Indian Polity Notes

Election Commission Notes PART A: ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (ECI) A. Constitutional Provision: Article 324: Establishes the Election Commission of India. Responsible for conducting elections to: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha State Legislative Assemblies Offices of President and Vice-President B. Composition: Post Details Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Head of the ECI Other Election Commissioners Number […]

Scheduled and Tribal Areas – Laxmikanth Notes Constitutional Basis Deals with special provisions for governance and development of backward and tribal areas. Articles 244 and 244A of the Constitution. Related Schedules: Fifth Schedule – for Scheduled Areas in other than NE states. Sixth Schedule – for Tribal Areas in North-East India. Fifth Schedule – Scheduled

Municipalities Notes 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IXA (Articles 243P to 243ZG) to the Constitution. Gave constitutional status to urban local bodies (ULBs). Introduced the 12th Schedule (18 functional items for municipalities). Types of Municipalities (Article 243Q) Type of Municipality Criteria Headed By Headed By Large urban area (Metropolitan city) Mayor Municipal Council

Panchayati Raj Notes Article 40 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP): States shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary. First suggested by Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957): Recommended three-tier Panchayati Raj System. Emphasis on democratic decentralization. Established in Rajasthan (1959) first.

Special Status of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Notes Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) acceded to India through the Instrument of Accession signed on 26 October 1947 by Maharaja Hari Singh. Accession was accepted by Governor-General of India with certain special conditions. Article 370 – Special Status (Before 2019) Article 370 provided special autonomous status to

Tribunals Notes Tribunals are quasi-judicial institutions established to resolve disputes in a faster, less formal, and more specialised manner than regular courts. Aim: To reduce the burden on regular judiciary and provide justice in specific sectors like tax, administrative matters, environment, etc. Constitutional Provisions Article 323A – Administrative Tribunals Exclusive provision for administrative tribunals. Parliament

Subordinate Courts Notes Introduction Subordinate Courts function below the High Courts. Also known as Lower Judiciary or District Judiciary. Governed by: Articles 233 to 237 of the Constitution Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Civil Procedure Code (CPC) Structure of Subordinate Judiciary Civil Courts District Judge: Principal civil court of original jurisdiction Subordinate Judges Munsiff Courts

High Court Notes Introduction High Court is the highest judicial authority in a State. Part of the Single Integrated Judiciary system (along with SC and Subordinate Courts). Governed by Articles 214 to 231. Composition Chief Justice + Other judges as determined by the President. Constitution does not fix strength; varies by state. Appointments are made

Supreme Court Notes Introduction Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in India. Also known as Guardian of the Constitution and Protector of Fundamental Rights. Established in 1950, succeeding the Federal Court of India (1937–1950). Articles 124 to 147 of the Constitution. Composition Chief Justice of India (CJI) + other judges (as fixed by Parliament).

State Legislature Notes Structure of State Legislature Type States Unicameral Most states (only Legislative Assembly) Bicameral 6 States: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana (have both Legislative Assembly + Legislative Council) The Indian Constitution under Article 168 allows creation or abolition of Legislative Councils by Parliament on recommendation of the state legislature. Composition