Complete Indian Polity (भारतीय राजव्यवस्था) Revision | Last Minute Revision | UPSC Prelims 2025

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics in Indian Polity, particularly tailored for those preparing for the UPSC Prelims 2025. It distills the essential points from the video, ensuring a structured approach to revision that is both effective and efficient.

Step 1: Understand the Constitution of India

• Preamble: Familiarize yourself with its significance and components such as Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Sovereignty, and Secularism.
• Historical Background: Learn about the Regulating Acts, Government of India Acts, and the Indian Independence Act.
• Salient Features: Note characteristics like the length of the Constitution, its flexibility, parliamentary system, and federal structure.
• Schedules and Parts: Understand the different parts of the Constitution and their roles.

Step 2: Study Fundamental Rights

• Articles: Focus on Articles 12 to 35.
• Key Cases: Review important judicial cases like the Kesavananda Bharati and Maneka Gandhi cases.
• Rights: Understand the Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, and Right to Constitutional Remedies.
• Restrictions: Be aware of the limitations imposed on Fundamental Rights.

Step 3: Explore Directive Principles of State Policy

• Articles: Cover Articles 36 to 51.
• Classification: Learn the distinctions between Socialist, Gandhian, and Liberal-Intellectual principles.
• Difference from Fundamental Rights: Grasp how DPSPs differ from Fundamental Rights and their judicial interpretations.

Step 4: Review Fundamental Duties

• Article 51A: Memorize the list of Fundamental Duties and their significance.
• Swaran Singh Committee: Understand its role in establishing Fundamental Duties.

Step 5: Analyze the Union and State Executive

• President: Study the election process, powers, impeachment process, and pardoning powers.
• Vice-President: Learn about the election and functions.
• Prime Minister: Understand the powers, functions, and relationship with the President.
• Council of Ministers: Review roles and collective responsibility.
• Governor: Examine powers, functions, and relationship with the Chief Minister.

Step 6: Understand Parliament and State Legislatures

• Composition: Familiarize yourself with the structure of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• Types of Bills: Distinguish between Ordinary Bills, Money Bills, Financial Bills, and Constitutional Amendment Bills.
• Parliamentary Committees: Note the roles of committees like the Public Accounts Committee and the Estimates Committee.
• Legislative Procedures: Understand the processes for passing bills and the concept of Joint Sessions.

Step 7: Study the Judiciary

• Supreme Court: Learn about its composition, powers, jurisdiction, judicial review, and activism.
• High Courts: Understand their jurisdiction and writ jurisdiction.
• Judicial Independence: Familiarize yourself with the appointment and removal processes for judges.
• Public Interest Litigation: Grasp the significance of PILs in the legal system.

Step 8: Explore the Federal Structure

• Centre-State Relations: Study legislative, administrative, and financial relations.
• Inter-State Council and Zonal Councils: Understand their roles.
• Emergency Provisions: Review the implications of President’s Rule and National Emergency.

Step 9: Learn about Constitutional and Non-Constitutional Bodies

• Constitutional Bodies: Know the roles of the Election Commission, UPSC, Finance Commission, and National Human Rights Commission.
• Non-Constitutional Bodies: Familiarize yourself with organizations like NITI Aayog and National Development Council.

Step 10: Review Amendments to the Constitution

• Amendment Procedure: Understand the process outlined in Article 368.
• Key Amendments: Focus on significant amendments like the 42nd, 44th, 73rd, 74th, and 101st amendments.
• Basic Structure Doctrine: Study the implications of the Kesavananda Bharati case.

Step 11: Understand Local Governance

• 73rd and 74th Amendments: Learn about Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
• Powers of Local Bodies: Understand the functions of Gram Sabha, Zila Parishad, and Municipalities.

Step 12: Review Emergency Provisions

• National Emergency: Focus on Article 352.
• President’s Rule: Understand Article 356 implications.
• Financial Emergency: Review Article 360 and its effects on Fundamental Rights.

Step 13: Study Citizenship

• Articles: Familiarize yourself with Articles 5 to 11.
• Citizenship Act: Understand the modes of acquiring and losing citizenship, including recent developments like the CAA 2019.

Step 14: Explore Elections and Electoral Reforms

• Representation of People Act: Learn about the key provisions of the Acts of 1950 and 1951.
• Electoral Reforms: Understand concepts like NOTA, VVPAT, and the One Nation One Election debate.
• Role of Election Commission: Familiarize yourself with its responsibilities and the Model Code of Conduct.

Step 15: Review Important Constitutional Cases

• Key Cases: Study landmark cases such as Kesavananda Bharati, Minerva Mills, Shah Bano, and S.R. Bommai.

Step 16: Understand Schedules of the Indian Constitution

• Key Schedules: Focus on significant schedules like the 7th Schedule for division of powers and the 9th Schedule for laws protected from judicial review.

Conclusion

This guide provides a structured approach to revising Indian Polity for the UPSC Prelims 2025. By understanding these critical topics and their implications, you'll be better prepared for your exam. Consider creating a study schedule to cover each section thoroughly, and practice past exam questions to test your understanding.