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Polity Tracker

UPSC Polity SYLLABUS

➖ Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution,

➖issues
features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States,
and challenges pertaining to the federal structure,
devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and

➖
challenges therein
Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and

➖
institutions.

➖ Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.

Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of

➖
business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the
Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure

➖
groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.

➖ Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and

➖
responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
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1.Historical
Background

The Company Rule

(1773–1858)

The Crown Rule

(1858–1947)

2.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
Hindi Text of the
Constitution

3. Conccept of the
Constitution

NOTE
 4. Salient Features of
the Constitution
Salient Features of
the Constitution

Criticism of the
Constitution

4. 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

Ammendability
of the Preamble

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6. 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

7. Citizenship

Meaning and Significance

Constitutional Provisions

Citizenship Act, 1955

Single Citizenship

Overseas Citizenship
of India

8. 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

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9. 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

10. 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

11. Amendment of
the Constitution
Procedure for
Amendment

Types of Amendments

Criticism of the
Amendment Procedure

12. Basic Structure

of the Constitution
Emergence of the
Basic Structure

Elements of the Basic

Structure

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PART-2 <<< System of Government >>>

13. 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

14. Federal System

Federal Features of the
 Constitution

Unitary Features of the

Constitution

Critical Evaluation of
the Federal System

15. Centre–State
Relations
Legislative Relations

Administrative Relations

Financial Relations

Trends in Centre–State
Relations

16. Inter-State Relations

Inter-State Water
Disputes

Inter-State Councils

Public Acts, Records

and Judicial Proceedings

Inter-State Trade and

Commerce

Zonal Councils

17. Emergency
Provisions
National Emergency

President’s Rule

Financial Emergency

Criticism of the
Emergency Provisions

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PART-3 <<< Central Government >>>

18. 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
19. Vice-President

Election

Qualifications, Oath
and Conditions

Term and Vacancy

Powers and Functions

Indian and American

Vice-Presidents
Compared

20. 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

21. 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 Cabinet

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Role Descriptions

Kitchen Cabinet

22. Cabinet
Committees
Features of Cabinet
Committees

List of Cabinet
Committees

Functions of Cabinet
Committees

Groups of Ministers
23. 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 Privileges

Sovereignty of Parliament

24. Parliamentary
Committees
Meaning

Classification

Financial Committees

Departmental Standing
Committees

Committees to Inquire

Committees to
Scrutinise and
Control

Committees Relating to
the Day-to-Day
Business of the
House

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House-Keeping
Committees

Consultative Committees

24 B. Parliamentary
Forums
 Establishment of the
Forums

Objectives of the Forums

Composition of the
Forums

Functions of the Forums

25. Parliamentary Group

Rationale of the Group

Composition of the Group

Objectives of the Group

Functions of the Group

The Group and IPU

The Group and CPA

26. Supreme Court

Composition and
Appointment

Qualifications, Oath
and Salaries

Tenure and Removal

Acting, Ad hoc and

Retired Judges

Seat and Procedure

Independence of
Supreme Court

Jurisdiction and
Powers of Supreme
Court

Supreme Court Advocates

27. 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

28. Judicial Activism

Meaning

Judicial Review and

Judicial Activism

Justification of Judicial
Activism

Activators of Judicial
Activism
 Apprehensions

Judicial Activism vs.

Judicial Restraint

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29. Public Interest

Litigation

Meaning of PIL

Features of PIL

Scope of PIL

Principles of PIL

Guidelines for Admitting PIL

PART-4 <<< State Government >>>

30. Governor

Appointment

Conditions of
Governor’s Office

Term of Governor’s
Office

Powers and Functions

Constitutional Position

31. Chief Minister

Appointment

Oath, Term and Salary

Powers & Functions

Relationship with the

Governor

32. 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

33. 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

Bills Resetved for

President's Consideration

Position of Legislative
Council

Privileges of State
Legislature

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34. 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

35. Subordinate Courts

Constitutional Provisionss

Structure and
Jurisdiction

36. Tribunals

37. Consumer
Commissions

38. Lok Adalats and

Otber Courts
➢National Legal Services
Authority

➢ Lok Adalats

➢Permanent Lok Adalats

➢Family Courts

➢Gram Nyaya layas

➢Commercial Courts

39. 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

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40. Municipalities

Evolution of Urban
Bodies

74th Amendment Act

of 1992

Types of Urban
Governments

Municipal Personnel

Municipal Revenue

Central Council of
Local Government

PART-6 <<< UTs & Special Areas >>>

41. Union Territories

Creation of Union
Territories

Administration of
Union Territories

Special Provisions for

Delhi

Advisory Committees
of Union Territories

42. Scheduled
and Tribal Areas
Administration of
Scheduled Areas

Administration of
Tribal Areas
 PART-7 <<< Constitutional Bodies >>>

43. Election
Commissio
n
Composition

Independence

Powers and Functions

Vision, Mission and

Principles

44. UPSC

Composition

Removal

Independence

Functions

Limitations

Role

44. State Public Service

Commission (SPSC)

Composition

Removal

Independence

Functions

Limitations

Role

Joint State Public

Service Commission

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46. Finance Commission

Composition

Functions

Advisory Role

47. GST Council

Establishment

Vision & Mission

Composition

Working

Functions

Other Functions

48. National
Commission for SCs
(NCSCs)
Evolution
 Functions

Report

Powers

49. National
Commission for STs
(NCSTs)

Separate Commission
for STs

Functions

Other Functions

Report

Powers

50. National
Commission for OBCs
(NC-OBCs)
Establishment

Functions

Report

Powers

51. Special
Officer for
Linguistic
Minorities
Constitutional Provisions

Commissioner for
Linguistic Minorities

Role of the Commissioner

Vision and Mission

Functions and Objectives

52. CAG
Appointment and Term

Independence

Duties and Powers

Role

Cag and Corporations

Appleby’s Criticism

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53. Attorney General

of India
Appointment and Term

Duties and Functions

Rights and Limitations

 Solicitor General of India

54. Advocate
General of the State
Appointment and Term

Duties and Functions

55. Constitutional
Prescriptions

PART-8 << Non-Constitutional Bodies >>

56. NITI Aayog

Establishment

Rationale

Composition

Specialised Wings

Objectives

Functions

Guiding Principle

Cooperative Federalism

Criticism

Attached Offices

Erstwhile Planning
Commission

National Development
Council

57. National Human

Rights Commission
(NHRC)

Establishment

Composition

Functions

Working

Role

Performance

58. State Human

Rights Commission
(SHRC)
Composition
 Functions

Working

Human Rights Courts

2019 Amendment Act

59. National Comm

-ission for Women

60.National
Commission for
Protection of Child
Rights

61. National
Commission for
Minorities

62. Central
Information
Commission (CIC)
Composition

Tenure & Service Conditions

Powers and Functions

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63. State
Information
Commissio
n
Composition

Tenure and Service

Conditions

Powers and Functions

RTI Amendment
64. Central
Vigilance
Commission
(CVC)
Establishment

Composition

Organisation

Functions

Jurisdiction

Working

Vigilance Units in the

Ministries

Whistle Blowers
Protection Act (2014)

65. Central Bureau

of Investigation
Establishment

Motto, Mission and

Vision

Organisation

Composition

Functions

Provision of Prior
Permission

CBI vs. State Police

CBI Academy

66. Lokpal & Lokayuktas

Global Scenario

Position in India
Lokpal

Lokpal & Lokayuktas

Act, 2013

Lokayuktas

67. National
Investigation Agency
(NIA)

Establishment

Rationale

Functions

Vision
 Mission

Jurisdiction

NIA (Amendment)
Act, 2019

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68. NDMA

Establishment

Objectives

Functions

Additional Functions
of the NDMA

State Disaster
Management Authority

District Disaster
Management Authority

69. Bar Council of India

70. Law Commission

of India

71. Delimitation
Commission of
India
 PART-9 >Other Constitutional Dimensions

72. Co-operative
Societies
Constitutional Provisions

Reasons for the 97th

Amendment

73. Official Language

Language of the Union

Regional Languages

Language of the
Judiciary and Texts of
Laws

Special Directives

Committee of
Parliament on Official
Language

Classical Language Status

74. Public Services

Classification of Services

Constitutional Provisions

75. Rights and

Liabilities of the
Government
Property of the Union
and the State

Suits by or Against the

Government

Suits Against Public

Officials

76. Special Provisions

Relating to Certain Classes

Rationale of Special
Provisions

Specification of Classes

Components of Special
Provisions

77. Special
Provisions for
Some States
 PART-10 <<< Political Dynamics >>>

78. Political Parties

Meaning and Types

Party System in India

Recognition of
National and State
Parties

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79. Role of Regional

Parties
Features

Classification

Rise

Role

Dysfunctions

80. Elections

Electoral System

Election Machinery

Election Process

81. Election Laws

Representation of the
People Act, 1950

Representation of the
People Act, 1951

Delimitation Act, 2002

Other Acts Relating to

Elections

Rules Relating to
Elections

Orders Relating to
Elections

82. Electoral Reforms

Related Committees

Electoral Reforms
Before 1996

Electoral Reforms of
1996

Electoral Reforms after

1996
 Electoral Reforms
Since 2010

83. Voting Behaviour

Meaning

Significance

Determinants

Role of Media in
Elections & Voting
Behaviour

84. Coalition Government

Meaning

Features

Formation

Merits

Demerits

85. Anti-Defection Law

Provisions of the Act

Evaluation of the Act

91st Amendment Act (2003)

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86. Pressure Groups

Meaning and Techniques

Pressure Groups in India

87. National Integration

Meaning

Obstacles to National
Integration

National Integration Council

National Foundation for

Communal Harmony

88. Foreign Policy

Principles

Objectives

Gujral Doctrine of India

Nuclear Doctrine of India

Connect Central Asia

Policy of India

Act East Policy of India

PART-11 << Working of the Constitution>>

89. National
Commission to Review
the Working of the
Constitution
 Terms of Reference of the
Commission

Fifty Years of Working

of the Constitution

Areas of Concern:
Commission’s Perception

Recommendations of the
Commission

Earlier Efforts to
Review the Constitution

90. Landmark
Judgements and Their
Impact

91. Important Doctrines of

Constitutional
Interpretation

Doctrine of Severability

Doctrine of Waiver

Doctrine of Eclipse

Doctrine of Territorial Nexus

Doctrine of Pith and

substance

Doctrine of colourable
legislation

Doctrine of implied power

Doctrine of Incidental and

Anci -llary Powers

Doctrine of precedent

Doctrine of occupied field

Doctrine of Prospective
Overruling

Doctrine of Harmonious
construction

Doctrine of Liberal
interpretation

92 . World Constitutions

American Constitution

American President

British Constitution

British Cabinet

French Constitution

French President

Japanese Constitution

Soviet Constitution

Russian Constitution
Chinese Connstitution

Swiss Constitution

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