Important Polity topics for UPSC CSE 2024
1. Acts (1773-1947)
- Regulating Act 1773: First step towards central administration in India, established Supreme Court in Calcutta.
- Pitt’s India Act 1784: Created Board of Control for political affairs, reduced the power of the East India Company.
- Charter Act 1813: Ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company except for tea and trade with China.
- Charter Act 1833: Centralized administration, Governor-General of Bengal became Governor-General of India.
- Charter Act 1853: Last charter act, introduced a competitive exam for the Indian Civil Service.
- Government of India Act 1858: Transferred power from East India Company to the British Crown.
- Indian Councils Act 1861: Introduced Indian representation in the legislature.
- Indian Councils Act 1892: Expanded legislative councils and introduced indirect elections.
- Indian Councils Act 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms): Introduced separate electorates for Muslims.
- Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms): Introduced dyarchy in provinces.
- Government of India Act 1935: Proposed federal structure, provincial autonomy, and introduced bicameralism.
- Indian Independence Act 1947: Ended British rule, partitioned India and Pakistan.
2. Preamble
- Introduction to the Constitution.
- Declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.
- Promises Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
3. Fundamental Rights (Articles 12-35)
- Article 14: Right to Equality.
- Article 19: Right to Freedom.
- Article 21: Right to Life and Personal Liberty.
- Article 25: Right to Freedom of Religion.
- Article 32: Right to Constitutional Remedies.
4. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
- Articles 36-51.
- Non-justiciable guidelines for the state to follow for socio-economic justice.
5. Fundamental Duties
- Article 51A.
- Originally 10 duties, now 11, added by the 42nd and 86th Amendments.
6. Amendment to the Constitution
- Article 368.
- Procedure for amending the Constitution.
- Notable Amendments: 42nd (1976, added Socialist, Secular to the Preamble), 73rd and 74th (1992, local self-government), 103rd (2019, reservation for economically weaker sections).
#### Part 2:
1. Meaning of Democracy and Parliamentary Democracy
- Democracy: System where power lies with the people.
- Parliamentary Democracy: Executive is derived from the legislature and is accountable to it.
- Difference with Presidential System:
- Parliamentary System: Head of state and head of government are separate, e.g., India.
- Presidential System: President is both head of state and government, e.g., USA.
2. Constitutionalism
- Doctrine that the authority of government derives from and is limited by a body of fundamental law.
3. President/Governor
- President: Head of state, elected by an Electoral College, powers include executive, legislative, and judicial functions.
- Governor: Head of state at the state level, appointed by the President, similar functions within the state.
4. Parliament
- Bicameral legislature: Lok Sabha (House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
- Functions include law-making, control over the executive, financial control.
5. Parliamentary Committees
- Standing Committees (e.g., Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee).
- Ad-hoc Committees (e.g., Joint Parliamentary Committee on specific issues).
6. Supreme Court & High Courts
- Supreme Court: Apex judicial authority, guardian of the Constitution, appellate jurisdiction.
- High Courts: Highest judicial authority in states, original and appellate jurisdiction.
7. Recent Judgments of the Supreme Court
- Notable judgments on constitutional interpretation, fundamental rights, and social justice issues.
8. Local Government
- Municipal Corporation: Urban local bodies, handle city administration, elected representatives.
- Panchayat: Rural local bodies, three-tier system (Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad).
9. Constitutional Bodies in News
- Election Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), etc.
10. Fifth/Sixth Schedule Areas
- Fifth Schedule: Provisions for administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.
- Sixth Schedule: Special provisions for administration of Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
