General Studies-II
(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations).
- Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.
| Indian Constitution | |
| Historical Underpinning & Evolution
§ Regulating Act (1773) to Independence Act (1947) § Constituent Assembly § Objective Resolution § Enactment & Enforcement of Constitution Features § Written § Flexible & Rigid § Federal & Unitary § Parliamentary Form of Government (Presidential vs. Parliamentary Type of Government) Amendments § List of Significant Amendments & Their Provisions § Procedure for Amending Constitution |
Significant Provisions
§ Fundamental Rights § Directive Principles of State Policy § Judicial Review § Universal Adult Franchise § Single Citizenship § Separation of Powers Basic Structure § The Doctrine § Judgments & Cases |
- Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels and Challenges Therein.
| Functions & Responsibilities of the Union and the States | |
| § 7th Schedule
§ Legislative Functions |
§ Financial Functions
§ Administrative & Quasi-Judicial Functions |
| Issues & Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure | |
| Federal Structure in India – Is India truly Federal?
Cooperative & Competitive Federalism Centre-State Relations § Legislative Relations § Administrative Relations § Financial Relations § Trends in Centre-State Relations Inter-State Relations § Inter-state Water Disputes |
§ Inter-State Councils
§ Public Acts, Records and Judicial Proceedings § Inter-State Trade and Commerce § Zonal Councils Emergency Provisions Role of Governor Reports of Various Commissions § 2nd ARC, Punchhi, Sarkaria, etc. |
| Devolution of Powers & Finances to Local Levels & Challenges Therein | |
| § Role of State Government
§ Role of State Finance Commission § 11th & 12th Schedule |
§ Reasons for Ineffective Performance
§ Panchayat Devolution Index ( NITI Aayog) § Steps That Can Be Taken to Improve Their Performance |
- Separation of Powers between various organs Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions.
| Separation of Powers Between Various Organs | |
| § Doctrine of Separation of Power
§ Separation of Power in Indian Constitution § Doctrine of Checks & Balances |
§ Provisions for Checks & Balances in Indian Constitution
§ Related Judgments – Golaknath case, Kesavananda Bharati, Indira Gandhi Vs Raj Narain, Ram Jawaya vs Punjab |
| Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions | |
| § RTI
§ PIL |
§ Tribunals, etc. |
- Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries.
| Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme With That of Other Countries Parliament & State Legislatures | |
| Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges
§ Written Constitution § Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility § Federal System with Unitary Bias § Parliamentary Form of Government § Synthesis of Parliamentary Sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy § Integrated and Independent Judiciary § Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Duties |
§ Secular State
§ Universal Adult Franchise § Single Citizenship § Emergency Provisions § Three-tier Government § Due Process of Law vs. Procedure Established by Law § Impeachment of President, etc. |
- Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.
| Structure, Organization & Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary | |
| Executive
§ Union: o President o Prime Minister o Council of Ministers o Cabinet Secretariat § State: o Governor o Chief Minister o Council of Ministers o Secretariat |
Judiciary
§ Three-Tier Structure § Chief Justice of India § SC & HC Judges § Jurisdiction |
- Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; Pressure Groups and Formal/Informal Associations and their Role in the Polity.
| Ministries and Departments of the Government | |
| § Cabinet Ministries
§ Other Ministries |
§ Parliamentary Secretaries |
- Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Salient Features of Representation of People’s Act
- Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
| Appointment to Various Constitutional Posts | |
| Appointment, Powers, Functions & Responsibilities of:
§ Election Commission § Union Public Service Commission § State Public Service Commission § Finance Commission § National Commission for SCs |
§ National Commission for STs
§ Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities § Comptroller and Auditor General of India § Attorney General of India § Advocate General of the State |
- Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.
| Statutory, Regulatory & Quasi-Judicial Bodies | |
| § NITI Aayog
§ RBI § National Human Rights Commission § State Human Rights Commission § Central Information Commission § Central Vigilance Commission § Central Bureau of Investigation § Lokpal and Lokayuktas § National Commission for Women § National Commission for Backward Classes § National Commission for Minorities § Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority § Securities and Exchange Board of India § Competition Commission of India § Telecom Regulatory Authority of India § Central Electricity Regulatory Commission § Atomic Energy Regulatory Board |
§ Central Pollution Control Board
§ Medical Council of India § Inland Waterways Authority of India § Central Ground Water Authority § Directorate General of Civil Aviation § Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority § Food Safety and Standards Authority of India § Bar Council of India § University Grants Commission § Financial Stability and Development Council § All India Council for Technical Education § National Green Tribunal § Competition Appellate Tribunal § Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal § Cyber Appellate Tribunal § Intellectual Property Appellate Board |
- Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Development Processes and the Development Industry — the Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
| Government Policies & Interventions for Development | |
| Government Policies & Interventions in Various Sectors
§ Health, Gender, Education, Poverty, Economic etc Issues Arising Out of Their Design & Implementation § Concerns/Issues § Suggestions for Improvement § Critical Assessment of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) § Rationalisation of CSS |
§ Analysis of Main Schemes:
o Beti Bachao Beti Padhao o Smart City o Swachh Bharat Abhiyan o MGNERGA o Digital India o Make in India o Skill India o PM Jan Dhan Yojana o Start-up India etc. |
| Development Processes & the Development Industry | |
| § Role of Social Capital Organisations
§ Indian Context § Classification § Provisions for the Third Sector in the Indian Constitution § National Policy on the Voluntary Sector 2007 Non-Governmental Organisations § Role and Impact of Non-governmental Organizations § Issue Areas: Accreditation, Legitimacy & Accountability, Foreign Funding etc. Self Help Groups (SHGs) § Need for SHGs § Benefits of SHGs § Weaknesses of SHGs |
§ Challenges
§ Measures to Make SHGs Effective § Case Studies: Kudumbashree (Kerala), Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (Maharashtra) Societies, Trusts and Cooperatives § Societies § Trust § Religious Endowments § Cooperatives – o Need for Cooperatives o Constitutional Provisions o National Policy on Co-operatives, 2002 o Issues and Challenges in the Cooperatives Sector |
- Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes; Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections.
| Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections | |
| Schemes for the Following Vulnerable Sections
§ SCs & STs § Minorities § Children § Elderly § Disabled § Women § Transgender Performance of These Schemes Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions & Bodies Constituted for Protection & Betterment of These Vulnerable Sections § SCs: o The Protection of Civil Rights Act o The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act o National Commission for Scheduled Castes o Scheduled Castes Sub Plan § Disabled: o The Rehabilitation Council of India Act o The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act o Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act o The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with o Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act |
§ STs:
o National Commission for Scheduled Tribes o Tribal Sub Plan o TRIFED o Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act § Minorities: o National Commission for Minorities o National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities Women & Children § The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act § The Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act § The Dowry Prohibition Act § The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act § The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act § Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act § Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act § Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) § The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act § Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) § Pre-Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act § Gender Budgeting § National Policy for Women § Domestic Violence Act § Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act Elderly § Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act |
- Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
| Issues Relating to Development & Management of Social Sector/Services | |
| Health
§ India’s Performance on Various Health Indicators § Weaknesses of Indian Healthcare System § Health Infrastructure in India § Universal Health Coverage § 12th FYP Strategy § Universal Health Coverage § Health Insurance § National Family Health Survey § National Health Policy § National Health Mission § Maternal & Adolescent Health § Child Health § Antimicrobial Resistance § Disease Burden in India § Measures to Ensure Good Health Outcomes § Government Initiatives |
Education
§ Status of Literacy in India § Education Structure in India § Challenges Faced by Education Sector in India § Reforms Required § Government Initiatives § ASER Report § Financing Education § Subramanian Panel Report Human Resource § Need For Skill Development § Skill Development Initiatives § Challenges in Skilling Landscape in India § Shortcomings of Current Skill Development Initiatives § Reforms Required § Steps that can Be Taken |
- Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger.
| Issues Relating to Poverty & Hunger | |
| § Relation between Poverty & Hunger
§ Distribution of Poverty & Hunger § Magnitude & Trends of Poverty & Hunger § Causes of Poverty & Hunger § Cost/Impact of Poverty & Malnutrition |
§ MDGs & SDGs
§ Food and nutrition insecurity – a consequence of structural inequities § Constraints in Reducing Poverty & Hunger § Measure to Reduce Poverty & Hunger – National Food Security Act, Mid-day Meal Scheme, MGNREGA etc. |
- Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability, E-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; Citizens Charters, Transparency & Accountability and institutional and other measures.
| Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency & Accountability | |
| Governance
§ Dimensions of Governance § Good Governance (GG) § Aspects of GG § Barriers to GG § Necessary Pre-conditions for GG § How to Ensure GG E-Governance § Applications § Models § Successes § Limitations § Potential § Recent e-governance Initiatives by Government Citizens Charters (CC) § Components of CC |
§ Features of CC
§ Six Principles of CC § Shortcomings of CC § Measures to Make CC Effective § Sevottam Model Aspects of Transparency Elements & Types of Accountability Means to ensure Transparency & Accountability § RTI § Social Audit § Whistleblower Protection Bill § Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act |
- Role of Civil Services in a Democracy.
| Role of Civil Services in a Democracy | |
| Relationship Between Civil Service And Democracy
Role Played By Civil Services § Advisory Role in Policy Making § Institutionalise Socio-economic change § Discharge Delegated Functions § Administer Law of the Land § Watchdogs § Continuity in times of Political Instability § Record-Keeping § Channel of Communication Ailments/Issues Afflicting Indian Civil Services § Lack of Professionalism & Poor Capacity Building § Inefficient Incentive Systems § Outdated Rules & Procedures § Systemic Inconsistencies in Promotion § Lack of Adequate Transparency & Accountability Procedures |
§ Arbitrary & Whimsical Transfers
§ Political Interference & Administrative Acquiescence § Gradual Erosion in Values & Ethics § Redtapism § Elitist in Nature § Poor Pay § Tendency to Capture Power Reforming Bureaucracy to Strengthen Democracy § Setting Right the Asymmetry of Power § Insulating Civil Servants from Undue Political Interference § Professionalisation with Stability of Tenure & Competition § Citizen-Centric Administration § Accountability § Outcome Orientation § Promoting Public Service Values & Ethics |
- India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
| India and its Neighborhood – Relations | |
| India’s Relations With
§ China § Pakistan § Myanmar § Bhutan |
§ Bangladesh
§ Sri Lanka § Afghanistan § Nepal § Maldives |
- Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
| Bilateral, Regional & Global Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India’s Interests | |
| India’s Major Foreign Policy Doctrines Since 1947
§ Non-aligned Movement (NAM) § Nuclear Doctrine § Gujral Doctrine § Look East to Act East § Think West, etc. Bilateral Relations With § Major Powers Like – USA, Russia, Japan § Central Asian Countries § West Asian Countries § African Countries § Australia & New Zealand § EU & European Countries § Latin American Countries § Pacific Countries Regional & Global Groupings § SAARC § BRICS |
§ BBIN & BCIM
§ BIMSTEC § IBSA § ASEAN & RCEP § India-Africa Forum § SCO § Ashgabat Agreement § FIPIC § IOR-ARC § Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) § Raisina Dialogue § Heart of Asia Conference § East Asia Summit § G-20 § Asian Development Bank § National Security Summit § Multilateral Nuclear Export Regulatory Regimes: Wassenar, MTCR, Australia Group § Asian Development Bank § APEC, etc |
- Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.
| Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed & Developing Countries on India’s Interests | |
| § One Belt One Road
§ International North–South Transport Corridor § Global Trade War § Global Currency War § Syrian Crisis § UN Reforms |
§ WTO Reforms
§ South China Sea Conflict § Brexit § Deglobalisation & Protectionism – US Sanctions on Iran, US Pullout from Paris Agreement, H-1B Visa Issue etc. § OPEC Oil Prices Manipulation, etc |
| Indian Diaspora | |
| § Spread of Indian Diaspora
§ India’s Diaspora Policy & Engagement Initiatives o OCI o Pravasi Bharatiya Divas o Know India Programme, etc. |
§ LM Singhvi High Level Committee on the Diaspora
§ Role played by Indian Diaspora § Issues Concerning the Diaspora: o Dual Nationality o Remittances, etc. |
- Important International Institutions, agencies and fora – their Structure, Mandate.
| Important International Institutions | |
| § UN & its Agencies
§ WTO § World Bank |
§ IMF
§ World Economic Forum § Commonwealth of Nations, etc. |
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