UGC NET Political Science Political Institutions in India Syllabus

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.

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.

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.

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.

What is the distinction between Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees of Parliament?

Standing Committees are permanent, constituted regularly (e.g., Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee); Ad Hoc Committees are temporary, created for a specific task and dissolved on completion.

What is the composition and chief function of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)?

It has up to 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha), chaired by an Opposition member; it examines the audit reports of the CAG to ensure money was spent as appropriated by Parliament.

Which financial committee scrutinizes the spending of public sector undertakings, and what is its membership?

The Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU), with 22 members (15 Lok Sabha + 7 Rajya Sabha).

What is the original and current sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India?

Originally 8 (1 Chief Justice + 7 judges); the current sanctioned strength is 34 judges (1 Chief Justice + 33 other judges).

Under which article does the Supreme Court exercise its power to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights?

Article 32 — the Right to Constitutional Remedies, which Dr. Ambedkar called the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution.

Under which article do High Courts have writ jurisdiction, and how is it broader than that of the Supreme Court?

Article 226 — High Courts can issue writs not only for Fundamental Rights but 'for any other purpose' (ordinary legal rights), giving them wider writ jurisdiction.

What is judicial review in the Indian context, and what is its constitutional source?

It is the power of courts to examine the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions and strike down those that violate the Constitution; it derives from Articles 13, 32, 226 and 137.

What is judicial activism, and through which mechanism has it most prominently expanded access to justice in India?

Judicial activism is the proactive role of the judiciary in protecting rights and enforcing accountability; Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which relaxed locus standi, is its key mechanism.

What is the distinction between judicial activism and judicial overreach?

Judicial activism is the legitimate proactive enforcement of rights and constitutional values; judicial overreach is when the judiciary encroaches on the domains of the legislature or executive, breaching separation of powers.

What was the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), and why was it struck down?

Introduced by the 99th Amendment (2014) to replace the collegium system for appointing judges; the Supreme Court struck it down in 2015 as violating judicial independence, a basic feature.

How is the Governor of a state appointed, and whose pleasure determines the tenure?

The Governor is appointed by the President (Art. 155) and holds office during the pleasure of the President (Art. 156), with a normal term of five years.

What is the constitutional position of the Chief Minister within a state government?

The CM is the real executive head of the state, appointed by the Governor (Art. 164), heads the Council of Ministers which is collectively responsible to the State Legislative Assembly.

What are the two possible Houses of a State Legislature, and which is permanent?

The Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and, in some states, the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad); the Legislative Council is the permanent, non-dissolvable upper house.

Why is Indian federalism often described as having a 'strong centre' or being 'quasi-federal'?

Because of features like a single constitution, single citizenship, all-India services, residuary powers with the Union, the Centre's power to alter state boundaries, and emergency provisions that centralize power.

What are 'asymmetrical federal provisions' in the Indian Constitution? Give an example.

Provisions granting special status or differential treatment to certain states/regions — e.g., Article 371 special provisions for states like Nagaland, Mizoram, and erstwhile Article 370 for Jammu & Kashmir.

Which constitutional body is the chief mechanism for intergovernmental coordination on disputes between the Centre and states recommended by the Sarkaria Commission?

The Inter-State Council, a permanent constitutional body established under Article 263 (set up in 1990) to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest between the Union and states.

Under which article can the President establish an Inter-State Council, and what are its functions?

Article 263 — it can inquire into and advise on inter-state disputes, investigate and discuss subjects of common interest, and make recommendations for better coordination of policy and action.

Name two extra-constitutional intergovernmental coordination mechanisms that promote cooperative federalism in India.

The GST Council (constitutional, Art. 279A), Zonal Councils, and NITI Aayog's Governing Council — bodies that foster Centre-state and inter-state coordination.

What is an emerging trend in Indian federalism reflected by the replacement of the Planning Commission?

The shift toward 'cooperative and competitive federalism' through NITI Aayog (2015), which involves states more actively in policy and ranks them on performance, replacing top-down planning.

Which constitutional body conducts and supervises elections in India, and under which article is it established?

The Election Commission of India, established under Article 324, conducts elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.

What is the composition of the Election Commission of India and the security of tenure of its members?

It is a multi-member body with a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners; the CEC can be removed only by the process used to remove a Supreme Court judge, ensuring independence.

What is the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the Indian electoral process?

A set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission regulating the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections; it comes into force from the announcement of the election schedule.

What major electoral reform did the introduction of NOTA and VVPAT bring to Indian elections?

NOTA ('None of the Above', introduced 2013) lets voters reject all candidates; VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) provides a paper record to verify that the vote was cast as intended, improving transparency.

What is the constitutional status, appointment, and core function of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)?

Established under Article 148, appointed by the President; the CAG audits all receipts and expenditure of the Union and states, acting as guardian of the public purse, and reports to the legislature.

Which amendment gave constitutional status to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and under which article does it function?

The 89th Amendment Act, 2003 bifurcated the combined commission; the National Commission for Scheduled Castes functions under Article 338.

Under which article does the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes operate, and what is its primary mandate?

Article 338A (created by the 89th Amendment, 2003); it investigates and monitors safeguards for STs, inquires into complaints, and advises on their socio-economic development.

Is the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) a constitutional or statutory body, and under which law was it established?

It is a statutory body, established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to protect and promote human rights in India.

Compare the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Minorities in terms of their statutory basis.

Both are statutory, not constitutional bodies: the National Commission for Women was set up under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990; the National Commission for Minorities under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.