UGC NET Political Science Political Institutions in India Syllabus

Political Institutions in India syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Political Institutions in India in UGC NET Political Science, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Making of the Indian Constitution

   4 topics

   • Colonialism heritage and the contribution
   • Indian National Movement to the making of the Indian Constitution
   • Constituent Assembly
     • Composition
     • Ideological Moorings
     • Constitutional Debates
   • Philosophy of the Constitution
     • Preamble
     • Fundamental Rights
     • Directive Principles
2. 2

   Constitutionalism in India

   6 topics

   • Democracy
   • Social Change
   • National Unity
   • Checks and Balances
   • Basic Structure Debate
   • Constitutional Amendments
3. 3

   Union Executive

   1 topic

   • President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
4. 4

   Union Parliament

   3 topics

   • Structure
   • Role and Functioning
   • Parliamentary Committees
5. 5

   Judiciary

   4 topics

   • Supreme Court, High Court
   • Judicial Review
   • Judicial Activism
   • Judicial Reform
6. 6

   Executive and Legislature in the States

   1 topic

   • Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature
7. 7

   Federalism in India

   5 topics

   • Strong Centre Framework
   • Asymmetrical Federal Provisions and Adaption
   • Role of Intergovernmental Coordination Mechanisms
   • Inter-State Council
   • Emerging Trends
8. 8

   Electoral Process and Election Commission of India

   3 topics

   • Conduct of Elections
   • Rules
   • Electoral Reforms
9. 9

   Local Government Institutions

   1 topic

   • Functioning and reforms
10. 10

    Constitutional and Statutory Bodies

    6 topics

    • Comptroller and Auditor General
    • National Commission for Scheduled Castes
    • National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
    • National Commission for Human Rights
    • National Commission for Women
    • National Commission for Minorities

Political Institutions in India flashcards for UGC NET Political Science

24 of 52 cards from the Political Institutions in India deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Which 1935 colonial-era legislation served as a major source for the Indian Constitution, contributing provisions on federalism, the office of Governor, and emergency powers?

   The Government of India Act, 1935 — it provided the blueprint for the federal scheme, provincial autonomy, the Governor's office, the public service commissions, and emergency provisions.

2. What was the main demand of the 1928 Nehru Report regarding the constitutional future of India?

   It demanded Dominion Status and drafted a constitution for India that included a justiciable bill of fundamental rights and a parliamentary system, becoming an early Indian-authored constitutional blueprint.

3. How did the Indian National Movement shape the inclusion of Fundamental Rights in the Constitution?

   The long struggle against colonial repression (e.g., the 1931 Karachi Congress resolution on fundamental rights) made the framers insistent on entrenching justiciable Fundamental Rights to guarantee civil liberties.

4. On what basis and under which plan was the Constituent Assembly of India constituted?

   It was constituted under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, with members indirectly elected by the provincial legislative assemblies through proportional representation by single transferable vote.

5. Who chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, and who served as the Assembly's permanent President?

   Dr. B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee; Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly.

6. How long did the Constituent Assembly take to frame the Constitution, and on what dates was it adopted and enforced?

   It took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days; the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950.

7. What document, moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946, laid down the founding philosophy and ideals of the Indian Constitution?

   The Objectives Resolution (1946), which outlined sovereignty, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, and later became the basis of the Preamble.

8. Which three words describing the nature of the Indian state were added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment (1976)?

   'Socialist', 'Secular' and 'Integrity' were added — making the Preamble describe India as a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic'.

9. In the philosophy of the Constitution, what is the distinction between justiciable Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy?

   Fundamental Rights (Part III) are enforceable in courts; Directive Principles (Part IV) are non-justiciable guidelines that the State should follow when making laws, embodying socio-economic goals.

10. What model of democracy did the Indian Constitution adopt, and through which articles is universal adult suffrage guaranteed?

    It adopted parliamentary representative democracy with universal adult suffrage; voting rights are guaranteed under Article 326 (every citizen 18+ may vote).

11. How does the Constitution function as an instrument of social change and social revolution?

    Through provisions like abolition of untouchability (Art. 17), equality and non-discrimination (Arts. 14-16), reservations for SCs/STs/OBCs, and Directive Principles aimed at reducing inequality.

12. Which constitutional provisions promote national unity and integration in India?

    Single citizenship, a single integrated judiciary, a unified all-India services system, emergency provisions, the Fundamental Duty to uphold unity (Art. 51A), and the addition of 'integrity' to the Preamble.

13. How does the Indian Constitution establish a system of checks and balances among the three organs of government?

    The legislature makes laws but is subject to judicial review; the executive is accountable to the legislature; the judiciary is independent but its judgments can be modified by constitutional amendments — each organ checks the others.

14. Which 1973 Supreme Court case established the 'Basic Structure Doctrine', and what did it hold?

    Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) — Parliament can amend the Constitution but cannot alter or destroy its 'basic structure'.

15. Name at least four features identified by the judiciary as part of the Constitution's 'basic structure'.

    Supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, separation of powers, judicial review, federalism, secularism, free and fair elections, and democracy (among others).

16. Under which article is Parliament empowered to amend the Constitution, and what are the three types of amendment procedures?

    Article 368. The three types are: (1) by simple majority, (2) by special majority of Parliament, and (3) by special majority plus ratification by at least half the state legislatures.

17. Which constitutional amendment is known as the 'Mini-Constitution' and why?

    The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 — it made sweeping changes including adding Fundamental Duties, the words socialist/secular/integrity, and curtailing judicial review.

18. What did the 44th Amendment Act (1978) restore or change regarding emergency and rights?

    It made 'internal disturbance' into 'armed rebellion' as a ground for National Emergency, removed the Right to Property as a Fundamental Right, and added safeguards against misuse of emergency powers.

19. How is the President of India elected, and what is the nature of the office's powers?

    Elected indirectly by an electoral college (elected MPs and MLAs) through proportional representation by single transferable vote; the President is the nominal/constitutional head who acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers (Art. 74).

20. What is the constitutional basis for the Prime Minister's appointment and the Council of Ministers' accountability?

    The President appoints the PM (Art. 75); the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Art. 75(3)), meaning it stays in office only while enjoying the confidence of the House.

21. What is the maximum size of the Council of Ministers, and which amendment fixed this limit?

    The total number of ministers, including the PM, cannot exceed 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha — fixed by the 91st Amendment Act, 2003.

22. What are the two Houses of the Indian Parliament and the maximum sanctioned strengths of each?

    The Lok Sabha (House of the People), max 552 members; and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), max 250 members.

23. How is the Rajya Sabha structured to make it a permanent house, and what fraction retires periodically?

    The Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution; one-third of its members retire every two years, each member serving a six-year term.

24. What is the role and functioning of the Lok Sabha Speaker in the parliamentary system?

    The Speaker presides over Lok Sabha sittings, maintains order, decides on points of order, certifies Money Bills, and exercises a casting vote in case of a tie.

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