UPSC

Why Do We Need A Constitution       Contents of the Chapter

• Specification of decision making powers
• Limitations on the powers of government
• Aspirations and Goals of a Society
• Fundamental identify of a people
• The Authority of a Constitution
• Mode of promulgation
• The Substantive Provisions of a Constitution
• Balanced institutional design
• The Principle of Deliberation
• Procedures
• Inheritance of the nationalist movement
• Institutional arrangements

    What is a constitution? What are its functions? What role doesitper formsociety? How does a constitution relate to our daily existence? The first function of a constitution is to provide a set of basic rules allow for minimal coordination amongst members of a society.   Specification of decision making powers A constitution is a body of fundamental that principles according to which a state is constituted or governed. But what more...

  Philosophy of The Constitution       Contents of the Chapter

• Constitution as Means of Democratic Transformation
• Why do we need to go back to the Constituent Assembly?
• Individual freedom
• Social Justice
• Secularism
• Universal franchise
• Federalism
• National identity
• Procedural Achievements

    Some people believe that a constitution merely consists of laws and that laws are one thing, values and morality, quite another. Therefore/ we can have only a legalistic, not a political philosophy approach to the Constitution. It is true that all laws do not have a moral content, but many laws are closely connected to our deeply held values.   For example, a law might prohibit discrimination of persons on grounds of language or religion. Such a law is connected to more...

 Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution       Contents of the Chapter

• Right to Equality
• Right to life and personal liberty
• Preventive detention
• Rights of accused
• Freedom of faith and worship
• Equality of all religions
• Fundamental Duties of citizens
• Goals
• Policies
• Non-justiciable rights
• What do live Directive Principles contain?
• Right to Property
• Conclusion

    Right to Equality

• Equality before law
• Equal protection of laws
• Prohibition on discrimination on ground of religion
• Equal access to shops, bathing ghats, hotels etc.
• Equal of opportunity in employment
• Abolition of titles
• Abolition of untouchability

  Right to freedom of religion

• Freedom of conscience and profession;
• Freedom to manage religious affairs; freedom to give religious instructions in certain institutions

  Right more...

 Executive       Contents of the Chapter

• WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXECUTIVE?
• PARLIAMENTARY EXECUTIVE IN INDIA
• Power and position of President
• Discretionary Power of the President
• President’s role in Choosing the Prime Minister
• The Vice President of India
• Size of the Council of Ministers
• PRIME MINISTER AND COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

    EXECUTIVE In any organisation, some office holder has to take decisions and implement those decisions. We call this activity administration or management. But administration requires body at the top that will take policy decisions or the big decisions and supervise and coordinate the routine administrative functioning. You may have heard about the executives of bi companies, banks or industrial units. Every formal group has a body of those who function as more...

Legislature       Contents of the Chapter

• Introduction
• Why do we need a Parliament?
• Why do we need to Houses of Parliament?
• Rajya Sabha
• Lok Sabha
• Powers of Rajya Sabha
• Special Powers of Rajya Sabha
• Instruments of Parliamentary Control

    INTRODUCTION Legislation are elected by the people and work on behalf of the people. Here you would study how elected legislature function and help in maintaining democratic government. You will also learn about the composition and functioning of the parliament and State legislature in India and their importance in democratic government.   Why do we need a Parliament? Legislation are elected by the people and work on behalf of the people. Here you would study how elected legislature function and help in maintaining democratic government. You will also learn about the more...

 Judiciary       Contents of the Chapter

• Introduction
• Why do we need an independent Judiciary?
• Independence of Judiciary
• Appointment of Judges
• Structure of the Judiciary
• Original Jurisdiction
• Unsuccessful Attempt to Remove a Judge
• Write Jurisdiction
• Appellate Jurisdiction
• Advisory Jurisdiction
• Judiciary and Rights
• Judiciary and Parliament
• Conclusion

  INTRODUCTION Many times, courts are seen only as arbitrators in disputes between individuals or private parties. But judiciary performs some political functions also. Judiciary is an important organ of the government. The Supreme Court of India is in fact, one of the very powerful courts in the world. Right from 1950 the judiciary has played an important role in interpreting and in protecting the Constitution. In this chapter you will study the role and importance of the judiciary.   Why do we need an more...

Local Governments       Contents of the Chapter

• Introduction
• Growth Local Government in India
• Local Governments in independent India
• 73rd and 74th Amendments
• 73rd Amendment
• Three Tier Structure
• Elections
• Subjects listed in the eleventh schedule
• Transfer of Subjects
• State Finance Commission
• 74th Amendment
• Implementation of 73rd and 74th amendments
• Conclusion

    INTRODUCTION In a democracy, it is not sufficient to have an elected government at the centre and at the State level. It is also necessary that even at the local level, there should be an elected government to look after look after local affairs.   Why local Governments? Both these stories are not isolated incidents. They are representative of a larger transformation that is taking place across India especially after constitutional status was accorded to local government institutions in more...

 Elections and Democracy       Contents of the Chapter

• Proportional Representation
• How does PR work in Rajya Sabha elections
• Total Votes polled
• Why did India adopt the First system?
• RESERVATION OF CONSTITUENCIES
• FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS
• Universal franchise and right to contest
• Independent-Election Commission
• Special Majority

    All citizens cannot take direct part in making every decision. Therefore, representatives are elected by the people. This is how elections become important. Whenever we think of India as a democracy, our mind invariably turns to the last elections. Elections have today become the most visible symbol of the democratic process. We often distinguish between direct and indirect democracy.   A direct democracy is one where the citizens directly participate in the day-to-day decision making and in the running of the government. The ancient city-states more...

 Center State Relation       Contents of the Chapter

• Legislative Relations
• Union’s Power to Legislate on States’ Subjects
• Administrative Relations
• Union Power to Give Directions to States
• Water Disputes
• Responsibility of the Union
• Role of Governors
• Judicial System
• State Government’s Power
• Financial Relations
• Fiscal Matters
• Sarkaria Commission
• Composition of committee
• Members
• Finance Commission
• Planning Commission
• Controversy

    The Constitution of India provides a dual polity with a clear division of powers between the Union and the States, each being supreme within the sphere allotted to it. The States in India are not the creation of the Centre nor do they draw their authority from the Union Government. On the other hand, like the Union Government, they draw their authority directly from the Constitution and are free to operate in the more...

Emergency Provisions       Contents of the Chapter

• National Emergency (Art. 352)
• Executive Powers of the Union During Emergency
• Proclamation of President’s Rule (Art. 356)
• Financial Emergency (Art. 360)

    The term ‘Emergency’ may be defined as “a difficult situation arising suddenly and demanding immediate action by public authorities under powers specially granted to them by the Constitution or otherwise to meet such exigencies”.   Types of Emergency  Broadly, the Emergency provisions of the Constitution envisage two kinds of emergencies, viz.  

• A National Emergency under article 352 due to threat of war, external aggression or armed rebellion and

 

• Financial Emergency under article 360.

  The third kind of situation, that is, the one under article 356 more...