GIST of India Year Book 2024
Chapter-3 : Polity
Short Notes or Revision Notes
The Indian Republic: A Sovereign Democracy
Nature of the Republic
- Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic with a parliamentary system.
- Constitution adopted in 1949 and enforced in 1950.
Executive Structure
- Federal:President as head, real power with Council of Ministers (Prime Minister and cabinet).
- States:Similar structure with Governor and Chief Minister.
Territorial Organization
- 28 states and 8 union territories (as of Oct 31, 2019, J&K reorganized).
Citizenship
- Single citizenship for all of India.
- Citizenship Act, 1955 governs acquisition, determination, and termination.
- Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 grants citizenship to specific religious minorities from neighboring countries.
Fundamental Rights and Duties
- Rights (Part III):Individual and collective freedoms, including equality, speech, and religion (justiciable).
- Duties (42nd Amendment):Responsibilities like upholding the Constitution, defending the nation, promoting harmony (not justiciable).
Directive Principles of State Policy
- Non-justiciable but fundamental principles guiding governance.
- Aim for welfare, social order, economic equality, and environmental protection.
Government Structure
- Union Executive:President, Vice-President, Council of Ministers (headed by Prime Minister).
- Legislature (Parliament):President, Rajya Sabha (upper house), Lok Sabha (lower house).
- Lok Sabha:Members directly elected by the people.
- Rajya Sabha:Members indirectly elected.
- Functions:Lawmaking, oversight, budget approval, grievance redressal.
Membership Qualifications
- Indian citizen with specific age requirements.
- Additional qualifications may be set by Parliament.
Parliamentary Powers
- Impeachment of President.
- Removal of judges, Chief Election Commissioner, Comptroller and Auditor General.
The Functioning of the Indian Parliament
Lawmaking and Oversight
- Bills require approval from both houses (Lok Sabha has more power in money bills).
- Parliament reviews delegated legislation.
- Parliament initiates constitutional amendments.
Committees
- Standing Committees:(Permanent)
- Financial Committees (scrutinize government spending).
- Department-related Committees (examine budgets, bills, reports).
- Other Committees (petitions, privileges, rules, etc.).
- Ad Hoc Committees:(Temporary)
- Formed for specific inquiries or bills.
Leaders of the Opposition
- Officially recognized in both houses (since 1977).
Government Business
- Coordinated by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.
- Maintains communication with presiding officers and party leaders.
Promoting Parliamentary Democracy
- Youth Parliament Competition:Instills democratic values in youth (introduced in 1966).
- All India Whips’ Conference:Strengthens cooperation among parties (established in 1952).
Raising Issues in Parliament
- Rule 377 (Lok Sabha) & Special Mentions (Rajya Sabha):MPs raise concerns with the government.
- OAMS (Online Assurance Monitoring System):Tracks follow-up on ministerial assurances.
Consultation and Transparency
- Consultative Committees:Informal discussions between MPs, Ministers, and officials.
- National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA):Promotes paperless functioning and easy access to documents.
International Relations
- Goodwill Delegations:MPs visit other countries to foster understanding.
Women’s Representation
- 73rd Amendment mandates 1/3rd reservation for women in Parliament, state assemblies, and Delhi’s legislative assembly.
- Seats rotate after delimitation to ensure diverse representation.
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
- Ensures accountability of the executive to the legislature.
- Audits finances of Union, state governments, and autonomous bodies.
- Current CAG: Shri Girish Chandra Murmu.
Legal Advisors
- Attorney General:Advises the Government of India, appointed by the President.
- Solicitor General:Assists the Attorney General and represents the government in court.
Administrative Structure
- Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961:Allocates government business among ministries.
- Cabinet Secretariat:Assists in decision-making, coordinates ministries, and ensures adherence to rules.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- Launched in 2013 for cash transfers under government schemes to beneficiaries.
- Universalized for central government schemes.
- States set up DBT Cells for coordination and customization.
Ministries and Departments
- Government functions through various ministries and departments.
- Numbers and focus areas vary based on needs and priorities.
- Examples: Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Culture, etc.
Chemical Weapons Convention
- CWC prohibits the development, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons.
- Overseen by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
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- India’s National Authority for CWC liaises with OPCW and fulfills treaty obligations.
Disaster Management and Grievance Redressal
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
- Established after the 1999 Gujarat earthquake.
- Lays down policies and plans for disaster management.
- Headed by the Prime Minister, with state-level SDMAs.
- Directorate of Public Grievances (DPG):
- Established in 1988 under the Cabinet Secretariat.
- Handles grievances after failed redressal attempts at ministries.
- Uses the Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (PGRAMS).
Government Recruitment and Personnel Management
- Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT):
- Formulates policies for government recruitment and personnel management.
- Cadre controlling authority for IAS and central secretariat services.
- Operates Central Staffing Scheme and coordinates training policies.
- Recruitment Agencies:
- UPSC:Conducts exams for higher civil services.
- SSC:Recruits subordinate staff and uses computer-based exams.
- National Recruitment Agency (NRA):
- Conducts Common Eligibility Test (CET) for various government posts.
- Aims for equity and inclusiveness in recruitment, especially in rural areas.
- Uses online Tier-I exams.
- Rozgar Mela:
- An initiative to fill central government vacancies and provide employment.
- Coordinated by DoPT with a target of 10 lakh youth recruited.
Transparency and Accountability
- Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005:
- Empowers citizens to request information from government bodies.
- Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG):
- Nodal agency for administrative reforms and public grievances.
- Oversees collaboration with states for better public service delivery.
- Utilizes AI/Machine Learning for grievance management.
- Centralized Public Grievances Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS):
- Enables online filing and monitoring of grievances.
Language and Inter-governmental Cooperation
- Official Language Policy:
- Promotes Hindi and English for official purposes.
- Department of Official Language oversees compliance and Hindi promotion.
- Inter-State Council and Zonal Councils:
- Facilitate coordination between states and the center on common interests.
State Level Governance
- Structure mirrors the central government with:
- Executive headed by Governor and Chief Minister.
- Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council (where applicable).
Election and Local Governance
- Election Commission of India (ECI):
- Conducts national and state elections, supervises for fairness.
- Local Government:
- Panchayats (rural) and Municipalities (urban) empowered by constitutional amendments (73rd & 74th).