Indian Polity Notes for UPSC 2021: Know How to Make Indian Polity Notes for UPSC

Every year in UPSC prelims, 13 to 20 polity questions are asked. This is a very decent range for a subject in the UPSC exam. That is why it is important for you to study polity properly. One of the most effective and organized ways of studying is by making notes. In this article, we will discuss how to make good Indian Polity notes for UPSC. Read the article till the end to know about the Polity syllabus for mains and prelims and more.

Indian Polity Notes for UPSC

Here are a few steps you should follow for making quality notes:

• The first step should be just focused on understanding the basic concepts. Don’t get frustrated if you are understanding some concepts. Just get familiar with the subject.
• During the second read, you should start inter-relating the chapters. Understand the chronology of the chapters and make a relation between them.
• Make mind maps, tables, and as many of the visual representations of the information as possible.
• While making notes write down only the keywords. Don’t write the whole thing.
• After you are done with making notes from the standard reference book. Now co-relate your learning with current affairs and make separate notes for polity current affairs. This will help in answer writing for mains as well as in essay writing topics.
• Once you are done with note-making, now revise them on a consistent basis. The more you revise, the more it will help during the actual exam.

Also Read: What are the best Indian Polity notes for serious UPSC exam aspirants

Polity Syllabus for UPSC 2021

Let us understand the topics one by one.

1. Preamble

• Terms in the Preamble

• 42nd Amendment

• Swaran Singh committee

2. Constitution of India

• Historical Background

• Drafting committee and making scheme of the Constitution

• Influence of other constitutions

• Its salient features

• Union and its Territory (Basic idea about Article 1-4, Federal nature, State reorganization and different Commissions, Recent issues)

3. Citizenship

• Basic idea about Article 5-11

• PIO, NRI, OCI, and Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

• Citizenship Amendment Act of 2016

• Schemes, new policies, and recent changes in voting.

4. Fundamental Rights

• Basic idea about Article 12-35

• 44th amendment act

• Different types of Writs

• Enforcement and Exceptional cases with regard to FR’s

• Recent issues related to FR

5. Fundamental Duties

• Article 51A

• Difference between FR and FD

• Significance and Criticism

• Enforcement of FD’s

• Recent issues about FD

6. Parliament

• Basic idea about Articles related to Role and functions of the Parliament

• Motions, Sessions, Parliamentary procedure – Zero Hour, Summoning, Prorogation, and Joint sitting.

• Parliamentary proceedings like Adjournment Motion, and Question Hour etc.

• Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,

• Special powers of Rajya Sabha

• Anti-defection law and 10th schedule

• Parliamentary Privileges

• Bill and law-making procedure

• Budget, funds and it is summary

• Parliamentary Committees

7. Judiciary

• Basic idea about the judiciary.

• Powers of High Court and Supreme court

• Qualification and appointment

• Removal procedure

• Recent controversy, verdicts, and constitutional provisions.

8. Constitutional Bodies

• Election Commission

• UPSC

• SPSC

• JPSC

• Finance Commission

• National Commission for SCs and ST’s,

• Composition, Powers and Functions, Removal of the Constitutional bodies

9. Union

• Basic idea about Article 52-73

• Qualification and Election of President and vice-president

• Function and Powers of the president- (Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial, Diplomatic, Military and Emergency Powers)

• Prime minister and council of minister

• Resignation and impeachment of the president

• Role and responsibilities of Prime minister, Cabinet ministers, Council of Minister.

• Resignation and Removal of vice president

• Powers and Functions of Council of ministers

• Attorney general

10. Directive Principles of State Policy

• Article 36-51 and Article 368

• Sources and key features of DPSP

• Classification of DPSP

• Comparison or conflicts between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles

• Keshavananda Bharathi, Golaknath Case, Minerva Mills, Maneka Gandhi case.

• Important Amendments- 42nd Amendment, 44th Amendment, and 97th amendment

11. Emergency Provisions

• National emergency- Article 352

• President’s rule or State emergency- Article 356

• Financial emergency- Article 360

• 44th amendment act

• Effects and implications of emergency

• Role of President in emergency time

• The State of FR, Lok sabha, and Rajya sabha

• Revoking emergency

12. State Government- State Executive

• Governor- appointment, and special powers.

• Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial powers and discretionary powers of the governor

• 7th constitutional amendment

• Chief Minister and the council of ministers

• Power of chief minister

13. State Legislature

• State legislature compared to the Parliament with regard to powers, composition, and functions.

• Bicameral legislature

• Creation and abolition of the Legislative councils

Indian Polity Books

Best books for polity are:

• Indian Polity by M.Laxmikant
• Our Parliament for Polity by Subhash Kashyap
• Introduction to the Constitution of India for Polity by Durga Das Basu

Also Read: Polity NCERT for UPSC: How to Read Polity NCERT for UPSC? Tips and Tricks for Polity

Conclusion

Indian Polity is a scoring subject. But the syllabus to cover is very vast. Therefore proper planning is required to study the subject. If you follow the above steps, it will be easier for you to understand the concepts and retain them in your memory for a long time.

So, how are you preparing for UPSC 2021? Let us know in the comment section.