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CONSTITUTION1. & IT’S TYPES .......................... 10What is a Constitution? ........................................10Types of Constitution? .........................................10Functions of the Constitution ...............................11

EVOLUTION2. OF THE CONSTITUTION ................. 12Regulating Act, 1773 ...........................................12Amending Act, 1781 ............................................12Pitt’s India Act, 1784 ............................................13Act of 1786 .........................................................13Charter Act, 1793 ................................................13Charter Act, 1813 ................................................13Charter Act, 1833 ................................................14Charter Act, 1853 ................................................14Government of India Act, 1858 .............................14Indian Councils Act, 1861 ....................................15Indian Councils Act, 1892 ....................................15Indian Councils Act, 1909 ....................................16Government of India Act, 1919 .............................16Simon Commission .............................................17Government of India Act, 1935 .............................18Indian Independence Act, 1947 ............................18

SOURCES OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION3. ......... 23Seminal Sources .................................................23External Sources .................................................23Developmental Sources .......................................25Constitutional Practices .......................................25

SALIENT FEATURES OF4. INDIAN CONSTITUTION .... 26

TYPES OF MAJORITIES AS PER5. THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION ............................................... 28

Absolute Majority (50% of total strength) ..............28Effective Majority (>50% of present) .....................28Simple Majority (>50% of P&V) .............................28Special Majority ..................................................29

PREAMBLE & VALUES OF THE CONSTITUTION6. ... 31The objectives which are laid down in the preamble 32Whether the preamble is a part of the constitution or not? ....................................................................32Whether Preamble can be amended or not? ..........32Ideals (mentioned in preamble) ............................32

UNION & ITS TERRITORY7. .................................. 34Article 1: Name and territory of the Union .............34

Committees/commissions for State Re-organisation 34Article 2: Admit or Establish new state .................35Article 3: Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States ......35Article 4: Laws made under articles 2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of the First and the Fourth Schedule and supplemental, incidental & consequential matters. ........................................36Recent Developments ..........................................37

Renaming of A&N Islands ............................... 37

Renaming of West Bengal ............................... 37

CITIZENSHIP8. ................................................... 38Constitutional provisions of Citizenship ................38The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2016 ...............40Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens ...........40Indian Diaspora ...................................................40Pravasi Bhartiya Divas .........................................40Non-Resident Indians ...........................................41Recent Developments ..........................................41

Assam Accord ............................................... 41

National Register of Citizens for Assam .......... 42

Demand for National Register of Citizens for Tripura: .......................................................... 43

Bru Refugees ................................................. 43

Chin Refugees ................................................ 43

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS9. ................................... 45Certain Features of the Fundamental Rights ..........45Article 12: Deals with the defi nition of ‘State’ which includes- ...................................................46Article 13: Laws inconsistence with FRs ...............46Article 14: Equality before the law or the Equal protection of law .................................................47Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth .. 48Article 16: Equality of Opportunity in matters of Public Employment ..............................................48Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability ...................49Recent Developments ..........................................49

Women’s Entry into Sabrimala Temple ............. 49

Verdict on Section 377 ................................... 49

Reservation in Promotions for SCs and STs ..... 50

Quota in Promotions for SC / ST ..................... 51

Transgender Bill 2016 ..................................... 51

UNIT - I (CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK)

CONTENTS

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Economical Weaker Sections in J&K ............... 52Article 18: Abolition of Titles ................................52Article 19 ............................................................53Article 20: (Protection in respect of conviction for offenses) ............................................................54Recent Developments ..........................................54

Double Jeopardy ............................................ 54Article 21: Protection of Life and Personal Liberty .54Recent Developments ..........................................55

Legal Entity for Animal Kingdom ..................... 55Article 22: Protection against Arrest and Detention .... 56Article 23: Prohibition of Traffi c in human beings and forced labour ......................................................57Article 24: Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc. ......................................................57Recent Developments ..........................................57

Swayangsiddha .............................................. 57Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion .....................58Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs ....58Article 27: Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion ......................59Article 28: Freedom from attendance religious instructions or worship in educational institutions 59Recent Developments ..........................................60

Religious Minority Status to Jews ................... 60

Minority Status to Lingayats ........................... 60Article 29: Protection of interest of Minorities .......60Article 30: Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions ......................60Article 31: Abolition of right to property and saving of certain law ..........................................................61Article 32: Right to Constitutional Remedies .........61Article 33 ............................................................63Article 34 ............................................................64Article 35 ............................................................64Article 35A ..........................................................64Recent Developments ..........................................65

J & K and Article 35A ..................................... 65

SC / ST Reservation only in Home States ......... 65

Exceptions to Fundamental Rights ........................66

Validation of Certain Acts and Regulations ...........67

Saving of Laws Giving Effect to Certain Directive Principles ............................................................68

DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES10. OF STATE POLICY (DPSP) ..70

Article 36 ............................................................70

Article 37 ............................................................71

Article 38 ............................................................71

Article 39 ............................................................71

Article 39A ..........................................................71

Article 40 ............................................................71

Article 41 ............................................................71

Article 42 ............................................................72

Article 43 ............................................................72

Article 44 A .........................................................72

Article 44 ............................................................72

Article 45 ............................................................72

Article 46 ............................................................72

Article 47 ............................................................72

Article 48 ............................................................73

Article 48-A .........................................................73

Article 49 ............................................................73

Article 50 ............................................................73

Article 51 ............................................................73

FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES11. .................................... 75

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION12. ............... 77

DOCTRINE & TERMS13.

Doctrine of Severability ........................................82

Validity of Pre-Constitutional Laws .......................82

Doctrine of Eclipse ..............................................82

Doctrine of Harmonious Construction ...................82

Doctrine of Pith and Substance ............................82

Doctrine of Colourable Legislation ........................83

Doctrine of Laches ..............................................83

TYPES OF1. POLITICAL SYSTEM ......................... 85Types of Political System .....................................85Types of Government ...........................................86Features of the Parliamentary System ..................86Features of the Presidential System .....................87Features of the Semi-Presidential System .............87

EMERGENCY PROVISIONS2. ................................ 89National Emergency .............................................89Financial Emergency ............................................92

Sarkaria Commission Recommendations on State Emergency ..........................................................93S. R. Boommai Vs UoI Case .................................93Punchhi Commission (2008) ................................93National Commission for Reviewing The Working of Constitution (2002) .........................................93

CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS3. .............................. 95Legislative Relations (Article 245) ........................95Related to Territorial Powers ...............................95Related to Legislative Powers ..............................95

UNIT - II (SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT)

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Related to Parliament’s Powers to Make Laws in State ...............................................................96

Sarkaria Commission’s Opinion on Legislative Relations ............................................................97

Administrative Relations ......................................98

Sarkaria Commission’s Opinion on Administrative Relations ............................................................99

Financial Relations ..............................................99

National Integration Council ...............................105

Recent Developments ........................................105

Restricted Areas Permit ................................ 105

Nagaland under AFSPA ................................. 106

More Powers to Autonomous Councils .......... 106

North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme ................................... 107

UNIT - III (CENTRAL GOVERNMENT)

PRESIDENT1. ................................................... 109Eligibility ...........................................................109Conditions of Offi ce ...........................................109Terms of Offi ce .................................................109Election ............................................................110Manner of Election ............................................110Value of a vote and securing parity .....................110Impeachment of the President ...........................111Vacancy in the Offi ce of President ......................111Powers of The President ....................................112

A. Executive Powers ..................................... 112

B. LEGISLATIVE POWERS .............................. 114

C. JUDICIAL / PARDONING POWER ............... 115

D. MILITARY ................................................. 116

E. DIPLOMATIC ........................................... 116

F. EMERGENCY POWERS ............................... 116

G. Discretionary Power of the President ........ 118Recent Developments ........................................118

Pardoning of Convicts .................................. 118

Draft Resolution on Death Penalty ................. 119

VICE-PRESIDENT2. ........................................... 120Qualifi cations ....................................................120Conditions of Offi ce ...........................................120Term of Offi ce ...................................................120Election ............................................................121Removal ............................................................121Vacancy ............................................................121Functions of the Vice-President ..........................122

THE PRIME MINISTER3. .................................... 123Appointment .....................................................123Eligibility ...........................................................123Powers and Functions of the Prime Minister .......123Relationship between the President and Prime Minister ...................................................125Deputy Prime Minister .......................................125Prime Minister’s Offi ce (PMO) ............................125

UNION COUNCIL4. OF MINISTER ........................ 126Article 74—Council of Ministers to aid and advice President ..........................................................126

Article75—Other Provisions as to Ministers ........126Article 77- Conduct of Business of the Government of India .................................................................126Article 78 - Duties of the Prime Minister .............127Nature of Advice by the Ministers .......................127Strength of the Council ......................................127Appointment of a Non-legislator as a Minister ....128Collective Responsibility of the Ministers ............128Individual Responsibility of Ministers .................128Cabinet .............................................................128

UNION LEGISLATURE5. ..................................... 130Organisation of Parliament ................................130Qualifi cations and disqualifi cations for being a Member of Parliament (Article 84) .....................130Disqualifi cations for becoming a member ...........130Functions of the Parliament ...............................131Functioning of the Parliament ............................131Recent Developments ........................................133

Lacunas in Parliamentary Functioning in India 133Parliamentary Privileges & Immunities ................136Collective Privileges of the House ......................137Individual Privileges ..........................................138Houses of the Parliament ..................................138Lok Sabha Composition .....................................138Rajya Sabha Composition ..................................138Presiding Offi cers of the Parliament ...................139Speaker ............................................................139Deputy Speaker .................................................141Panel of Chairpersons of Lok Sabha ...................142Speaker Pro Tem ...............................................142Chairman of Rajya Sabha ...................................142Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha ........................143Panel of Vice-Chairpersons of Rajya Sabha .........143Leaders in Parliament ........................................143Legislative Procedure in Parliament ...................144Recent Developments ........................................145

Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) ....................................... 145

Bill on Right to Recall Legislators .................. 145

Private Bill ................................................... 146

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Ordinary Bill ......................................................146Money Bill .........................................................147Financial Bills ....................................................149Constitution Amendment Bill ..............................150Lapsing of Bills .................................................150Annual Financial Statement: Budget (Art. 112) ....151Recent Developments ........................................151

Vote on Account (VoA) ................................. 151

Demand of Grants .............................................151Appropriation Bill ..............................................152Various Cut Motions as Moved in Lok Sabha .......152Stages in Enactment of Budget ..........................152Other Grants ......................................................153Related Information of Budget ...........................154Parliamentary Committees .................................155All India Services (AIS) ......................................157Central Services ................................................157Constitutional Safeguards to Civil Services .........157Recent Developments ........................................158

National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 ....... 158

Consultative Committee of Parliament .......... 158

JUDICIARY6. .................................................... 160The Supreme Court ............................................160Chief Justice of India .........................................161Acting Chief Justice of India ..............................161Appointment of Supreme Court Judges .............161

Qualifi cations for Supreme Court Judges ............161Process of Impeachment ...................................162Adhoc and Retired Judges .................................162Retired Judges ..................................................162Recent Developments ........................................163

Judges’ retirement age ................................. 163

Salaries and Allowances of Supreme Court Judges 163Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court ......................163Original Jurisdiction ..........................................163Writ Jurisdiction ................................................164Appeallate Jurisdiction ......................................164Advisory Jurisdiction .........................................165Judicial Independence .......................................165A Court of Record ..............................................166Judiciary Executive Relations .............................167All India Judicial Service ....................................169e-Governance in Judiciary ..................................169Judicial Impact Assessment ..............................169Judges Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010 .....169National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) .........170Recent Developments ........................................170

The Supreme Court Judgment on Aadhaar Validity .................................................................. 170

Supreme Court’s Judgement on Dowry .......... 171

Supreme Court Verdict on Adultery ............... 172

The Collegium and Transparency .................. 172

UNIT - IV (STATE GOVERNMENT)

GOVERNOR1. ................................................... 175Article 152: Defi nition ........................................175Article 153: Governors of States ........................175Article 154: Executive power of State .................175Powers of Governor ...........................................175Legislative Power ..............................................176Financial Power .................................................179Judicial Power ..................................................179Discretionary Powers .........................................180Article 155: Appointment of Governor .................180Article 156: Term of Offi ce of Governor ...............181Article 157: Qualifi cations for Appointment as Governor ...........................................................181Article 158: Conditions of Governor’s offi ce ........182Article 159: Oath or Affi rmation by the Governor .182Article 160: Discharge of the functions of the Governor in certain contingencies .....................................182Article 161 ........................................................183Article 162: Extent of executive power of State ...183ARC ..................................................................184Sarkaria Commission .........................................184

National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution ......................................................184

THE CHIEF MINISTER &2. THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ................................................................... 185

Powers and Functions of Chief Minister ..............185Composition of the Council of Ministers .............186Responsibility of Ministers .................................187

STATE LEGISLATURE3. .................................... 189Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) .................189Powers and Functions .......................................189Speaker & Deputy Speaker .................................190Parliament’s Control over State Legislature .........190Legislative Council (Article 169) .........................191Qualifi cations ....................................................191Powers and Functions of Legislative Council ......192The Advocate General (Article 165) ....................192Recent Developments ........................................193

Disqualifi cation of MLA ................................ 193

STATE JUDICIARY4. ......................................... 194The High Courts ................................................194

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UNIT - V (LOCAL GOVERNMENT)

UNIT - VI (UNION TERRITORIES & SPECIAL AREAS)

UNIT - VII (CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES)

Recent Developments ........................................194

Separate High Courts ................................... 194

Common High Courts in India ....................... 194

Appointments of the Judges ..............................195Removal of Judges ............................................195Qualifi cations for Judges ...................................195Transfer of a Judges between High Courts .........196Jurisdiction of the High Courts ...........................196Original Jurisdiction ..........................................196Appellate Jurisdiction ........................................196Writ Jurisdiction ................................................197A Court of Record ..............................................197Administrative Functions ...................................197Control over Subordinate Courts ........................198Independence of the High Court .........................198Subordinate Courts ............................................200Gram Nyayalayas Act,2008 .................................200Alternative Dispute Resolution ...........................200

Lok Adalat ........................................................201

SPECIAL STATUS OF5. JAMMU & KASHMIR ........ 202Separate Constitution ........................................202Exceptions Provided ..........................................202Some Exceptions ...............................................203Recent Developments ........................................203

President’s Rule ........................................... 203

Jammu Kashmir: Roshni Act ......................... 204

Abrogation of Article 370 ...................................204

SPECIAL PROVISIONS OFOTHER STATES6. ........ 208Provisions For Maharashtra and Gujarat .............208Provisions For Nagaland ....................................208Provisions For Assam and Manipur ....................209Provisions For Andhra Pradesh or Telangana ......209Provisions For Sikkim ........................................210Provisions For Mizoram .....................................210Provisions For Arunachal Pradesh and Goa .........210Provisions For Karnataka ...................................211

PANCHAYATI RAJ & URBAN LOCAL BODIES1. ..... 213Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies ..............213Salient Features of 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 ....213

PESA( Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996 ..........................................................214Salient Features Of 74 TH Amendment Act Of 1992 ..215

UNION TERRITORIES & SPECIAL AREAS1. .......... 218Union Territories ................................................218Administration of Union Territories .....................218

Special Provisions for Delhi ...............................219Scheduled and Tribal Areas ................................220

CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES1. ............................. 223Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) ...........223State Public Service Commission (SPSC) ............224Joint State Public Service Commission (JSPSC) .225National Commission For SCs ............................226National Commission For STs ............................226Special Offi cer for Linguistic Minorities ..............227Recent Developments ........................................228

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) ........................................................ 228

Finance Commission .........................................228Fifteenth Finance Commission ...........................229Comptroller & Auditor General of India ................230Attorney-General of India ...................................231Solicitor General of India ....................................232Restrictions of Private Practice ..........................232 The Election Commission & Elections ...............233

Powers vested in Election Commission ..............233Composition (Article 324) ..................................233Electoral Reforms since 1988 .............................234Powers & Functions ..........................................237Independence ...................................................238National or State Parties ....................................238Model Code of Conduct .....................................239Recent Developments ........................................240

Proposal to increase Assembly Seats for Sikkim ......................................................... 240

VVPATs to be used in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections ..................................................... 240

National Voter’s Day ..................................... 241

Corporate Political Funding .......................... 241

NOTA .......................................................... 242

Voter Awareness Forums (VAFs) ................... 242

Snap Election ............................................... 242

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UNIT - VIII (NON-CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES)

UNIT - XI (OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL DIMENSIONS)

UNIT - X (POLITICAL DYNAMICS)

MISCELLANEOUS

Representation of the People (Amendment)

Bill, 2017 - Proxy Voting ............................... 243

Poll Symbols ................................................ 243

Section 151A of RPA .................................... 244

NON-CONSTITUTIONA1. L BODIES ..................... 246

Central Information Commission ........................246

State Information Commission ...........................247

Recent Developments ........................................248

Central Vigilance Commission ...................... 248

Serious Fraud Investigation Offi ce ................. 248

National Green Tribunal ................................ 249

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) ....... 249

Animal Welfare Board of India ...................... 249

NITI Aayog ........................................................250

Recent Developments ........................................251

Himalayan State Regional Council ................. 251

National Human Rights Commission ..................251

State Human Rights Commission .......................252

Lokpal and Lokayuktas ......................................252

Central Bureau of Investigation ..........................254

TRIBUNALS1. ................................................... 257

ANTI DEFECTION LAW1. .................................... 260

MISCELLANEOUS1. .......................................... 261Section 124a of IPC ...........................................261Draft Resolution on Death Penalty ......................261Defamation Law ................................................261Law commission on Hate Speech .......................262Jat community of Dholpur and Bharatpur brought under OBC category ....................................................262Allahabad renamed as ‘Prayagraj’ .......................262National Statistical Commission (NSC) ...............262Central Waqf Council .........................................263Financial Stability and Development Council .......263Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 ...............264New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, 2019 .................................................................. 264

Bill against witch hunting ...................................265

The Draft River Basin Management Bill, 2018 ......265

Law Against the Offence of Sextortion ................265

Surrogacy Regulation Bill ...................................266

Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 ............................266

Global Sustainable Cities 2025 Initiative .............266

2021 Census .....................................................267

Permanent Indus Commission ...........................267

Revision and Introduction of MSP for Minor Forest Produce items.........................................267

Union ministry of Defence Approves Delegation of Powers to Border Roads Organisation ................268

Amendments in the defi nition of “Petroleum” ......268

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UNIT

1

CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

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10

What is a Constitution?

A constitution is a basic law of the land which establishes the relations between various organs of the government and the relations between them. It also defi nes the nature and polity of that country.

Types of Constitution?

Broadly speaking, a constitution can be based on:

The nature of a document:1.

Written Constitution Unwritten Constitution

The Constitution in which all provisions are systematically and serially arranged in Parts, Articles and Schedules is known a Written Constitution.

Its provisions are not systematically and serially arranged.

It is codifi ed and compiled in One Book form.

It is also codifi ed but not compiled in a book form.

It is formulated by a Constituent Assembly formed for this purpose only.

It is formulated by laws passed by the Parliament.

Constitution is Supreme and all the three organs of the Government - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are subordinate to the Constitution.

Principle of Parliamentary Supremacy is found. Hence, Judiciary and Executive are subordinate to the Parliament.

Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are equivalent to each other. They derive their functions and powers in the polity from the Constitution.

Parliament itself decides what shall be the Constitution and according to that functions and authority of Executive and Judiciary are determined

Consequently, Right to Judicial Review is found i.e. the Judiciary can declare a piece of legislation null and void if it is not in accordance with the substance and spirit of the Constitution.

Judiciary does not have this right and the laws passed by the Parliament are absolute and ultimate. Thus the Parliament is fi nal though fallible.

CONSTITUTION & IT’S TYPES 1

CHAPTER

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11

Functions of the Constitution

The constitution whether written or unwritten, is a political structure having several functions:

Expression of Ideology: It refl ects the ideology and philosophy of a nation state

Expression of Basic Law: Constitution present’s basic laws which could be modifi ed or replaced through a process called extra-ordinary procedure of amendment.

Organizational framework: It provides organizational framework for the governments. It defi nes the functions of the legislature, executive, and judiciary, their inter-relationship, restrictions on their authority etc.

Amendment provision: As it would not be possible to foretell all possibilities in future with a great degree of accuracy, there must be suffi cient provisions for amendment of the constitution. It should contain a set of directions for its own modifi cations. The system might collapse if it lacks in scope for modifi cation.

The relations between the Central Government and its unit:2.

Federal Features

Dual Government

Division of Powers

Bicameral Legislature

Supremacy of Constitution

Rigidity

Independent Judiciary

Unitary Features

Residuary Power

Inequality of State Representation

Single Constitution

Flexibility of Amendment

Emergency Powers

Union’s Power over the State

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