GS Paper 2

Pre-Foundation Course

Indian Polity

Topic 1---Constitution
-Dr. Shruti Joshi
 UPSC Syllabus: Polity & Constitution
1)Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments,
Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.

2)Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges
Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels
and Challenges Therein.

3)Separation of Powers between various organs Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and

Institutions.

4)Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries.

5) Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers

& Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.
6)Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries
and Departments of the Government; Pressure Groups and Formal/Informal Associations
and their Role in the Polity.

7)Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.

8) Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of

various Constitutional Bodies.

9)Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.

2024---Polity & Governance was conventional and was more on the easier side.
Total Questions: 15

2023--As regards to Polity, UPSC has continued to ask questions based on political philosophy e.g.
Constitutionalism/Constitution, the essence of the principles used in judicial review, etc. In Governance
section, significant number of questions were asked from diverse current affairs linked topics like
Prisons Act 1894, old-yet-important Acts e.g. Official Secrets Act, etc, standard topics like
Constitutional bodies/Nonconstitutional bodies also featured in this year's paper.
Total Questions: 14

2022---Polity questions were a mix of both fundamental topics and current affairs. This time conceptual
questions were not asked and mostly questions were solvable by studying standard sources.
Total Questions : 12
 Topics Covered in Fast Track Course (Polity)
1)Constitution

2)Preamble to the Constitution of India

3) Union and Citizens

4) Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution

5)Directive Principles of State Policy

6) Union Executive and State Executive

7)Union Legislature and State Legislature

8)Centre–State Relations

9) Emergency Provisions

10) Judiciary

11)Local Government

12) Union Territories and Tribunals

13) Election Process in India

14) Constitutional Bodies

 Lecture Plan
Topic 1---Constitution of India

1)Idea and Functions of Constitution

2) Salient Features of Indian Constitution(Written and unwritten constitution)

3) Constitutionalism

4) Constitutional morality
(I) Idea and Functions of Constitution
(1)Idea of Constitution
(i) What is the Constitution?
A constitution is a body of fundamental principles according to which a state is
constituted or governed.
ii)How was the Indian Constitution made?
 The Constituent Assembly held its first sitting on 9th December1946 and
reassembled as Constituent Assembly for divided India on 14 August 1947.

 Its members were chosen by indirect election by the members of the Provincial
Legislative Assemblies that had been established under the Government of India
Act, 1935.

 The Constituent Assembly was composed roughly along the lines suggested by
the Cabinet Mission.
iii) Composition of the Constituent Assembly
 As per plan, each Province and each Princely State or group of States were allotted
seats proportional to their respective population roughly in the ratio of
1:10,00,000. As a result the Provinces (that were under direct British rule) were to
elect 292 members while the Princely States were allotted a minimum of 93 seats.
 The seats in each Province were distributed among the three main communities,
Muslims, Sikhs and general, in proportion to their respective populations.
 Members of each community in the Provincial Legislative Assembly elected their
own representatives by the method of proportional representation with single
transferable vote.
 The method of selection in the case of representatives of Princely States was to be
determined by consultation.
 Because of the Partition under the plan of 3 June 1947 those members who were
elected from territories which fell under Pakistan ceased to be members of the
Constituent Assembly. The number of members in the Assembly was reduced to
299.
 The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949.

 The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950.

 Serious attempt was made to make the Assembly a representative body.

Members of all religions were given representation under the scheme described
above; in addition, the Assembly had twenty eight members from the Scheduled
Castes.
2)Function of Constitution---Why do we need the Constitution?
OR what a constitution does to the society?
• It allows coordination and assurance

• It provides for decision-making authority—specifies basic allocation of power I

society.

• It Imposes limits on the power of government

• It helps in creating conditions for a just society

• It provides fundamental identity of people

II) Salient Features of Indian Constitution
(i)Lengthiest Written Constitution---25 parts, 12 schedule and more than 400 articles.
(ii)Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility: A Living Document
(iii) Drawn from Various sources
 Features borrowed from Australia- Concurrent list, Residuary powers, Joint
sitting of two houses.
 Features taken from the Canadian constitution- Federation with a strong
Centre, Vesting of residuary powers in the Centre, State governor, Advisory
jurisdiction of Supreme court.
 Features taken from the Irish constitution- DPSPs, Nomination of members
from Rajya Sabha, President election.
 Features taken from the Japanese constitution- Procedure established by law.
 Features taken from the USSR constitution- Ideals of justice, Fundamental
duties.
 Features taken from the UK constitution- Writs, Cabinet system, Citizenship,
Bicameralism.
 Features took from the US Constitution- Judicial Review, Fundamental
Rights, the post of Vice president, Impeachment of President.
 Features taken from the German constitution- Emergency provisions
 Features taken from the French constitution- Republic, liberty, equality, and
fraternity in the Preamble.
(iv) Single citizenship
(iv) Parliamentary form of government---A Parliamentary form of government is
also known as a Cabinet Government or Parliamentary Democracy.
(v) Federal system with unitary bias
• Features of Unitary system
 More items in Union List
 Residuary power to Centre
 Single citizenship
 All India Services
 Post of governors of States
 Integrated audit by CAG
 Emergency provisions
 Appointment of HC judges by President
 Article 1- Union of States
• Features of Federal system
 Written constitution
 Supremacy of constitution
 Division of power (7th schedule)
 Independent judiciary
 Bicameralism ( Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)
SC in SR Bommai case 1994 held that federalism is basic structure and part of Indian
constitution.

(vi) Integrated and independent judiciary

(vii) Synthesis of Parliamentary sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy
(viii) Fundamental Rights ( Article 12-35)
(ix) Directive principle of State policy ( Article 36-51)
(x) Fundamental Duties ( Article 51A)

(xi) A secular State ( Article 25-30)

(xii) Independent Bodies ( CAG, UPSC)

(xiii) Emergency provisions (Part 18)

xiv) Integrated and independent judiciary
xv) Three-tier government system
III) Constitutionalism
• Constitutionalism is specific limitations on general State powers to prevent the
exercise of arbitrary decision making.
• Constitutionalism as per SC
 Rameshwar Prasad Case: Constitutionalism abhors absolutism , it is premised on
the rule of law in which subjective satisfaction is substituted by objectivity
provided by the constitution itself.
 IR Coelho case: Constitutionalism is a legal principle that requires control over
the exercise of governmental power to ensure that democrati principles shall not
be destroyed.
IV) Constitutional morality
Steadfast adherence to values ands principles enshrined in the constitution of India.
• Constitutional Government:
 Government which is elected by public through an election process.
 Head of the State has limited powers.
 Specific tenure for the ruler.
Ex: USA, UK, India etc.

• Non Constitutional Government:

 No elections
 Ruler of the country has unlimited power.
 No ruling limit.
Ex: Brunei, Qatar, Swaziland etc.
 Question Explanation Difficulty Nature Source
Delimitation
1) International Relations (IR) is all about understanding how countries cooperate, Laxmikant
1) Who was the Provisional President ‘The Constituent Assembly held its first
compete,
ofand manage their
the Constituent relationships
Assembly before Dr. on the global stage.
meeting on December 9, 1946. The Chapter:
Rajendra Prasad took over ? (2024) Muslim League boycotted the meeting Easy Factual Making of
and insisted on a separate state of the
(a) C. Rajagopalachari Pakistan. The meeting was, thus, Constitution
(b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar attended by only 211 members. Dr.
(c) T.T. Krishnamachari Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest
(d) Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha member, was elected as the
temporary/provisional President of the
Answer: option (d) is the correct Assembly, following the French
answer. practice. Later, Dr. Rajendra Prasad
was elected as the President of the
Assembly. Hence, option (d) is the
correct answer.
 Question Explanation Difficulty Nature Source
Delimitation
1) International Relations (IR) is all about understanding how countries cooperate, Mcompete,
2) Which one of the following Laxmikath
and manage
statements their relationships
best reflects the chief ‘Constitutionalism’
on the global stage.means limited
purpose of the 'Constitution' of a government or limitation on Factual
Medium https://nios.ac.i
country? (2023) government. The main objective or
n/media/docum
purpose of the constitution of a country
ents/SrSec338N
(a) It determines the objective for the is provide a framework for a ew/338_Introd
making of necessary laws. government by deciding the nature and uction_To_Law
(b) It enables the creation of political form of the government. As a _Eng/338_Intro
constitution is the basic fundamental duction_To_La
offices and a government. w_Eng_L17.pd
(c) It defines and limits the powers of law of a State, it also lays down the f
government. responsibilities of the different limbs of
(d) It secures social justice, social the government; the executive, the
equality and social security. legislature and the judiciary. And
accordingly the legislature makes laws
Answer: option (c) is the correct in keeping with the directions and
answer. limits provided in the constitution.
Hence option (c) is the correct answer.
 Question Explanation Difficulty Nature Source
Delimitation
1) International Relations (IR) is all about understanding how countries cooperate, compete,
3) We adopted parliamentary ‘Britain follows "Parliamentary
and manage
democracy basedtheir
on therelationships
British model, on the global
Sovereignty", i.e.,stage.
Parliament is supreme.
but how does our model differ from But, India follows constitutional government Easy Factual
that model? (2021) where the power of Parliament to legislate is
limited by the constitution. Hence statement 1
1. As regards legislation, the British
is correct.
Parliament is supreme or sovereign but
in India, the power of the Parliament to The provision for a Constitution bench has
legislate is limited. been provided in the Constitution of India
2. In India, matters related to the under Article 143 and Article 145(3). It is the
constitutionality of the Amendment of Chief Justice of India who is constitutionally
an Act of the Parliament are referred to authorized to constitute a constitution bench
and refer cases to it. A constitution bench
the Constitution Bench by the Supreme consists of at least five or more judges of the
Court. court which is set up to decide substantial
questions of law with regard to the
Select the correct answer using the interpretation of the constitution in a case.
code given below. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only Hence statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: C
 Question Explanation Difficulty Nature Source

1) International Relations (IR) is all about understanding how countries cooperate, compete,
‘The federal character of the Indian
4)and
Which one of the
manage following
their in Indianon
relationships the global stage. by following
polity is an essential feature that Polity is indicated
indicates that it is federal in character? features: Written Constitution,
Easy conceptual
(2021) Supremacy of the Constitution, Rigid
Constitution, Division of Powers,
(a) The independence of judiciary is Independent Judiciary, Bicameral
safeguarded. Legislature, Dual Government Polity,
(b) The Union Legislature has elected etc.
representatives from constituent units.
(c) The Union Cabinet can have elected So, option (A) is the correct answer.
representatives from regional parties.
(d) The Fundamental Rights are
enforceable by Courts of Law.

Ans: Option A
 Question Explanation Difficulty Nature Source
Delimitation
1) International Relations (IR) is all about understanding how countries cooperate, compete,
5) Which one of the following factors ‘Committed judiciary i.e. a judiciary
and manage
constitutes their
the best relationships
safeguard of libertyon the global
committed stage. of the government.
to the policies
in a liberal democracy? (2021) Such judiciary will never go against the Medium conceptual Laxmikanth
governments policies. Therefore, will not be Indian Polity
able to protect the liberty. So, option (a) is not
(a) A committed judiciary
correct. Centralization of power refers to a
(b) Centralization of powers setup in which the decision making powers
(c) Elected government are concentrated in a few leaders at the top of
(d) Separation of powers the organizational structure. Decisions are
made at the top and communicated to lower-
Ans: Option d level for implementation. This leads to
authoritarian tendencies, impacting the
liberty. So, option (b) is also not correct.
Elected government is representative of the
people. It is expected to ensure liberty. This is
not the best safeguard to ensure liberty.
Separation of power (executive, legislature
and judiciary) checks the abuse of power by
other organs. So, this helps in checking the
authoritarian tendencies. This is the best
safeguard to safeguard liberty. So, option (d)
is the correct answer.
 Question Explanation Difficulty Nature Source
Delimitation
1) International Relations (IR) is all about understanding how countries cooperate, compete,
6) Under the Indian Constitution, In Part IV (Directive Principles of
and manageof their
concentration wealthrelationships
violates. (2021)on the global stage.
State Policy) of the constitution, Article Polity: M.
conceptual Lakshmikanth and
39(c) says that, "the operation of the Easy Vision IAS
(a) the Right to Equality economic system does not result in the material
(b) the Directive Principles of State concentration of wealth and means of
Policy production to the common detriment."
(c) the Right to Freedom From the above statement, we can say
(d) the Concept of Welfare that concentration of wealth violates
DPSP. So, option (B) is the correct
Ans: Option B answer.
 Question Explanation Difficulty Nature Source
Delimitation
1) International Relations (IR) is all about understanding how countries cooperate, compete,
7) What was the exact constitutional In the original preamble, during 26th
and of
status manage
India ontheir
26th relationships
January, 1950? on the global stage.
January-1950, constitutional status of olity: M.
(a) A democratic Republic Factual Lakshmikanth and
India was a "Sovereign Democratic Easy Vision IAS
(b) A Sovereign Democratic Republic Republic." material
(c) A Sovereign Secular Democratic
Republic Later, with 42nd Constitutional
(d) A Sovereign Socialist Secular Amendment two more words were
Democratic Republic ( 2021) added to constitutional status of India,
i.e., "Socialist and Secular." Thus,
Ans: Option B option (b) is the correct answer.
 Question Explanation Difficulty Nature Source
Delimitation
1) International Relations (IR) is all about understanding how countries cooperate, compete,
8) The Constitutional government ‘Constitutionalism is a doctrine in
and manage their relationships on
means the global stage.
which a government’s authority is Polity: M.
Factual Lakshmikanth and
determined by a body of laws or Easy Vision IAS
a) a representative government of a constitution. Although material
nation with federal structure. constitutionalism or constitutional
government is sometimes regarded as
b) a government whose Head enjoys limited government. It is an effort to
nominal powers prevent arbitrary government. Hence,
the government is limited by the terms
c) a government whose Head enjoys of the constitution. So, option (d) is the
real powers. correct answer.

d) a government limited by the terms of

the Constitution. (2021)

Ans: Option D
 Question Explanation Difficulty Nature Source

1) International Relations (IR) is all about understanding how countries cooperate, compete,
9) A Parliamentary System of Thethe
Constitution of India has opted for
and manage their relationships on
Government is one in which
global stage. NCERT: Indian
the British Parliamentary form of Constitution At
Factual Work, Ch 4 Pg 83
Government. It is based on the principle Easy Laxmikanth:
a) all political parties in the Parliament of cooperation and coordination Indian Polity
are represented in the Government. between the legislative and executive
organs. The features of the
b)the Government is responsible to the Parliamentary government in India are:
parliament and can be removed by it. • Presence of nominal and real
executives
c) the Government is elected by the • Collective responsibility of the
people and can be removed by them executive to the legislature
• Membership of the ministers in the
(d) the Government is chosen by the legislature.
Parliament but cannot be removed by • Leadership of the Prime Minister
it before completion of a fixed term. or the Chief Minister
( 2020) • Dissolution of the lower house (Lok
Sabha or Assembly)
Ans: Option B
 Thanks
Dr. Shruti Joshi