UPSC CSE Indian Polity and Governance Syllabus

Indian Polity and Governance syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Indian Polity and Governance in UPSC CSE, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Constitution of India

   4 topics

   • Preamble
   • Fundamental Rights
   • Directive Principles of State Policy
   • Federal Structure
2. 2

   System of Governance

   4 topics

   • Parliamentary System
   • Judicial System
   • Elections
   • Important Bodies: EC, Finance Commission, CAG
3. 3

   Center-State Relations

   3 topics

   • Legislative Relations
   • Administrative Relations
   • Financial Relations

Indian Polity and Governance flashcards for UPSC CSE

23 of 50 cards from the Indian Polity and Governance deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the Preamble to the Indian Constitution, and is it enforceable in a court of law?

   The Preamble is the introductory statement setting out the guiding objectives, ideals and philosophy of the Constitution. It is not enforceable (non-justiciable) and confers no powers, but it aids in interpreting the Constitution.

2. List the four key descriptive terms the Preamble uses to describe the nature of the Indian state (in order).

   Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic. ("Socialist" and "Secular" were added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976.)

3. Which amendment added the words 'Socialist', 'Secular' and 'Integrity' to the Preamble, and in what year?

   The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.

4. What four objectives does the Preamble seek to secure for all citizens?

   Justice (social, economic, political); Liberty (of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship); Equality (of status and opportunity); and Fraternity (assuring dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the nation).

5. In which landmark case did the Supreme Court hold that the Preamble is part of the Constitution and can be amended (but not its basic structure)?

   Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973). It overruled Berubari Union (1960), which had held the Preamble was not part of the Constitution.

6. In which Part and Articles of the Constitution are the Fundamental Rights contained?

   Part III, Articles 12 to 35.

7. Name the six categories of Fundamental Rights currently guaranteed under Part III.

   1) Right to Equality (Arts 14-18); 2) Right to Freedom (Arts 19-22); 3) Right against Exploitation (Arts 23-24); 4) Right to Freedom of Religion (Arts 25-28); 5) Cultural and Educational Rights (Arts 29-30); 6) Right to Constitutional Remedies (Art 32).

8. Which Fundamental Right was deleted from Part III, and by which amendment? Where is it now?

   The Right to Property was removed from Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978. It is now an ordinary legal/constitutional right under Article 300A.

9. What are the six freedoms guaranteed to citizens under Article 19(1)?

   (a) Speech and expression; (b) Assembly (peacefully and without arms); (c) Association or unions; (d) Movement throughout India; (e) Residence and settlement; (g) Practising any profession/occupation/trade/business. (Note: original (f) right to property was deleted.)

10. What does Article 21 guarantee, and how did the Maneka Gandhi case (1978) expand it?

    Article 21 guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India held the procedure must be 'just, fair and reasonable' (not merely any procedure), linking Articles 14, 19 and 21 (the 'golden triangle').

11. Which Fundamental Right did Dr. B.R. Ambedkar call the 'heart and soul of the Constitution'?

    Article 32 — the Right to Constitutional Remedies (the right to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of Fundamental Rights).

12. Name the five types of writs the Supreme Court (Art 32) and High Courts (Art 226) can issue.

    Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, and Quo Warranto.

13. Distinguish the writs of Prohibition and Certiorari.

    Prohibition is issued during pending proceedings to stop a lower court/tribunal from exceeding its jurisdiction. Certiorari is issued after a decision to quash an order passed without jurisdiction or with an error of law. Prohibition is preventive; Certiorari is both preventive and curative.

14. In which Part and Articles are the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) contained, and from which country was the concept borrowed?

    Part IV, Articles 36 to 51. The concept was borrowed from the Irish Constitution (originally from Spain).

15. What is the essential difference between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles?

    Fundamental Rights (Part III) are justiciable (legally enforceable in court) and largely negative (restrain the state). DPSPs (Part IV) are non-justiciable (not enforceable in court) and positive (direct the state to make policy); they are 'fundamental in the governance of the country' (Art 37).

16. Into what three categories are the Directive Principles usually classified?

    Socialistic principles, Gandhian principles, and Liberal-Intellectual principles.

17. Give two examples of Gandhian Directive Principles.

    Organisation of village panchayats (Art 40); promotion of cottage industries (Art 43); promotion of education/economic interests of SCs, STs and weaker sections (Art 46); prohibition of cow slaughter (Art 48). (Any two.)

18. Which article calls for a Uniform Civil Code, and which calls for separation of judiciary from executive?

    Article 44 — Uniform Civil Code for citizens throughout India; Article 50 — separation of the judiciary from the executive in public services of the State.

19. Which Fundamental Duties article was added by the 42nd Amendment, and how many duties are there now?

    Article 51A was added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee. There are now 11 Fundamental Duties (the 11th, on education of children aged 6-14, was added by the 86th Amendment, 2002).

20. What does it mean that India is a federation with a 'unitary bias' or 'quasi-federal' structure?

    India has federal features (dual government, division of powers, written/rigid Constitution, independent judiciary, bicameralism) but a strong unitary tilt: single Constitution, single citizenship, strong Centre, all-India services, integrated judiciary, and emergency provisions that can convert the system into a unitary one.

21. How does the Constitution distribute legislative powers between the Union and States? Name the three lists and which Schedule contains them.

    Via the Seventh Schedule: Union List (subjects only Parliament can legislate on), State List (subjects only State legislatures can legislate on), and Concurrent List (both can legislate; Union law prevails on conflict). Residuary powers belong to the Union (Art 248).

22. In the legislative lists, who has residuary powers, and which Union List entry covers them in practice?

    The Union/Parliament holds residuary powers over matters not in any list (Article 248 and Entry 97 of the Union List).

23. Under what circumstances can Parliament legislate on a State List subject? Name at least three.

    1) Rajya Sabha passes a resolution in national interest (Art 249); 2) During a National Emergency (Art 250); 3) When two or more states request it (Art 252); 4) To implement international treaties/agreements (Art 253); 5) During President's Rule in a state (Art 356).

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