Indian Polity Notes for State Exams
Indian Polity Notes for State Exams
(1) The post of 'GOVERNOR' was now made 'GOVERNOR-GENERAL' and Bengal was
the first province to have Warren Hastings as the first Governor-General. He was
assisted by an executive council of four members.
(2) The Supreme Court at Calcutta was established with one chief justice and three
other judges. Sir Elijah Impey was the Chief Justice.
(1) Created another body- ‘BOARD OF CONTROL’ to manage political affairs in India.
COURT OF DIRECTORS kept on managing commercial affairs though.
(2) Thus, companies’ possessions were for the first time called ‘British possessions in
India’ and the commercial wing was headed by the court of directors and political wing
headed by the board of control.
(3) The Act was introduced by the then British Prime Minister William Pitt.
(1) Ended the monopoly of the trading rights of British East India Company and
allowed other companies to participate in trading activities with India.
(2) This act completely ended the commercial activities of the company. The company
existed but it became a purely administrative and a political organization.
(2) Introduced and open system of competition for Indians into Civil Services. Macaulay
committee was formed (1854) for this purpose. Satyendra Nath Tagore became the first
Indian to qualify that service in 1863.
(2) Abolished the British East India Company. Abolished the Mughal administration as
well.
(3) Abolished the Governor General’s post and created a new post Viceroy. Lord
Canning became the first Viceroy of India.
(4) Also created a new office – Secretary-of-State for India and a 15-member council to
assist him. He was a member of British parliament.
(1) Expanded the viceroy’s executive council. Made provisions for him to nominate
some Indians as non-official members. Lord Canning nominated the Raja of Benaras,
the Maharaja of Patiala and Sir Dinkar Rao.
(2) New Legislative councils for Bengal (1862), North Western Frontier Province (1866)
and Punjab (1897) were established.
(1) Power of discussing the budget was given to the legislative council in the then India.
(2) Expanded the councils and some members could be nominated to both Central as
well as Provincial Legislative Councils.
(2) The number of members in the Central Legislative council was increased from 16 to
60.
(3) Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian to be nominated as a law member
to the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
(4) The communal electorate was introduced. Muslims were given separate
representation to elect their representatives. Hence, Minto is also referred to as ‘Father
of Communal Electorate’.
(1) Also called as Montague-Chelmsford reforms and it came into effect in 1921.
(2) Central and provincial subjects or lists were introduced where they could frame laws
in their respective lists. Provincial subjects were further divided into transferred and
reserved. Thus, this act introduced diarchy.
(1) Provided for the establishment of an All-India Federation with provinces and princely
states as units. The Federation never came into being as princely states did not join it.
(2) Abolished diarchy in the provinces and introduced ‘provincial autonomy’ in its place.
But in centre, it introduced diarchy; however that never came into being.
(1) Partition Plan or the Mountbatten Plan (3rd June 1947) was to give effect to partition
of the country and Atlee’s declaration (20th February 1947) to provide independence to
the Nation.
(2) Created two independent dominions of India and Pakistan, ended British rule and
authorised the two independent Nations’ constituent assemblies to frame their
respective constitutions.
(3) The Indian independence bill got the royal assent on 18th July 1947.
1. It was M.N Roy who proposed the idea of an independent constituent assembly
for India in 1934.
2. The constituent assembly was formed as per the guidelines suggested by the
Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946. The mission was headed by Pethick Lawrence and
included two other members apart from him – Stafford Cripps and A.V Alexander.
3. The total strength of the assembly was 389. However, after partition only 299
remained. It was partly elected and partly nominated.
4. The elections to form the assembly took place in July-August 1946 and the
process was completed by November 1946. The first meeting of the assembly
took place on 9th December 1946 and was attended by 211 members.
5. Dr. Sachhidanand Sinha became the temporary President of the assembly
following the French practice.
6. On 11th December 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and H.C Mukherji were elected as
President and Vice-President respectively.
7. Sir B.N Rau was appointed as the constitutional advisor to the assembly.
8. On 13th December 1946, Pt. Nehru moved the Objectives resolution which later
went on to become the Preamble of the constitution in slightly modified form. The
resolution was unanimously adopted on 22nd January 1947.
9. The Constituent Assembly ratified India’s membership of the commonwealth in
May 1949. Also, it adopted the National Song and National Anthem on 24th
January 1950. Adopted the National Flag on 22nd July 1947.
10. The assembly met for 11 sessions, took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days
to frame up the final draft, sat for 141 days in total and the draft constitution was
considered for 114 days. Total amount incurred was around rupees 64 lakhs.
11. Some important committees of the constituent assembly along with their
respective chairpersons are as follows:
● Union Powers Committee - Jawahar Lal Nehru
● Union Constitution Committee - Jawahar Lal Nehru
● Provincial Constitution Committee - Sardar Patel
● Drafting Committee - B.R Ambedkar
● Rules of Procedure Committee - Dr. Rajendra Prasad
THE PREAMBLE
1. The term ‘preamble’ refers to the introduction or preface to the Constitution. It’s a
kind of summary or essence of the Constitution.
2. The American Constitution was the first, to begin with, a preamble.
3. N.A Palkiwala has termed preamble as ‘the identity card of the constitution’.
4. The Preamble is somewhat based on the ‘Objectives Resolution’ moved by
Nehru in the Constituent Assembly.
5. The Preamble has been amended only once so far, that is by 42nd Amendment
Act of 1976. Three words were added by that amendment – SOCIALIST,
SECULAR, INTEGRITY.
6. The Preamble reveals four ingredients or components:
7. Source of the authority of the Constitution: The Preamble states that the
Constitution derives its authority from the people of India.
8. Nature of Indian State: It declares India as a sovereign, socialist, secular
democratic and republican polity.
9. Objectives of the Constitution: To provide justice, liberty, equality and fraternity to
the citizens of India.
CITIZENSHIP
1. The Constitution confers the following rights and privileges on the citizens of
India (and denies the same to aliens):
● Rights conferred under Articles 15, 16, 19, 29 & 30.
● Right to vote in elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly.
● Right to contest for the membership of the Parliament and the state legislature.
● Eligibility to hold certain public offices, that is, President of India, Vice-President
of India, judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts, governor of states,
attorney general of India and advocate general of states.
3. No person shall be a citizen of India or be deemed to be a citizen of India if he
has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of any foreign state (Article 9).
4. Every person who is or is deemed to be a citizen of India shall continue to be
such citizen, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament (Article
10).
5. Parliament shall have the power to make any provision with respect to the
acquisition and termination of citizenship and all other matters relating to
citizenship (Article 11).
6. The five modes of acquisition of citizenship as per the citizenship act are
(a) By Birth
(b) By Descent
(c) By Registration
(d) By Naturalization
(e) By acquisition of any other territory into the Indian Union.
7. Loss of Citizenship is by – Termination, Renunciation and Deprivation.
8. India provides for single citizenship.
9. PIO- A person registered as PIO card holder under the Ministry of Home Affairs’
scheme dated 19-08-2002.
10. OCI- A person registered as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) under the
Citizenship Act, 1955. The OCI scheme is operational from 02-12-2005.
Fundamental Rights
● Right to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of fundamental rights
including the writs of
(i) habeas corpus, (ii) mandamus, (iii) prohibition, (iv) certiorari, and (v) quo
warranto (Article 32).
● Article 33 deals with the power of Parliament to modify the fundamental rights.
● Article 34 deals with Martial Law
● Article 35 deals with legislation required to deal with fundamental rights
● Fundamental Rights which are available to only citizens - 15, 16, 19, 29 and 30.
● Fundamental Rights those are available to both citizens as well as non-citizens –
14, 20, 21, 21A, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28.
Fundamental Duties
(j) To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity
so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and
achievement; and
(k) To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of
six and fourteen years. This duty was added by the 86th Constitutional
Amendment Act, 2002.
i. To prohibit the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs which are injurious
to health (Article 47).
j. To prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and draught cattle and
to improve their breeds (Article 48).
k. To secure for all citizens a uniform civil code throughout the country (Article 44).
l. To provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete
the age of six years (Article 45). Also, amended by the 86th constitutional
amendment act, 2002.
m. To separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State
(Article 50).
n. To promote international peace and security and maintain just and honourable
relations between nations; to foster respect for international law and treaty
obligations, and to encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration
(Article 51).
President of India
(1) Article 52 – There shall be a President of India
(2) Article 53 – the Executive power of the Union: The executive power shall be vested
in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers’
subordinate to him.
(4) Though he’s only the constitutional head, or titular head, de jure head or nominal
executive or just a symbolic head.
5. All doubts and disputes arising out of the Presidential elections are decided into and
enquired by the Supreme Court whose decision is final.
6. The elections are monitored and conducted by the Election Commission of India.
6. If another house sustains the charges and finds the President of violation, and
passes that resolution by 2/3rd of the total membership of that house, the
President stands removed from the date the resolution is so passed.
7. Hence, impeachment is a quasi-judicial process. And though, the nominated
members of Parliament do no participate in his election, they take part in the
impeachment process. Also, states’ legislatures do not have a role in the
impeachment process.
Veto Powers
1. Absolute Veto- Withholding the assent to the bill. The bill then ends and does
not become an Act. Example- in 1954, Dr. Rajendra Prasad withheld his assent
to the PEPSU Appropriation Bill. Also, in 1991 R. Venkataram withheld his
assent to the MPs Salaries, allowances bill.
2. Suspensive Veto- Returning the bill for reconsideration. In 2006, President APJ
Abdul Kalam used the suspensive veto in the office of profit bill. However, the
President can return the bill for reconsideration to the legislature only once, after
which he has to give his consent.
3. Pocket Veto- Taking no action on the bill sent to the President. There’s no time
limit provided in the constitution within which the President has to give his assent
or sign the bill. Hence, he has a ‘bigger pocket’ than the American President. In
1986, President Zail Singh applied Pocket Veto to Indian Post Office Amendment
bill.
Vice-President of India
The Vice-President is to be an ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States.
● Provided that during any period when the Vice-President acts as President or
discharges the functions of the President under article 65, he shall not perform
the duties of the office of Chairman of the Council of States and shall not be
entitled to any salary or allowance payable to the Chairman of the Council of
States under article 97.
● This is the second most important function of the V.P. He can act as the
President in case of the death, impeachment, resignation or otherwise of the
President of India. However, he can act as the president only for a maximum
period of six months (question asked) within which a new president has to be
elected.
● The V.P gets the salary, allowance etc. of the President when he acts as the
president, not as the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
● The salary, emoluments etc. of the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha is mentioned
in the second schedule of the Constitution of India.
● All disputes related to the election of Vice-President are inquired into and
decided by the supreme court whose decision is final.
Parliament of India
1. The Parliament consists of the President, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
2. Lok Sabha is the Lower House (First Chamber or Popular House) and Rajya
Sabha is the Upper House (Second Chamber or House of Elders).
1. The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is fixed at 250, out of which, 238 are
to be the representatives of the states and union territories (elected indirectly)
and 12 are nominated by the president.
2. At present, the Rajya Sabha has 245 members. Of these, 229 members
represent the states, 4 members represent the union territories and 12 members
are nominated by the president.
3. The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the allocation of seats in the
Rajya Sabha to the states and union territories.
4. The representatives of states in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected
members of state legislative assemblies. The seats are allotted to the states in
the Rajya Sabha on the basis of population.
1. The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is fixed at 552. Out of this, 530
members are to be the representatives of the states, 20 members are to be the
representatives of the union territories and 2 members may be nominated by the
president from the Anglo-Indian community.
2. At present, the Lok Sabha has 545 members.
3. The representatives of states in the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people
from their respective constituencies.
4. The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional
Amendment Act, 1988.
1. Eligibility
(b) Minimum age – 30 years in Rajya Sabha and 25 years in Lok Sabha.
(a) If he holds any office of profit under the Union or state government
3. The Constitution also lays down that a person shall be disqualified from being a
member of Parliament if he is so disqualified on the ground of defection under
the provisions of the Tenth Schedule.
4. Double Membership - A person cannot be a member of both Houses of
Parliament at the same time.
5. A House can declare the seat of a member vacant if he is absent from all its
meetings for a period of sixty days without its permission.
1. The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members (as soon as
may be, after its first sitting). The date of election of the Speaker is fixed by the
President.
2. The Speaker offers his resignation to the Deputy Speaker and he can be
removed by a resolution passed by a majority of members of Lok Sabha,
however, only after giving him a 14-day notice.
3. He presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament. Such a sitting is
summoned by the President to settle a deadlock between the two Houses on a
bill.
4. He decides whether a bill is a money bill or not and his decision on this question
is final.
5. He can’t vote in the first instance, though can vote in the event of a tie. When his
removal motion is under consideration, he can take part and speak in the
proceedings and can vote as well but not in the case of a tie.
Sessions of Parliament
The maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament cannot be more than six
months
Indian Judiciary
Supreme Court
1. Articles 124 to 147 mentioned in Part V of the Constitution deal with the
organisation, independence, jurisdiction, powers, and procedures and so on of
the Supreme Court.
2. At present, the strength of the Supreme Court’s judges stands at thirty-one
judges (one chief justice and thirty other judges).
3. Originally, the strength of the Supreme Court was fixed at eight (one chief justice
and seven other judges).
4. Appointment- The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president.
The appointment of the Chief Justice is made by the president after consultation
with such judges of the Supreme Court and high courts as he deems necessary.
The other judges are appointed by the president after consultation with the chief
justice and such other judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts as he
deems necessary. The consultation with the chief justice is obligatory in the case
of appointment of a judge other than Chief justice.
5. In 2015 the National Judicial Appointments Commission was declared Ultra Vires
by the Supreme Court and hence the collegium system still holds the ground
mentioned above.
6. Qualification- A person to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court should
have the following qualifications:
(i) He should be a citizen of India.
(ii) (a) He should have been a judge of a High Court (or high courts in
succession) for five years, or (b) He should have been an advocate of a High
Court (or High Courts in succession) for ten years; or (c) He should be a
distinguished jurist in the opinion of the president.
8. Oath- The oath to the judges and CJI is administered by the President or any
other person appointed by him for this purpose.
9. Tenure of Judges - A. He holds office until he attains the age of 65 years. B. He
can resign his office by writing to the president. C. He can be removed from his
office by the President on the recommendation of the Parliament.
10. Removal of Judges A judge of the Supreme Court can be removed from his
Office by an order of the President. However, he can do so only after an address
by Parliament has been presented to him in the same session for such removal.
The address must be supported by a special majority of each House of
Parliament - a majority of the total membership of that House and a majority of
not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting. The
grounds of removal are —proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
11. The jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Court can be classified into- Original
Jurisdiction, Writ Jurisdiction, Appellate Jurisdiction, Advisory Jurisdiction, A
court of Record and so on.
12. The Constitution has constituted the Supreme Court as the guarantor and
defender of the fundamental rights of the citizens.
13. The Supreme Court is empowered to issue writs including habeas corpus,
mandamus, prohibition, quo-warranto and certiorari for the enforcement of the
fundamental rights of an aggrieved citizen.
High Court
1. At present, there are 24 high courts in the country. Out of them, three are
common high courts. Delhi is the only union territory that has a high court of its
own (since 1966). The other union territories fall under the jurisdiction of different
state high courts.
2. Appointment of Judges The judges of a high court are appointed by the
President. The chief justice of the High Court is appointed by the President after
consultation with the chief justice of India and the governor of the state
concerned. For appointment of other judges, the chief justice of the concerned
high court is also consulted. In case of a common high court for two or more
states, the governors of all the states concerned are consulted by the president.
3. Qualifications of Judges A person to be appointed as a judge of a high court
should have the following qualifications: A. He should be a citizen of India. B. (a)
He should have held a judicial office in the territory of India for ten years, or (b)
He should have been an advocate of a high court (or high courts in succession)
for ten years.
4. Oath or Affirmation Oath to the judge is administered by the governor of the state
or some person appointed by him for this purpose.
5. Tenure of Judges - A. He holds office until he attains the age of 62 years. B. He
can resign his office by writing to the president. C. He can be removed from his
office by the President on the recommendation of the Parliament. D. He vacates
his office when he is appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court or when he is
transferred to another high court.
Constitutional Bodies
ELECTION COMMISSION
1. Mentioned under articles 315 to 323 in Part XIV of the Constitution (Article 315
mentions about the public service commission for the union and the states).
2. The UPSC consists of a chairman and other members appointed by the
president of India.
3. The term is of six years or the retirement age is 65 years, whichever is earlier.
4. The chairman of UPSC (on ceasing to hold office) is not eligible for further
employment in the Government of India or a state.
FINANCE COMMISSION
1. The Constitution of India (Article 148) provides for an independent office of the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
2. He is the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
3. He is the guardian of the public purse and controls the entire financial system of
the country at both the levels—the Centre and the state.
4. This is the reason why Dr. B R Ambedkar said that the CAG shall be the most
important Officer under the Constitution of India.
5. The CAG is appointed by the president of India by a warrant under his hand and
seal.
6. He holds office for a period of six years or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is
earlier.
7. He can be removed by the President either on the grounds of proven
misbehavior or incapacity. The method of removal is the same as that of a judge
of the Supreme Court.
1. The Constitution (Article 165) has provided for the office of the advocate general
for the states. He is the highest law officer in the state. Thus he corresponds to
the Attorney General of India.
Non-Constitutional Bodies
PLANNING COMMISSION
Central home minister. Further, a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or sitting
chief justice of a high court can be appointed only after consultation with the chief
justice of India.
4. The chairman and members hold office for a term of five years or until they attain
the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. They are not eligible for further
employment under the Central or a state government.
1. The CIC was established by the Central Government in 2005. It was constituted
through an Official Gazette Notification under the provisions of the Right to
Information Act (2005). Hence, it is not a constitutional body.
2. The Commission consists of a Chief Information Commissioner and not-more-
than ten Information Commissioners.
3. They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee
consisting of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the
Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
4. They should be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and
experience in social service, science, and technology, mass media,
management, journalism, law, or administration and governance.
5. They should not be M.Ps or MLAs of any State or Union Territory. They should
not hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying
on any business or pursuing any profession.
6. The term of office is 5 years and/or retirement age is 65 years, whichever comes
earlier. They are ineligible for reappointment.
7. They can be removed by the President only as per the conditions as mentioned
in the case of NHRC.
1. The CVC is the main agency for preventing corruption in the Central government.
It was established in 1964 by an executive resolution of the Central government.
The Governor
● The Governor is the De Jure executive head at the state level. His position is
analogous to that of the President at the center.
● The Governor is appointed by the president.
● To be appointed as the Governor of any state or two or more states as a person
● Like the President, the governor is also entitled to a number of immunities and
privileges. During his term of office, he is immune from any criminal proceedings,
even in respect of his personal acts.
● The oath - is administered by the chief justice of the corresponding state high
court and in case he’s absent, the senior-most judge of that particular court.
● A governor holds office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters
upon his office. He holds office until the pleasure of the President and he offers
his resignation to the President.
● He appoints the advocate general of a state and determines his remuneration.
The advocate general holds office during the pleasure of the governor.
● He appoints the state election commissioner. However, the state election
commissioner can be removed only in the like manner and on the like grounds as
a judge of a high court.
● He appoints the chairman and members of the state public service commission.
However, they can be removed only by the president and not by a governor.
● He nominates one-sixth of the members of the state legislative council.
● He can nominate one member to the state legislative assembly from the Anglo-
Indian Community.
● He can promulgate ordinances when the state legislature is not in session. The
ordinances must be approved by the state legislature within six weeks from its
reassembly. He can also withdraw an ordinance anytime (Article 213).
● He can grant pardons, reprieves, respites, and remissions of punishment or
suspend, remit and commute the sentence of any person convicted of any
offense against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the
state extends (Article 161).
● Chief Minister is the real executive authority (de facto executive). He is the head
of the government.
● The total strength of the number of ministers, including the C.M, in the state’s
CoM should not exceed 15 percent of the total strength of the legislative
assembly of that state. However, the number of ministers, including the C.M, in a
state should also not be less than 12. This provision was added by the 91st
Amendment Act of 2003.
● A member of either House of state legislature belonging to any political party who
is disqualified on the ground of defection shall also be disqualified to be
appointed as a minister. The provision was also added by the 91st Amendment
Act of 2003.
● Most of the states in India have a Unicameral Legislature. Seven States have
Bicameral Legislature, that is-Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar,
U.P, J&K and Karnataka.
● The Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) is the upper house (second chamber
or house of elders), while the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) is the lower
house (first chamber or popular house). Delhi and Puducherry are the only two
UTs that have a Legislative Assembly.
(a) 1/3 are elected by the members of local bodies in the state such as municipalities
etc.,
(b) 1/12 are elected by graduates of three years standing and residing within the state,
(c) 1/12 are elected by teachers of three years standing in the state, not lower in
standard than secondary school,
(d) 1/3 are elected by the members of the legislative assembly of the state from
amongst persons who are not members of the assembly, and
(e) The remainder are nominated by the governor from amongst the persons who have
special knowledge or practical experience of literature, science, art, cooperative
movement, and social service.
● Analogous to the Lok Sabha, the legislative assembly is also not a permanent
chamber. The term of the assembly is five years from the date of its first meeting
after the general elections.
● Analogous to the Rajya Sabha, the legislative council is a continuing chamber,
that is, it is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution. But, one-third of
its members retire on the expiration of every second year.
The Constitution lays down the following qualifications for a person to be chosen as a
member of the State legislature.
(b) He must be not less than 30 years of age in the case of the legislative council and
not less than 25 years of age in the case of the legislative assembly.
He should not have been found guilty as per the provisions of RPA, 1951. In defection
case also a member is liable to be disqualified as per the Anti-Defection Act (10th
Schedule).
Also, he should not be of unsound mind, he should not hold any office of profit; he isn’t
declared an un-discharged insolvent etc.
● Each House of the state legislature has its own presiding officer. There is a
Speaker and a Deputy Speaker for the legislative assembly and Chairman and a
Deputy Chairman for the legislative council. A panel of chairmen for the
assembly and a panel of vice-chairmen for the council are also appointed.
● The Speaker is elected by the assembly itself from amongst its members.
● Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker is also elected by the assembly itself from
amongst its members. He is elected after the election of the Speaker has taken
place.
● The Chairman is elected by the council itself from amongst its members.
● The Speaker decides whether a bill is a Money Bill or not and his decision on this
question is final.
Important Facts
● For the first time, an office ombudsman was established in Sweden in 1809.
● The concept of ombudsman developed significantly after the Second World War.
● The United Kingdom adopted it in 1967.
● In India, this concept was first proposed by the then law minister Ashok Kumar
Sen in the early 1960s.
● In 1966 the recommendations of the First Administrative Reforms Commission
suggested the setting up of independent authority for looking after the complaint
against public functionaries.
● In 2005 the 2nd ARC the chaired by Veerappa Moily also recommended for
provision of Lokpal.
● In India for the first time, the Lokpal bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1968
but could be not passed, and till 2011 a total of eight failed attempts were made
to pass the Bill.
● Finally, massive pressure from civil societies and demand from the social groups
resulted in the passing of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2013.
● She/he should be either former Chief Justice of India or Judge of the Supreme
Court.
● She/he should be an eminent person with impeccable integrity and outstanding
ability with at least 25 years experience in matters related to anti-corruption
policy, law, management etc.
Term of Office
● The Chairman and members of Lokpal hold office for five years or upto the age
of 70 yrs.
● The salary, allowances and other condition of service of the chairperson shall be
equivalent to the Chief Justice of India, and members are comparable to the
Judge of the Supreme Court.
● All expenses are charged from the consolidated fund of India.
● The first Panchayati raj system in India was established by the state of Rajasthan
in 1959, in Nagaur district followed by Andhra Pradesh. Thereafter the system
was adopted by most of the status. The major concern regarding the local self-
government was its architecture, amount of power to be devolved, finances etc.
Several committees were constituted by respective union governments to devise
a method for the same.
Anti-Defection Law
● Anti-Defection Law was inserted in the Indian Constitution in 1985 by the 52nd
Amendment Act of 1985. Rajiv Gandhi government was the main initiator for the
introduction of this law.
● The 52nd amendment of the Constitution inserted the Tenth Schedule in which
provisions were made by which legislators can be disqualified on the grounds of
defection to any other political party.
● The issue of disqualification on the ground of defection may be raised by any
member of the house and is referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of House.
The decision of the Chairman/Speaker of the concerned house is final and
binding.
● However, the decision of the Speaker or the Chairman of the house is open for
judicial review.
● The Anti-Defection law is applicable to both the houses of Parliament and also to
the state assemblies.
● Anti-Defection law is in practice not only in India, but it is practised in various
other countries of Asia and Africa like Bangladesh, South Africa, Kenya etc.
2. Article No. 3:- Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names
of existing states
3. Article No. 13:- Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the Fundamental Rights
7. Article No. 19:- Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.
10. Article No. 25:- Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and
propagation of religion
11. Article No. 30:- Right of minorities to establish and administer educational
institutions
12. Article No. 31C:- Saving of laws giving effect to certain Directive Principles
13. Article No. 32:- Remedies for enforcement of Fundamental Rights including writs
14. Article No. 38:- State to secure a social order for the promotion of the welfare of the
people
16. Article No. 44:- Uniform Civil Code for the citizens
17. Article No. 45:- Provision for early childhood care and education to children below
the age of 6 years.
18. Article No. 46:- Promotion of educational and economic interests of scheduled
castes, scheduled tribes and other weaker sections
22. Article No. 72:- Powers of President to grant pardons, suspend, remit or commute
sentences in certain cases
23. Article No. 74:- Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President
25. Article No. 78:- Duties of the Prime Minister as respects the furnishing of information
to the President, etc.
28. Article No. 123:- Power of President to promulgate ordinances during recess of
Parliament
31. Article No. 149:- Duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
33. Article No. 161:- Power of Governor to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or
commute sentences in certain cases
34. Article No. 163:- Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor
36. Article No. 167:- Duties of Chief Minister with regard to the furnishing of information
to the Governor, etc.
38. Article No. 169:- Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in the states
42. Article No. 173:- Qualification for membership of the State Legislature
43. Article No. 174:- Sessions of the State Legislature, prorogation and dissolution
44. Article No. 178:- Speakers and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
46. Article No. 200:- Assent to bills by the governor (including reservation for President)
49. Article No. 212:- Courts not to inquire into proceedings of the State Legislature
50. Article No. 213:- Power of governor to promulgate ordinances during recess of the
State Legislature
52. Article No. 217:-Appointment and the conditions of the office of the judge of a High
Court
53. Article No. 226:- Power of high courts to issue certain writs
59. Article No. 249:-Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to a matter in the State
List in the national interest
60. Article No. 262:- Adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers or
river valleys
62. Article No. 265:- Taxes not to be imposed save by authority of law
63. Article No. 275:- Grants from the Union to certain states
66. Article No. 300A:- Persons not to be deprived of property save by authority of law
(Right to property)
67. Article No. 311:- Dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil
capacities under the Union or a state.
69. Article No. 315:- Public Service Commission for the Union and for the states
72. Article No. 324:- Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in
an Election Commission
73. Article No. 330:- Reservation of seats for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in
the House of the People
74. Article No. 335:- Claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and
posts
76. Article No. 356:- Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in states
(President’s Rule)
78. Article No. 365:- Effect of failure to comply with or to give effect to, directions given
by the Union (President’s Rule)
79. Article No. 368:- Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure
therefore.