Polity Reading List : 2021 1 of 13

ESSENTIAL READING FOR POLITY FROM LAXMIKANTH- PRELIMS

2021
Greetings!

The reading list for Polity based on the sixth edition on Laxmikanth is mention below. Please read the following before
proceeding onto the reading list.

1. This list is valid only for Prelims 2021 as it based on the contemporary developments relevant for Prelims 2021
2. The list must necessarily be complimented with the Magna Carta Series for 2021 which was conducted absolutely free of
cost as special classes on the Unacademy platform. You can find the classes on https://unacademy.com/
@atishmathur2015/courses?goal=all&type=special
3. The list must also be complemented with my handwritten notes releasing as soon as possible.
4. Ideally, please study Polity in the same sequence/themes as discussed in the Magna Carta Series as it would help you
understand and retain better.
5. If you are using an older edition of the book, you can refer to the topic headings and study accordingly.
6. You may then refer to a special/free class series called Blast from the Past : Polity PYQs wherein Polity PYQs are solved
using logic and elimination methods.

Atish Mathur

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

ffi

 Polity Reading List : 2021 2 of 13

Chapter Title Headings Sub Headings Tables (If any) Remarks

No.

2 Making of the Committees of the Constituent Drafting Committee Names of all members of the
Constitution Assembly Drafting Committee
Enactment of the Constitution

Enforcement of the Constitution Article numbers do not have

to be memorised
Criticism of the Constituent Assembly

Important Facts Only the rst four points

3 Salient Features Salient Features of the Constitution 2. Drawn from various Table 3.3 - Schedules of Speci c contents of the
of the sources
the Constitution at a Schedules do not need to be
Constitution 3. Blend of Rigidity and Glance
memorised, knowing what
Flexibility
the schedules are broadly for
4. Federal System with Table 3.4 - Sources of the is enough.
Unitary Balance
Constitution at a Glance
5. Parliamentary Form of
Government

6.Synthesis of Parliamentary
Sovereignty and Judicial
Supremacy

7. Integrated and
Independent Judiciary

12. Universal Adult Franchise

16. Three Tier Government

4 Preamble Text of the Preamble No need to memorise, just a

few readings is enough

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

fi
fi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 3 of 13
Key Words in the Preamble 1. Sovereign
Remember the words that
2. Socialist
were added by 42nd C.A -
3. Secular
1976 - Socialist, Secular,
4. Democratic
Integrity
5. Republic 

6. Justice

8. Equality

9. Fraternity
Preamble as Part of the Constitution Keshavanda Bharti’s opinion
must be known.
Amendability of the Preamble

5 Union and its Union of States (Full)

None of the committees
Territory mentioned in this chapter
needs to be done.
Parliament’s Power to Reorganise
States (Full)
6 Citizenship Meaning and Signi cance (Full) Table 6.1: Comparing
NRI,PIO, and OCI (Only
the following headings
under this table -

1. Who? 7. What
bene ts? 8. Visa
Requirement? 10.
What activities can be
undertaken?
Citizenship Act, 1955 Acquisition

1. Birth (Current Status -

Since 2004)

2. Descent ( (Current Status

- Since 2004)

3. Registration (Only read

once)

4. Naturalisation (Only read

once)
Loss of Citizenship (Full)

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

fi
fi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 4 of 13
Single Citizenship (Full)

7 Fundamental Features (Full) Table 7.1 and 7.2 at a

Rights Glance
De nition of State (Full)

Laws Inconsistent with Fundamental

Rights (Full)
Right to Equality -

1. Equality Before Law and Equal

Protection of Laws

2. Rule of Law

1. Freedom : Protection of 6 Rights

(Full)

2. Protection in Respect of
Conviction for O ences

3. Protection of Life and Liberty

4. Right to Education

5. Protection Against Arrest and

Detention (ONLY till rst Column
7.12)
Right to Constitutional Remedies (Full)

WRITS (Type and Scope) Full

8 Directive Features
Table 8.1
Principles of
State Policy
New Directive Principles

Criticism

Utility

Con ict

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

fi
fl
ff
fi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 5 of 13
9 Fundamental List NOT TO BE MEMORISED -
Duties Use Simple Technique - If
you implement it, it is FD, if
State implements it, it is
DPSP.

FDs will ALWAYS have a

personal adjective attached.
Criticism

10 Amendment of Procedure
the Constitution
Types

11 Basic Structure Elements Table 11.1: just a glance No need to memorise

of the is needed speci c cases mentioned in
Constitution Table 11.1
12 Parliamentary FULL CHAPTER Table 12.1
System
13 Federal System FULL CHAPTER Table 13.1

14 Centre - State Legislative 1. Territorial Extent (Full)

Relations 2. Distribution of Legislative

Subjects (Full)
Administrative Relations 1. Distribution of Exec
Powers (Full)

2. Cooperation between
Centre and States

3. All India Services

4. Extra Constitutional
Devices
Financial Powers Allocation of Taxing Power

GST Council

Sarkaria and Punchi Commission READ ONCE only

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

fi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 6 of 13
15 Inter State Inter State Water Disputes (Full)
Refer to PRS for summary of
Relations the recent law.
Inter State Councils Composition and Core
Functions only
Zonal Councils

16 Emergency E ects of National Emergency (Full) Table 16.1 - V.IMP

Provisions
Scope of Judicial Review (Full)

E ects of Financial Emergency (Full)

17 President Quali cations, Oath, and Conditions Quali cations Formula not required

Conditions

Term, Impeachment, and Vacancy Impeachment Only refer to grounds and

majority required
Vacancy

Powers and Functions Executive

Legislative

Financial

Judicial

Veto Power of the President (Full)

Presidential Veto Over State Table 17.2

Legislation (Full)
Ordinance Making Power (Full)

Pardoning Power (Full)

18 Vice President Election

Powers and Functions

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

ff
ff
fi
fi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 7 of 13
Comparison with US V.P.

19 Prime Minister Relationship with the President

20 Central Council Responsibility of Ministers Table 20.1 (Imp)

of Ministers
21 Cabinet Functions of Cabinet Committees
Committees
22 Parliament Organisation - Full

Composition - Full

System of Elections to LS Territorial Constituencies

Reservation of Seats for SCs

and OBCs
Duration of the Two Houses - Full

Membership Quali cations

Presiding O cers - Full

Leaders in Parliament - Full

Sessions - (except voting in the Table 22.1

house)
Rights of Ministers and Attorney
Generals - Full
Devices Question Hour

Zero Hour

Adjournment Motion

Privilege Motion

No Con dence Table 22.2

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

fi
ffi
fi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 8 of 13
Censure

Motion of Thanks

Legislative Procedure Table 22.3 No need to memorise stages

Money Bills - Full Table 22.4 - V.IMP

Financial Bills Just read it once

Joint Sitting - Full

Budget in Parliament - Full

Funds - Full Consolidated Fund of India

Public Account of India

Contingency Fund of India

Parliamentary Privileges - Full

23 Parliamentary Public Accounts

Committees
Estimates

Departmental Standing

Privileges

Public Undertaking

24 Parliamentary Can be avoided as a whole chapter

Forums
25 Parliamentary Can be avoided as a whole chapter
Group
26 Supreme Court FULL CHAPTER (technical details of civil and
criminal jurisdiction can be
left out)

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 9 of 13
27 Judicial Review Meaning

Constitutional Provisions

28 Judicial Activism Can be avoided as a whole chapter

29 PIL Meaning

30 Governor Conditions of Governors O ce Tables 30.1, 30.2, 30.3 -

V.IMP

Executive Powers

Legislative Powers

Judicial

Constitutional Position - Imp

31 Chief Minister Can be avoided as a whole chapter

32 State Council of Can be avoided as a whole chapter

Ministers
33 State Composition - Full
Legislatures
Quali cations, Oath, and Conditions

Comparative Review Table 33.1 ONLY

34 High Court Organisation of High Court Judges - Appointment

Quali cations

Tenure

Removal Just the Majority required

Jurisdiction and Powers of High Court Writ Jurisdiction

Court of Record

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

fi
fi
ffi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 10 of 13
35 Tribunals Administrative Tribunals Only read what kind of
tribunals can be made under
Art 323A and Art 323B
Tribunals for other matters Only read what kind of
tribunals can be made under
Art 323A and Art 323B
36 Subordinate NALSA, Lok Adalat, Gram Nyalayaya Core Functions only
Courts
Features Just read it once

37 Special Can be avoided as a whole chapter

Provisions for
Some States
38 Panchayati Raj 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 Signi cance

Salient Features (Till Finance

Commission)
Compulsory and Voluntary Provisions All Sub Headings A and B

PESA Act of 1996 All Sub Headings

39 Municipalities 74th Amendment Act, 1992 Salient Features (Till Finance

Commission)
Types of Urban Governments Municipal Corporation

Municipality

40 Union Territories Administration of Union Territories

41 Scheduled and Administration of Scheduled Areas

Tribal Areas
42 Election FULL CHAPTER
Commission
43 UPSC FULL CHAPTER

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

fi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 11 of 13
44 SPSC The di erences with UPSC in terms of
appointment and removal
45 Finance FULL CHAPTER
Commission
46 GST Council FULL CHAPTER If you are using an older
edition:

http://
www.gstcouncil.gov.in/gst-
council
47 National FULL CHAPTER
Commission for
SCs
48 National FULL CHAPTER
Commission for
STs
49 National FULL CHAPTER
Commission for
BCs
50 Special O cer Can be avoided as a whole chapter
for Linguistic
Minorities
51 CAG FULL CHAPTER

52 Attorney General FULL CHAPTER

53 Advocate FULL CHAPTER

General
54 Niti Aayog Composition - Full

Specialised Wings

55 NHRC Composition - Full

Functions

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

ff
ffi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 12 of 13
Working of the Commission

56 SHRC Can be avoided as a whole chapter

57 CIC FULL CHAPTER

58 SIC Composition, Tenure, Service

Conditions
59 CVC Composition - Full

Functions

60 CBI Can be avoided as a whole chapter

61 Lokpal and Features

Lokayukts
Lokayukts Appointment

Quali cations

Tenure

62 NIA Can be avoided as a whole chapter

63 NDMA FULL CHAPTER

64 Cooperative Can be avoided as a whole chapter

Societies
65 O cial Language of the Union Last Para
Language
Language of the Judiciary Full

66 Public Services Can be avoided as a whole chapter

67 Rights and Can be avoided as a whole chapter

Liabilities of the
Government

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

ffi
fi
ffi
 Polity Reading List : 2021 13 of 13

68 Special Can be avoided as a whole chapter

Provisions
relating to
Certain Classes
69 Political Parties Recognition of National and State Conditions don’t have to be
Parties memorised
70 Regional Parties CAN BE FULLY IGNORED

71 Elections CAN BE FULLY IGNORED

72 Election Laws FULL CHAPTER

73 Electoral Reforms : NOTA + Postal Ballot + VVPAT + Liliy Thomas Case + Electoral Bonds

74-75 CAN BE FULLY IGNORED

76 Anti-Defection FULL CHAPTER

Law
77-80 CAN BE FULLY IGNORED

contact@atishmathur.com Telegram Channel: Atish Mathur O cial | t.me/csepaper2atish

ffi