INDIAN POLITY SYLLABUS 

Indian Constitution

Historical Underpinning & Evolution

• Regulating Act (1773) to Independence Act (1947)

• Constituent Assembly

• Objective Resolution

• Enactment & Enforcement of Constitution

Features

• Written

• Flexible & Rigid

• Federal & Unitary

• Parliamentary Form of Government (Presidential vs. Parliamentary Type of Government)

Amendments

• List of Significant Amendments & Their Provisions

• Procedure for Amending Constitution Significant Provisions

• Fundamental Rights

• Directive Principles of State Policy

• Judicial Review

• Universal Adult Franchise

• Single Citizenship

• Separation of Powers

Basic Structure

• The Doctrine

• Judgments & Cases

Functions & Responsibilities of the Union and the States

• 7th Schedule

• Legislative Functions

• Financial Functions

• Administrative & Quasi-Judicial Functions

Issues & Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure

Federal Structure in India - Is India truly Federal?

Cooperative & Competitive Federalism

Centre-State Relations

• Legislative Relations

• Administrative Relations

• Financial Relations

• Trends in Centre-State Relations

Inter-State Relations

• Inter-state Water Disputes

• Inter-State Councils

• Public Acts, Records and Judicial Proceedings

• Inter-State Trade and Commerce

• Zonal Councils

Emergency Provisions

Role of Governor

Reports of Various Commissions

• 2nd ARC, Punchhi, Sarkaria, etc.

Devolution of Powers & Finances to Local Levels & Challenges Therein

• Role of State Government

• Role of State Finance Commission

• 11th & 12th Schedule

• Reasons for Ineffective Performance

• Panchayat Devolution Index (NITI Aayog)

• Steps That Can Be Taken to Improve Their Performance

Separation of Powers Between Various Organs

• Doctrine of Separation of Power

• Separation of Power in Indian Constitution

• Doctrine of Checks & Balances

• Provisions for Checks & Balances in Indian Constitution

• Related Judgments - Golaknath case, Kesavananda Bharati, Indira Gandhi Vs Raj Narain, Ram Jawaya vs Punjab

Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions

• RTI

• PIL

• Tribunals, etc.

Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme With That of Other Countries Parliament & State Legislatures

• Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges

• Written Constitution

• Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility

• Federal System with Unitary Bias

• Parliamentary Form of Government

• Synthesis of Parliamentary Sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy

• Integrated and Independent Judiciary

• Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Duties

• Secular State

• Universal Adult Franchise

• Single Citizenship

• Emergency Provisions

• Three-tier Government

• Due Process of Law vs. Procedure Established by Law

• Impeachment of President, etc.

Structure Organization & Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary

Executive

• Union:

 President

 Prime Minister

 Council of Ministers

 Cabinet Secretariat

• State:

 Governor

 Chief Minister

 Council of Ministers

 Secretariat Judiciary

• Three-Tier Structure

• Chief Justice of India

• SC & HC Judges

• Jurisdiction

Ministries and Departments of the Government

• Cabinet Ministries

• Other Ministries

• Parliamentary Secretaries

Pressure Groups & Formal/informal Associations & Their Role in Polity

• Characteristics of Pressure Groups

• Pressure Groups & Political Parties

• Pressure Groups & Interest Groups

• Types of Pressure Groups • Functions, Role & Importance of Pressure Groups

• Techniques/Methods of Pressure Groups

• Pressure Groups in India

• Shortcomings of Pressure Groups

Salient Features of Representation of People's Act

Appointment to Various Constitutional Posts

Appointment, Powers, Functions & Responsibilities of:

• Election Commission

• Union Public Service Commission

• State Public Service Commission

• Finance Commission

• National Commission for SCs • National Commission for STs

• Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities

• Comptroller and Auditor General of India

• Attorney General of India

• Advocate General of the State

Statutory, Regulatory & Quasi-Judicial Bodies

• NITI Aayog

• RBI

• National Human Rights Commission

• State Human Rights Commission

• Central Information Commission

• Central Vigilance Commission

• Central Bureau of Investigation

• Lokpal and Lokayuktas

• National Commission for Women

• National Commission for Backward Classes

• National Commission for Minorities

• Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority

• Securities and Exchange Board of India

• Competition Commission of India

• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

• Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

• Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

• Central Pollution Control Board

• Medical Council of India

• Inland Waterways Authority of India

• Central Ground Water Authority

• Directorate General of Civil Aviation

• Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

• Bar Council of India

• University Grants Commission

• Financial Stability and Development Council

• All India Council for Technical Education

• National Green Tribunal

• Competition Appellate Tribunal

• Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal

• Cyber Appellate Tribunal

• Intellectual Property Appellate Board