Polity Notes for UPSC Exam 2023

Polity Notes for UPSC: If you are preparing for the UPSC civil services exam, you would be aware that political science is an unavoidable and most looked-upon section of the UPSC syllabus – both for the IAS UPSC prelims and the mains. It is also available as an optional subject in the UPSC main exams. This article discusses the most important topics of political science for UPSC Prelims, UPSC Mains, and General Studies Paper 2. GeeksforGeeks has brought Important Topics of Political Science to you which can help you get your political science queries solved.

UPSC Notes For UPSC 2023:

• Importance History Notes for UPSC 2023
• Importance Geography Notes for UPSC 2023
• Importance Ethics Notes for UPSC 2023
• Importance Economics Notes for UPSC 2023
• Importance Science & Technology Notes for UPSC 2023
• Previous Year’s Papers of UPSC

Most Important Polity Notes for UPSC 2023

It is important that you have a strong interest in the topic before selecting it as an option. If you are interested in political science, read the UPSC political science topic-wise important questions thoroughly.

1. Election Deposit Rule in India
2. Types of Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
3. Fundamental Rights of Foreigners in India
4. An Analysis of 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA 1976)
5. Solicitor General of India
6. State Finance Commission
7. Election of the Vice President
8. Key Challenges and Strategies for Municipal Governance
9. Cabinet Secretary of India
10. Ordinance Making Power of President and Governor
11. Indian Constitution Twenty Fourth Amendment Act, 1971
12. The Competition Commission Of India ( CCI)
13. Eighty-Sixth Amendment Act 2002
14. The 92nd Amendment of the Indian Constitution
15. Power of Election Commission of India
16. Right To Speedy Trial
17. Ninety-Seventh Amendment Act 2011 In Indian Constitution
18. Fundamental Rights And Writs Of India
19. Functions of Election Commission
20. Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India
21. Indian Preamble and its Objectives
22. Sixty-First Amendment Act, 1989 in Indian Constitution
23. The Inter-State Council
24. Which Fundamental Rights Can Never Be Suspended During National Emergency?
25. Can an Indian citizen be punished for violation of Fundamental Duties?
26. When was the Planning Commission set up?
27. Attorney General Of India
28. Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Reservation
29. At present how many Fundamental Duties are in the Constitution of India?
30. Why Was Right to Property Removed From Fundamental Rights?
31. What is the 88th Amendment Act 2003 of the Indian Constitution?
32. Why Fundamental Duties Are Not Enforceable By Law?
33. Role and Functions of NGOs
34. Public Interest Litigation
35. The Government of India Act 1935
36. Special Provisions for Some States
37. Electoral Reforms in India
38. The Constituent Assembly of India: Features & its Committees
39. Urban Local Bodies in India
40. Role of Judicial Activism in Fundamental Rights
41. Causes for Widespread Poverty in India
42. Types of Government’s Funds
43. The Office of Speaker of Lok Sabha
44. Amendment in Indian Constitution: Procedure, Modes, and Types
45. Cultural & Educational Rights – Articles 29 and 30
46. Major Sources of Indian Constitution
47. Fund Mismanagement in NGOs
48. Directive Principles of State Policy
49. Philosophy of the Indian Constitution
50. E-Governance: Challenges and Advantages
51. Challenges in Indian Education System
52. Freedom of Religion Guaranteed Under Indian Constitution
53. Public Accounts Committee
54. Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
55. Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951
56. Relationship Between Parliament and Judiciary
57. National Commission For Scheduled Tribes
58. National Commission For Scheduled Castes
59. National Commission For Backward Classes
60. National Commission For Women
61. Financial Emergency and its Consequences
62. Right to Information Act, 2005
63. Cut Motions – Policy Cut, Economy Cut and Token Cut
64. Major Failures of National Planning Commission
65. Advantages of Multi-Party System in Democracy
66. In Indian Democracy, the Executive are More Responsible and Accountable
67. Law Making Procedure in Parliament
68. Importance and Functions of the Administrative Machinery
69. Difference Between Parliamentary and Presidential Form of Government
70. Powers and Functions of Lokpal and Lokayukta
71. Caste System is Assuming New Identities and Associational Forms
72. Democracy Produce an Accountable, Responsive and Legitimate Government
73. Discretionary Powers of President of India
74. Role of Quasi-Judicial Bodies
75. Powers and Functions of Election Commission of India
76. Types of Parliamentary Committees and Their Roles
77. Uniqueness of Indian Society in Sustaining its Culture
78. Main Objective of Distribution of Powers Between Centre and States
79. Cooperation, Competition, and Confrontation Have Shaped the Nature of Federation in India
80. Importance of Local Government Bodies
81. Central States Relation: Power Sharing System in India
82. The Importance of Parliament
83. Democracy is a Government of People, For the People and By the People
84. Role of Regional Parties in India
85. Article-19 and Social Media Regulation
86. The Importance of Democracy
87. Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Article 148-151)
88. Difference Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
89. Roles and Functions of Local Government
90. Types of Social Movements
91. How Do Social Division Affect Politics in India?
92. Types of Writs in Indian Constitution
93. Right to Freedom of Religion in India (Articles 25-28)
94. Fundamental Rights of India (Articles 12-35)
95. Difference Between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy
96. Fundamental Rights Protected By Indian Constitution
97. Key Features of Federalism
98. Right Against Exploitation
99. Why Do We Need Rights in a Democracy?
100. Evolution of Concept of Basic Structure
101. What is Rule of Law?
102. Role of Pressure Groups and its Influence on Politics
103. Article 14 – Right to Equality
104. Judicial System: Challenges and Reform
105. Taxes Collected by Panchayat
106. Nyaya Panchayat
107. Judicial Review in India
108. Article 169
109. The Indian Constitution Twenty-First Amendment Act, 1967
110. Environment Protection under Fundamental Duties
111. Difference Between Ordinary Bill and Money Bill
112. PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996
113. Veto Powers of the Governor and President Regarding a Money Bill
114. Election Deposit Rule in India
115. The Administrative Tribunals
116. National Service Scheme
117. 56th Constitutional Amendment Act: Goa Full-Fledged State
118. Eleventh Amendment Act, 1961 of the Constitution of India
119. Which Committee Advocated the Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution?
120. Role of Caste in Indian Politics
121. Anti-Federalist vs Federalist
122. Communism vs Fascism
123. Role Of The Opposition Party In Democracy

Polity Syllabus for UPSC Preliminary Examination

The UPSC examination syllabus for Polity Prelims is given here:

• Political system
• Indian polity and governance- Constitution
• Rights Issues, Panchayati Raj Public Policy, etc. 

Below you can find the comprehensive topics of the UPSC Preliminary Polity Syllabus:

Topics	Polity Syllabus
Preamble	Terms in the Preamble 42nd Amendment Swaran Singh committee
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)
Citizenship	Basic idea about Article 5-11 PIO, NRI, OCI, FRsFDs Citizenship Amendment Act 2016 Schemes, new policies, and recent changes in voting.
Fundamental Rights	Basic idea about Article 12-35 44th amendment act Different types of Writs Enforcement and Exceptional cases with regard to FR Recent issues related to FR
Fundamental Duties	Article 51A Difference between FR and FD Significance and Criticism Enforcement of FD Recent issues with, FD
Directive Principles of State Policy	Basic idea about 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 Bharati, Golaknath Case, Minerva Mills, Maneka Gandhi case. Important Amendments- 42nd Amendment, 44th Amendment, and 97th amendment
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 Ministers. Resignation and Removal of vice president Powers and Functions of the law-making STsCouncil of ministers Attorney general
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, 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 its summary Parliamentary Committees
Judiciary	Basic idea about the judiciary. Powers of High Court and Supreme court Qualification and appointment Removal procedure Recent controversy, verdicts, and constitutional provisions.
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
State Legislature	State legislature compared to the Parliament with regard to powers, composition, and functions. Bicameral legislature Creation and abolition of the Legislative councils
Administration of Special Areas	Basic idea about 5thSchedule and 6th Schedule Recent problems related to Administration of Special Areas Special provision for states Article 371
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
Panchayati raj and municipalities	Elections, auditing, powers and authority of panchayats 3 tier structure 73rd Amendment Act and 74th Amendment Act Relation with FR and DPSP Schemes introduced Metropolitan planning committee and urban development Reservation
Constitutional Bodies	Election Commission UPSC SPSC JPSC Finance Commission National Commission for SCs and STs, Composition, Powers and functions, Removal of the Constitutional bodies
Current Affairs	Recent issues related to the above-mentioned categories Important schemes, programs, missions, laws, and policies launched by the government. Recent Government Bills and Governance- actions

Tips for UPSC Exam On Polity Subject:

The Constitution is the bible of civil service aspirants. The ways to understand the Indian Polity UPSC Notes are stated below:

• Read the articles carefully. This will assist you in developing a fundamental grasp of each Article. This approach needs repeated reading. The more you read, the more you’ll remember.
• Prepare a brief message with highlighted keywords that is pragmatically related to a current topic. The goal should be to extract the essence of the required knowledge according to the UPSC curriculum.
• Refer to the UPSC previous year’s papers and begin tackling question papers.
• Go for NCERT books (Class XI – Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work (New), Class XII – Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics (New), Class XII – Political Science II: Politics in India since Independence(New)).
• Read Newspapers like The Hindu, Indian Express, and Kurukshetra Magazines.