I had started preparation in 2012, where every tom, dick and harry was suggesting me a book for India Polity. Even book-shop owner itself had suggested me several books without checking my requirement, my background, my strengths or weaknesses. And what is resulted into – I had following books for Indian Polity alone:
- Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
- Introduction to Constitution of India – D.D. Basu
- Our Parliament – Subhash Kashyap
- Bare Act – P. M. Bakshi
- Indian Polity – Spectrum
- Indian Constitution at Work – NCERT
When we start preparation of UPSC, first thing that comes to our mind is which all books required for preparation. And, then we start creating a library at home by keeping 5-6 books on each subject. But, we never try to analyse the demand of examination and we don’t study based on their expectations. This examination is not about compiling facts; it’s more scientific in nature. Strategic approach is the key to get success.
Therefore, I have tried to develop here an approach on how to prepare for Indian Polity for UPSC Examination. For that purpose, it is essential to know the essence of Indian Polity in examination. Analysis of previous year papers of prelims and mains examination brings down following specific points.
Analysis of Polity Questions in Prelims Examination:
Analysis of 2015 Test Paper:(There were 12 questions from the core sector of Indian Polity in Prelims examination.)
| Main Topic | Sub Topic |
| Questions on Parliament | · Parliamentary form of Government
· Prime Minister · Joint Sitting of Parliament · Powers of Rajya Sabha · Public Accounts Committee |
| Question on Fundamental Rights, DPSP and Fundamental Duties | · Idea of welfare state
· Fundamental duty of upholding and protecting the sovereignty · Principle of Directive Principle of State Policy |
| Question on Judiciary | · Custodian of the Constitution of India |
| Questions on Panchayats | · Fundamental object of Panchayati Raj |
| Articles and Schedules of Constitution | · Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 |
| Question on Legislative Council |
Analysis of 2014 Test Paper:
There were 11 questions from the core sector of Indian Polity in Prelims examination.
| Main Topic | Sub Topic |
| Questions on Parliament | · Largest Parliamentary committee
· Cabinet secretariat · No-confidence motion |
| Question on Fundamental Rights, DPSP and Fundamental Duties | · Article 51 of Indian Constitution |
| Question on Judiciary | · Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
· Power to increase number of judges in the supreme court |
| Questions on President/Governor | · Discretionary Power of Governor
· Executive actions of Governments by President |
| Articles and Schedules of Constitution | · Schedule of Anti-defection law |
| Question on Constitutional/Non-Constitutional Bodies | · Planning Commission |
| Miscellaneous | · Constitutional Form of Government |
Analysis of 2013 Test Paper:
There were 16 questions from the core sector of Indian Polity in Prelims examination.
| Questions on Parliament | · Parliamentary committee on Public Accounts
· Parliamentary form of Government · Ministers and Council of Ministers · Chairman and deputy Chairman of Rajyasabha · Money Bill provisions |
| Question on Fundamental Rights, DPSP and Fundamental Duties | · Economic Justice
· Fundamental things for governance |
| Question on Judiciary | · One part of question was based on High court judges |
| Questions on President/Governor | · One part of question is based on Function of Governor |
| Questions on Panchayats | · Constitutional Provision of Panchayats |
| Question on Constitutional/Non-Constitutional Bodies | · National Development Council
· National Legal Service Authority · Attorney General · NDC/Planning Commission/Zonal Council |
| Historical Background of Constitution | · Formation of constituent assembly |
| Question on Union Territory | · One part of question is based on Union Territory |
| Centre-State Relations | · Centre’s power to make laws on subjects listed in state list |
Analysis of 2012 Test Paper:
There were 15 questions from the core sector of Indian Polity in Prelims examination.
| Questions on Parliament | · Adjournment motion
· Role of Lok Sabha Speaker · Special powers of Rajya Sabha · Parliamentary control over Public Finances · Joint sitting of Parliament · Appointment of Prime Minister |
| Question on Fundamental Rights, DPSP and Fundamental Duties | · Which are Gandhian principles of DPSP?
· Fundamental duties |
| Question on Judiciary | · Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
· Provisions to safeguard the autonomy of Supreme Court |
| Questions on President/Governor | · Duty of President |
| Questions on Election | · Purpose of Delimitation Commission |
| Question on Constitutional/Non-Constitutional Bodies | · Comptroller and Auditor General |
| Question on Union Territory | · Union Territory in Rajya Sabha |
| Centre-State Relations | · Distribution of Power between centre and state |
This analysis of Prelims paper indicates that UPSC has some favourite topics in Indian Polity, which keeps on repeating every time in prelims examination. Therefore, such topics should be prepared with full concentration to get an edge over other candidates. Those topics can be prepared from either books, but Laxmikant has provided it in detail, and it has established itself as authority. So, laxmikant alone would be sufficient to cover these topics.
Crux of Analysis of Previous Year Papers on Indian Polity
- Indian Parliament (Most important part of Indian Polity for Prelims) – (Chapter of Laxmikant on Parliament is concise and sufficient)
There are always questions in prelims from Parliament which can revolve around Ministers, Council of Ministers, Prime Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Parliamentary Terms, Parliamentary Committees, Parliamentary Privileges, Bills – like finance bill, money bill. All these sections of Parliament make it the most important part of Indian Polity.
- Constitutional and Non-Constitutional Body – (ForumIAS article on constitutional and Non-Constitutional body is sufficient)
This is again one of the most favourite topics of UPSC in prelims, where questions are usually from Election Commission, CAG, Attorney General, Finance Commission, NITI Aayog, Human Rights Commission, Central Vigilance commission, Lokpal and Lokayuktas.
- Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles of State Policy –(Read Article 13 to Article 51A of Indian Constitution; Chapter 7, 8 and 9 of Laxmikant would be more than sufficient).
These are the most important articles of Indian Constitution where Civil Services prelims examination has always questions related to FR, DPSP and Fundamental Duties. There is mostly one question from fundamental duties in paper.
- Historical Background and Making of Constitution (Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of Laxmikant)
Various Charter and Act of British Rule, eg. – Govt of India Act, 1909, 1919 and 1935 are very important from prelims point of view. Apart from it, questions are being asked on Constituent Assembly regulary.
- President/Governor – (Chapter 17 and Chapter 26 of Laxmikant)
This is again a hot favourite topic of UPSC. Where functions of President or Governor are regularly asked. Therefore, Election of President, Qualification for President, Impeachment of President, Powers and Functions of President, Different types of Veto Power of President, Ordinance Making Power of President, Pardoning Power of President must be carefully read. Similarly, Power of Governor, comparative power of Governor with President must be prepared.
- Indian Judiciary – (Supreme Court and High Court) (Chapter 25 and Chapter 30 of Laxmikant)
Questions on Indian Judiciary are quite frequent in prelims paper. Therefore, following topics should be prepared in Indian Judiciary Chapter – Appointment of Judges, Jurisdiction of Courts, Judicial Independence and Power of Judicial Review.
- Centre-State Relations (Federal Structure) – (Chapter 14 of Laxmikant)
This is an important topic of Prelims as well as mains examination. Therefore, Legislative relations (Art. 246 to Art. 254 of Indian Constitution), Financial Relations (Especially Taxes levied by Centre and Taxes levied by state), distribution of revenues between centre and state should be prepared.
- Union Territory and Special Areas – (Chapter 36 and Chapter 37 of Laxmikant)
Administration of Union Territories, Special Provisions for Delhi, Administration of Tribal Areas, Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 areas as per constitution)
- Panchayati Raj and Municipalities – (Chapter 34 and Chapter 35 of Laxmikant)
Important topics of Panchayati Raj are Evolution of Panchayati Raj, 73rd and 74th amendment of constitution, Salient Features of Panchayati Raj system, Functional items placed in Panchayati Raj system, Types of Urban bodies. These topics should be prepared comprehensively.
- Articles and Schedules of Constitution –
(Following articles with article number of Indian Constitution must be memorized by aspirants)
| Article Number | Deals with |
| Art. 1 | Name and territory of the Union |
| Art. 3 | Formation of new states and alteration of areas of existing state |
| Art. 13 | Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the fundamental rights |
| Art. 14 | Equality before Law |
| Art. 16 | Equality of oppurtunity in matters of public employment |
| Art. 17 | Abolition of Untouchability |
| Art. 19 | Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc. |
| Art. 21 | Protection of Life and Personal liberty |
| Art. 21A | Right to elementary education |
| Art. 25 | Right to freedom of religion |
| Art. 30 | Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institution |
| Art. 31C | Saving of laws giving effect to certain directive principles |
| Art. 32 | Remedies for enforcement of fundamental rights including writs |
| Art. 39A | Free Legal Aid |
| Art. 40 | Organization of village panchayats |
| Art. 44 | Uniform civil code for the citizens |
| Art. 45 | Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of 6 years |
| Art. 46 | Promotion of educational and economic interests of schedule castes, schedule tribes and other weaker sections |
| Art. 47 | Duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and standard of living and to improve public health |
| Art. 48 | Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandary |
| Art. 48A | Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life |
| Art. 50 | Separation of Judiciary from Executive |
| Art. 51 | Promotion of International peace and security |
| Art. 51A | Fundamental Duties |
| Art. 72 | Power of president to grant pardons, etc. and to suspend, remit or commute |
| Art. 74 | Council of ministers to aid and advise the president |
| Art. 78 | Duties of prime minister as respects the furnishing of information to the president |
| Art. 123 | Power of president to promulgate ordinances during recess of Parliament |
| Art. 131 | Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court |
| Art. 143 | Power of president to consult Supreme Court |
| Art. 161 | Power of governor to grant pardons, etc. and to suspend, remit or commute sentence |
| Art. 169 | Abolition or creation of legislative councils in states |
| Art. 200 | Assent to bills by governor (including reservation for President) |
| Art. 213 | Power of governor to promulgate ordinances during recess of the state legislatures |
| Art. 226 | Power of high courts to issue certain writs |
| Art. 239AA | Special provisions with respect to Delhi |
| Art. 249 | Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List in the national interest |
| Art. 262 | Adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers or river valleys |
| Art. 263 | Provisions with respect to an inter-state council |
| Art. 275 | Grants from the Union to certain states |
| Art. 280 | Finance Commission |
| Art. 300A | Persons not to be deprived of property save by authority of law (Right to Property) |
| Art. 311 | Dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities |
| Art. 312 | All India Services |
| Art. 320 | Functions of Public Service Commission |
| Art. 323A | Administrative tribunals |
| Art. 324 | Election Commission |
| Art. 352 | Proclamation of Emergency (National Emergency) |
| Art. 356 | Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in states (President’s Rule) |
| Art. 360 | Financial Emergency |
| Art. 365 | Effect of failure to comply with, or to give effect to, directions given by Union |
| Art. 368 | Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure therefor |
| Art. 370 | Temporary provisions with respect to the state of Jammu and Kashmir |
| Schedule | Deals with |
| First Schedule | Name of the states and Union Territories and their territorial jurisdiction |
| Second Schedule | Provisions related to salary, allowances, privileges and so on. |
| Third Schedule | Forms of Oaths or Affirmation |
| Fourth Schedule | Allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha to the states and Union Territories |
| Fifth Schedule | Administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes |
| Sixth Schedule | Administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram |
| Seventh Schedule | Division of powers between the Union and the States in form of Union List, State List and Concurrent List. |
| Eight Schedule | Languages recognised by Constitution (Originally-14, Presently-22) |
| Ninth Schedule | Acts and Regulations of the state legislature dealing with land reforms |
| Tenth Schedule | Disqualification of MPs or MLAs on ground of Defection. (Anti-Defection) |
| Eleventh Schedule | Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats |
| Twelfth Schedule | Power, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities. |
- Sources of Indian Constitution (Bag of Borrowings)
| S. No. | Source | Features Borrowed |
| 1. | Govt. of India Act, 1935 | Federal Structure, Office of governor, Judiciary, Public Service Commission, Emergency Provisions, Administrative details (2/3rd of constitution borrowed from GoI Act, 1935) |
| 2. | British Constitution | Parliamentary Government, Rule of Law, Legislative procedure, Single Citizenship, Cabinet system, Prerogative writs, Parliamentary Privileges and bicameralism. |
| 3. | US Constitution | Fundamental Rights, Independence of Judiciary, Judicial review, impeachment of president, removal of supreme court and high court judges, post of vice-president. |
| 4. | Irish Constitution | Directive Principles of State Policy, nomination of members to Rajya Sabha, Method of election of President. |
| 5. | Canadian Constitution | Federation with strong centre, Residuary power with centre, Advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court |
| 6. | Australian Constitution | Concurrent List, Freedom of trade, Joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament |
| 7. | Weimar Constitution of Germany | Emergency Provisions |
| 8. | Soviet Constitution | Fundamental Duties |
| 9. | Japanese Constitution | Procedure established by Law. |
Hereby, I have tried to compile a list of topics which must be prepared comprehensively in Indian Polity for prelims examination. There are some other minor segments which should only be prepared after complete command on these topics. But, overall command on above listed items would be sufficient to answer questions on Indian polity in prelims examination.
This article is written by ForumIAS Member currently serving in the Allied Services.
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