Constitution and Political System PYQs (1995 - 2023)

Preamble of Indian Constitution

WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of individual and the unity and integrity of the nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

Extra constitutional and extra-legal device - non-constitutional bodies in India (Statutory and Non-Statutory)

1. Do not derive powers from constitution.
2. It derives powers from law passed by the Parliament and Executive resolution.
3. Based on how their power derived it is classified into two types -
• Statutory Bodies
• Regulatory Bodies
• Quasi-judicial bodies
• Non Statutory Bodies

National Developmental Council

The Governor's Councils

Zonal Councils

Inter-State Councils

Important Constitutional Amendment Act

1. 01st - Added 9th schedule.
2. 08th -
3. 09th - 
4. 18th - Accepting the recommendations of 10th finance commission.
5. 42nd - 
6. 44th - Empowers president to send back any matter for reconsideration by the councils of Ministers.
7. 52nd - Anti-defection law (10th Schedule)
8. 59th - President shall not be the member of either house of the parliament.
9. 69th - According to the status of National Capital Territory of Delhi.
10. 75th - Establishment of state level rent tribunals.
11. 
    
12. 79th - Parliament shall consist of president and two houses.
13. 73rd - Panchayati Raj
14. 83rd - No reservation for schedule caste in Panchayat in Village or other local level.
15. 93rd - Free and Compulsory education for all children between the age of 6 and 14.

Important Acts

1. Representation of Peoples (Amendment) Act 1996

Schedules of the Constitution

1. 1st - List of states and Union Territories
2. 2nd - Emolument, allowances and privileges of -
• President
• Governor
• Speaker and Deputy Speaker (LS and LA)
• The Chairman and Deputy Chairman (RS and LC)
• Judges of SC and HC
• CAG
3. 3rd - Oath and affirmations
• Union and State ministers
• Candidate of election of Parliament and SLA
• MP and MLA
• Judges of SC and HC
• CAG
4. 4th - Provides number of seats allocated for States and UTs in council of states (RS).
5. 5th - Administration of control of SA and ST
   
6. 6th - Administering tribal areas in the States of - Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. 
7. 7th - List for determining the legislative authority - Union, States and Concurrent List
8. 8th - List of recognized languages in India - Originally 14 languages in the schedule but presently it contains 22 languages. 
9. 9th - Added by First Constitutional Amendment Act 1951. To protect certain acts and regulations from being declared void on the ground of violating Fundamental Rights.
10. 10th - Anti-defection law (Added by 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act)
11. 11th - Panchayati Raj (Power, Authority and Responsibility) - 73rd Amendment Act 1992
12. 12th - Municipalities (Power, Authority and Responsibility) - 74th Amendment Act 1992

Constitutional amendment possible only with the ratification of the legislature of not less than one half of the state.

1. Election of President (Article 54 and 55)
2. Extent of executive power of Union (Article 73)
3. Extent of executive power of States (Article 162)
4. Provision relating to HC of Union Territories (Article 241)
5. Provision relating to Union Judiciary (Chapter IV of Part V of the Constitution)
6. Distribution of Legislative power between Union and States. (Chapter 1 of Part XI of the constitution)
7. Three list in 7th Schedule
8. Representation of states in Parliament (Article 80, 81 and 82 and the Fourth Schedule)
9. The amending clause itself (Article 368)

Not explicitly stated in constitution of India but followed as a convention.

1. PM has to resign if he loses the majority in lower house.
2. If President is from the North, then Vice President should be from South and vice versa.
3. If Speaker of Lok Sabha is from ruling party, Deputy Speaker should be from opposition party.

Important Articles

1. Article 14 - Equality before the law and equal protection of law.
2. Article 15 - State shall not discriminate any citizens on the ground of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
3. Article 16(2) - No person can be discriminated against in the matter of public appointment on the ground of religion, race or caste.
4. Article 17 - Abolition of Untouchability
5. Article 24 - No child below the age of 14 years shall be engaged in hazardous employment.
6. Article 29 - Religious Minorities
• Article 29(2) - No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by state, or receiving state aid, on ground of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.
7. Article 30 - Linguistic Minorities
• Article 30(1) - All religious and linguistic minorities shall establish and administer educational institution of their choice.
8. Article 31(1) - No person shall be deprived of his property save by the authority of law.
9. Article 45
10. Article 54 - Election of President of India
11. Articles of DPSP
• 41
• 43A - 
• 48A -
• 51 - Promotion of International Peace and Security
12. Article 75 - Appointment of the Prime Ministers
13. Article 121
14. Article 122
15. Article 123 - President has to give her assent to the ordinance on electoral reform when it is sent back to him by the Union Cabinet.
16. Article 124
17. Article 142
18. Article 143 - Power of President to consult the Supreme Court.
19. Article 144
20. Article 145
21. Article 155 - Appointment of the governor of state.
22. Article 156 - Governor shall hold office for the term of five years.
23. Article 164 - Appointment of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of States.
24. Article 170 - Composition of Legislative Assembly
25. Article 215
26. Article 275
27. Article 325
28. Article 330
29. Article 355 - It shall be the duty of Union to protect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance.
30. Article 359 -
31. Article 350 -
32. Article 350 A -
33. Article 351 -
34. Article 368 - Constitutional Amendment

Important Topics

1. Socio economic democracy - DPSP
2. Political Democracy - Fundamental Rights
3. Social Democracy
4. Gandhian Democracy