATION
  • Challenges of Education sector in India
  • Right to Education and Challenges to EWS Children
  • Initiatives by Government

ROLE OF CIVIL SERVICES IN A DEMOCRACY

• Concept of civil services
• Need for civil services
• Different role of civil services
  • Law making
  • Policy formulation
  • Policy implementation
  • Policy evaluation
  • Civil services as protector of democracy
  • To protect minorities (religious and linguistic)
  • To promote Inclusive and sustainable
    growth
  • Various Reforms in Civil Services

PRESSURE GROUPS AND FORMAL/INFORMAL ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE POLITY

• What are pressure groups?
• Types of pressure groups
• Significance of pressure groups in India
• Differentiate between a pressure group and a political party
• Evaluation of pressure groups role

APPOINTMENT TO VARIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL POSTS, POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF VARIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES

• Appointment of CAG (procedure of appointment)- composition of CAG
• Functions and responsibilities of CAG
• Powers and privileges of CAG (provided by constitution and different Acts of Parliament.)
• Appointment of ECI (procedure of appointment)- composition of ECI
• Functions and responsibilities of ECI
• Powers and privileges of ECI (provided by constitution and different ACTs of Parliament)
• Appointment to UPSC (procedure of appointment)- composition of UPSC
• Functions and responsibilities of UPSC
• Powers and privileges of UPSC (provided by constitution and different ACTs of Parliament.)
• Appointment to Finance commission (procedure of appointment)- composition of Finance commission
• Functions and responsibilities of Finance commission
• Powers and privileges of Finance commission (provided by constitution and different ACTs of Parliament.)
• National commission for SCs and STs.

STATUTORY, REGULATORY AND VARIOUS QUASI-JUDICIAL BODIES

• SEBI, CVC, CBI, Planning Commission NDC, PMO
• TRAI, IRDA
• National Human Rights Commission
• State Human Rights Commission
• Central Information Commission
• State Information Commission
• National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
• Medical Council of India
• Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
• Biodiversity Authority of India
• Press Council of India
• Forward Markets Commission
• Inland Waterways Authority of India
• Role of CAG
• 14th Finance Commission: Analysis
• 7th Pay Commission Report and Repercussions
• AFSPA and Second ARC
• Inter-State River Water Dispute: Cauvery dispute
• Role of Niti Aayog