UPSC - CSE · General Studies II
Polity and Governance
How India is governed, from the Constitution as supreme law to the institutions it creates and the practice of federalism.
- 40 articles
- 8 topic areas
- Last updated Nov 2026
Attorney General of India and Advocate General: Article 76, Article 165, Duties and Rights
Article 76 makes the Attorney General of India the Union's chief law officer, and Article 165 gives each State an Advocate General with similar duties.
Right to Equality: Articles 14 to 18 of the Indian Constitution Explained
The right to equality (Articles 14 to 18) covers equality before law, non-discrimination, reservation, and the abolition of untouchability and titles.
Fundamental Rights of Indian Constitution: Part III, Article 12 and Article 13
The Fundamental Rights of the Indian Constitution are six rights in Part III; Article 12 says whom they bind and Article 13 voids laws that break them.
Election Commission of India: Article 324, Powers, Functions and Appointment
The Election Commission of India conducts elections under Article 324. A 2023 Act governs its appointments, and it enforces the Model Code of Conduct.
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG): Article 148, Duties, Powers and Role
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) audits Union and State accounts under Articles 148 to 151 and reports to the legislatures.
Right Against Exploitation and Freedom of Religion: Articles 23 to 28
Articles 23 and 24 form the right against exploitation, barring forced and child labour; Articles 25 to 28 protect freedom of religion.
Right to Freedom: Articles 19 to 22, Article 21 and Preventive Detention
The right to freedom, Articles 19 to 22, gives citizens six freedoms and protects every person against retrospective punishment and arbitrary arrest.
Delimitation in India and the Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951
Delimitation redraws constituencies after a census. India has set up four Commissions, frozen seats on the 1971 census and passed two election laws.
Union Public Service Commission and State PSCs: Article 315, Appointment, Functions and Independence
Articles 315 to 323 create the Union and State Public Service Commissions, fix how members are appointed and removed, and list their functions.
Article 239A and Article 370: Union Territories of Puducherry, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
Article 239A lets Parliament give a Union Territory an Assembly by ordinary law, as for Puducherry and for Jammu and Kashmir after 2019; Ladakh has none.
Union Territories of India: List, Map, Administration and Delhi Under Article 239AA
The eight Union Territories of India are governed by the President through administrators; Delhi also has an elected government under Article 239AA.
Sarkaria Commission and Punchhi Commission: Centre-State Relations and Cooperative Federalism
The Sarkaria Commission and the Punchhi Commission reviewed Centre-State relations; their advice shaped the Inter-State Council and cooperative federalism.
GST Council Under Article 279A: Members, Weighted Voting, Functions and the 101st Amendment
The GST Council under Article 279A brings the Union and the States together on GST by weighted voting, and its recommendations persuade rather than bind.
Finance Commission and Centre-State Financial Relations: Tax Distribution, Grants-in-Aid and the GST Council
Finance Commission under Article 280 explained, with tax distribution under Articles 268 to 271, grants under Articles 275 and 282, and the GST Council.
Centre-State Administrative Relations: Article 263 Inter-State Council, All India Services and Articles 256 to 262
Article 263 and the Inter-State Council explained, with Union directions under Articles 256 and 257, All India Services, water disputes and CBI consent.
Seventh Schedule of Indian Constitution: Union, State and Concurrent Lists and Legislative Relations
The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution splits law-making between Parliament and the States in three lists; Articles 245 to 255 settle conflicts.
Lok Adalat, NALSA and Free Legal Aid in India: Legal Services Authorities Act and Gram Nyayalayas
Lok Adalat explained, with the Legal Services Authorities Act, NALSA, who gets free legal aid, Permanent and National Lok Adalats, and Gram Nyayalayas.
High Courts in India: Judges, Jurisdiction, Tribunals and Subordinate Courts
India's 25 High Courts issue writs under Article 226, supervise courts and tribunals under Article 227 and control the district courts below them.
Judicial Review in India: Basis, Basic Structure and Judicial Activism
Judicial review in India rests on Articles 13, 32 and 226, was extended to amendments by Kesavananda Bharati and grew through PIL into judicial activism.
Supreme Court Jurisdiction: Original, Writ, Appellate and Advisory Powers
Supreme Court jurisdiction covers Article 131 disputes, Article 32 writs, appeals by special leave, Article 143 advice and the curative petition.
Supreme Court of India: Collegium System, Appointment, Tenure and Removal of Judges
Supreme Court judges are chosen through the collegium system, serve until 65 and can be removed only by a special majority of Parliament after an inquiry.
Powers of the Governor: Executive, Legislative, Ordinance, Assent and Discretion
The powers of the Governor cover executive, legislative, financial and judicial work, assent to Bills under Article 200, ordinances and limited discretion.
Governor of a State: Appointment, Tenure, Removal and Special Responsibilities
The Governor of a State is appointed by the President and serves five years at the President's pleasure; B.P. Singhal (2010) limits removal.
Union Council of Ministers: Cabinet, Collective Responsibility and the Attorney-General
The Union Council of Ministers aids the President under Article 74, answers collectively to the Lok Sabha and is advised in law by the Attorney-General.
Prime Minister of India: Appointment, Powers, Role and Relationship With the President
The Prime Minister of India heads the Council of Ministers, is appointed by convention from the Lok Sabha majority and works through the President.
Vice-President of India: Election, Rajya Sabha Chairmanship, Acting President and Removal
The Vice-President of India is elected by Parliament, chairs the Rajya Sabha, acts as President in a vacancy and can be removed under Article 67(b).
Pardoning Power of the President, Ordinances and Emergency Powers: Articles 72, 123 and 352 to 360
The pardoning power of the President, ordinances under Article 123 and the emergencies of Articles 352 to 360 all work within limits set by law.
Powers of the President of India: Executive, Legislative, Assent and Veto
Powers of the President of India for UPSC: Article 74 advice, appointments, sessions, assent and veto types, Article 143 and the 2025 opinion.
President of India: Election, Qualifications, Term and Impeachment (Articles 52 to 62)
President of India for UPSC: electoral college, value of votes, qualifications, term, vacancy, impeachment under Article 61, and India versus France.
Federal Features of the Indian Constitution: Parliamentary System, Courts and Rights
Federal features of the Indian Constitution for UPSC: strong Centre, cooperative federalism, parliamentary system, integrated judiciary, rights, emergency.
Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: Sources, Amendment and Basic Structure
Salient features of the Indian Constitution for UPSC: length, twelve Schedules, sources by country, Article 368 amendment routes and basic structure.
Constituent Assembly of India: Composition, Committees and Making of the Constitution
Formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, the Constituent Assembly of India worked through 22 committees and adopted the Constitution in 1949.
Preamble to the Indian Constitution: Ideals, 42nd Amendment and Court Rulings
Preamble to the Indian Constitution for UPSC: text, five words on the State, four ideals, the 42nd Amendment, Kesavananda and the 2024 ruling.
Fundamental Duties of the Indian Constitution: List of 11 Duties Under Article 51A
The eleven Fundamental Duties in Article 51A came through the 42nd and 86th Amendments; no court enforces them directly, but laws and rulings back them.
Directive Principles of State Policy: Articles 36 to 51, Amendments and UCC
Directive Principles for UPSC: Articles 36 to 51, Article 37, amendments, Fundamental Rights conflict, Article 31C, Article 39(b) and uniform civil code.
Citizenship in India: Articles 5 to 11, Citizenship Act, CAA and OCI
Articles 5 to 11 and the Citizenship Act, 1955, decide how citizenship in India is gained and lost; Section 6A, the CAA and OCI complete the law.
Vice President of India: Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution
Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution govern the Vice President of India's election, qualifications, term, removal, oath, disputes and Rajya Sabha role.
Right to Information Act, 2005: Provisions, RTI Application, Exemptions and 2019 Amendment
The Right to Information Act, 2005, lets any citizen seek information from a public authority, with Section 8 exemptions and Information Commissions.
Reservation in India: Constitutional Articles, Categories, Percentage and Debates
Reservation in India sets aside jobs, college seats and legislative seats for SCs, STs, OBCs and the EWS under Articles 15 and 16, within court-set limits.
Father of Indian Constitution: B. R. Ambedkar's Role and Social Reform
B. R. Ambedkar, father of the Indian Constitution, chaired its Drafting Committee, called Article 32 its heart and soul, and drafted the Hindu Code Bill.
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