Download Testbook App

Polity Syllabus Prelims & Mains

for UPSC
 Download Testbook App

Polity Syllabus for UPSC PDF

Before downloading the Indian Polity syllabus for UPSC PDF given below in direct link, all aspirants
must understand this subject in a broader picture. In the lens of Union Civil Service examination, Polity
refers to the government system and working of administrative bodies in a federal structure of India.
While going through the UPSC Syllabus for Polity PDF, candidates will get a range of topics, from the
country’s constitutional framework to parliamentary wings (legislative, executive & judicial bodies).
Some of the core topic covering the Indian Polity syllabus for UPSC IAS exam are as follows -

• Framework of the Indian Constitution

• Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States
• Federal Government
• Parliament and State Legislatures
• Executive and Judiciary
• Representation of People's Act
• Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
• e-Governance
• Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Constitutional Bodies
• Social Justice
• International Relations
• Emergency Provisions
• Current Affairs, etc.

Polity Syllabus for UPSC Prelims

Candidates appearing for UPSC Prelims will have to study the Polity syllabus for UPSC Prelims Paper
1 (GS I paper). In the UPSC Civil Services General Studies paper 1, a total of 100 questions will be
asked for 200 marks. Out of this, around 15-20 questions will be asked from the Indian Polity section in
UPSC Prelims Syllabus. Only objective questions will be asked from the Polity Syllabus for UPSC
Prelims.

Important Polity Topics for UPSC Prelims

Now that candidates have a thorough understanding of the Polity Syllabus for UPSC Prelims in detail,
some of the important topics handpicked by our experts are as follows -
• Constitution
• Political System
• Panchayati Raj
• Public Policy
• Parliamentary Rights & Issues, etc.

Polity Syllabus for UPSC Mains

Candidates need to prepare from the Indian polity syllabus for UPSC Mains in General Studies Paper
2. This paper consists of 250 marks and most topics from UPSC Mains Syllabus on Polity overlap with
those of Prelims GS-I paper. Candidates can check out the detailed Polity Syllabus for UPSC Mains
below.

Page - 2
 Download Testbook App

Indian Polity Syllabus for UPSC Mains

Indian Historical underpinnings of the constitution

Constitution

Evolution of the Constitution

Salient features

Basic structure, Amendments & Significant provisions

Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the states

Difference between Delegation and Decentralization

Delegation of powers and finances and its challenges up to the local government
level

Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Comparison of India’s constitution with other countries

Governance & Parliament and State Legislatures

Polity o Structure
o Functioning
o Conduct of Business
o Powers & Privileges
o Issues arising out of the Powers & Privileges of legislative bodies

Executive and Judiciary

o Structure
o Organisation
o Functioning
o Ministries and departments of the government

Difference between Pressure Group and Political Party

Formal & Informal associations and their role in the polity

Page - 3
 Download Testbook App

Representation of Peoples Act 1951

Governance Appointment to various constitutional posts

Role of Civil Services in a Democracy

Significance of e-Governance
o Applications
o Models
o Successes
o Limitations and potential
o Citizens charters
o Transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Government Accountability, Transparency in Administration

Good Governance

Difference Between NGOs and SHGs

Self Help Group for UPSC

Powers, functions and responsibilities of various constitutional bodies

Issues arising out of the design and implementation of government intervention

Government policies and interventions for the development of various sectors

Development processes and the development of the industry

Social Justice Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by centre and states
for Vulnerable Children

The performance of welfare schemes

Issues Relating to Poverty and Hunger

Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and
betterment of vulnerable sections of the population

Issues related to the development and management of the social sector/Services

relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

International Neighbouring Countries of India

Relations
India's Relations with Its Neighbours

Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or
affecting India’s Interests

Effect of Indian Foreign Policy of developed and developing countries on India’s

interests

India and its Diaspora

Page - 4
 Download Testbook App

List of International Organizations and their Headquarters

Topic-Wise Polity Syllabus for UPSC

The Indian Polity syllabus for UPSC is very comprehensive given the number of topic categories and
chapters involved. Thus, our experts have created a comprehensive topic-wise Polity syllabus for
UPSC Prelims & Mains preparation in combination. The syllabus table given below can be exhaustive.
Candidates are recommended to handpick topics after targeted UPSC Exam Analysis for solid
preparation.

Topic-wise Polity Syllabus for UPSC 2023

Topic Sub-topics

Preamble of Indian Constitution • Features of preamble

• 42nd Amendment Act
• Swaran Singh Committee

Schedules Of Indian Constitution • 12 Schedules and Articles - Basic Idea

Constitution of India • Important Articles of Indian Constitution

• Making of Indian Constitution
• Salient Features of Indian Constitution
• Sources Of Indian Constitution
• Top 85 Articles of Indian Constitution

Union & its Territory • Article 1 to 4 - Basic Idea

• Different State-Reorganisation Commissions
• Characteristics of Federation
• Recent issues

Citizenship • Article 5 to 11- Basic Idea

• PIO, NRI, OCI & Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
• Privileges available for Indian citizens &
foreigners
• Citizenship Amendment Act
• Latest policies, schemes & recent changes in
voting.

Fundamental Rights (FR) • Article 12 to 35 - Basic Idea

• Basic Idea of Articles 14 to 30
• Right to Constitutional Remedies Article 32
• Rights & privileges available to Indian citizens
only & both to citizens & foreigners
• Different types of Writs
• Enforcement & Exceptional cases of FRs

Directive Principles of State Policy • Articles 36-51 - Basic Idea

(DPSP) • Article 368
• Sources & key features of DPSP
Page - 5

Important Major Amendments of the
Indian Constitution
Fundamental Duties(FD)
The Union
Judiciary
Download Testbook App
• Classification
• Difference between Fundamental Rights and
Directive Principles
• Kesavananda Bharati Case 1973
• Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980)
• Golaknath Case
• Maneka Gandhi Case
• 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act
• 97th amendment
• Criticism of the Amendment Procedure of the
Indian Constitution
• National Judicial Appointments Commission
(NJAC)
• 11 Fundamental Duties in India Under Article
51A
• Significance & Criticism
• Enforcement of FDs
• FD Recent News
• The Union Executive (Article 52 to 78)
• Parliament (Article 79 to 122)
• Union Executive and Its Types
• President And Governor
• Legislature (Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha)
• Supreme Court of India
• Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
• Presidents of India
• Vice President Of India
• Cabinet Ministers
• Resignation & impeachment
• Attorney General (AG) of India
• Devices of Parliamentary Proceedings such as
Question Hour, Zero Hour, & Adjournment
Motion, etc.
• The Rajya Sabha
• Anti-defection law & 10th schedule
• Parliamentary Privileges and Immunities
• Differences between Act and Law
• Basic Budget Concepts
• Bills
• Parliamentary Committees
• Electoral Reforms in India
• Election Laws in India
• Article 124 to 147 - Basic Idea
• Difference between High Court and Supreme
Court
• Qualification & appointment
• Removal procedure
• Recent controversy, verdicts, & constitutional
provisions on Judiciary.
Page - 6
 Download Testbook App

State Government- State Executive • Appointment, Removal & Powers of Governor

• Pardoning Power of Governor
• Appointment of Chief Minister, Power &
Functions
• Advocate General of State
• State Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)
• Bicameral legislatures
• Union Territories of India
• Statehood For Delhi
• Administration & jurisdiction in UT’s

Administration of Special Areas • 5th and 6th Schedule

• Article 370
• Difference between constitutional provisions
related to Jammu & Kashmir, etc

Emergency Provisions of Indian • National Emergency enlisted under Article 352,

Constitution • President's Rule enlisted under Article 356 and
• Article 360 - Financial Emergency
• 44th Constitutional Amendment Act
• Effects & implications of emergency
• Role of President in Emergency
• Revoking emergency

Centre State Relations • Seventh Schedule Of Indian Constitution

• Articles 262 & 263
• Difference Between Niti Aayog and Inter State
Council
• Inter-State Trade & Commerce
• Centre-state Legislative, Administrative &
Financial Functions
• Punchhi Committee
• Covid-19 and Indian Federalism
• Centre-State Relations (1950-67)
• National Development Council
• States Reorganisation Act of 1956
• Second Phase of Centre-State Relations (1967-
77)
• Third Phase of Centre-State Relations Trends
(1977-89)
• Final Phase of Centre-State Relations (1989-
onwards)

Panchayati Raj & Municipalities • Elections, auditing, powers & authority of

panchayats
• 3-tier system - Gram Panchayat, Panchayat
Samiti, Zilla Parishad
• 73rd Amendment Act & 74th Amendment Act
• Panchayati Raj Schemes
• Metropolitan planning committee & urban
development

Page - 7
 Download Testbook App

Constitutional, Statutory and Quasi • Medical Council of India

Judicial Bodies • National Human Rights Commission
• National Commission for Women
• National Commission for Minorities
• National Law Commission
• National Green Tribunal
• Armed Forces Tribunal
• Securities & Exchange Board of India
• Central Vigilance Commission
• National Commission for Protection of Child
Rights
• Competition Commission of India
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development
• National Legal Services Authority
• Finance Commission
• The UPSC
• The Election Commission
• The CAG
• National Commissions for SCs and STs
• Central Information Commission

Tribunals • Article 323A & tribunals under Article 323B

• Different tribunals & importance
• Recent controversial issues

Special Provisions for SC’s, ST’s, • Debate on Reservations in Constituent

Backward Classes, Minorities &
Anglo-Indians
Assembly
• Tribal Land Issues and his Tribal Rights in India
• Issues related to vulnerable sections like
women, child, SC’s, ST’s, Backward Classes,
Minorities & Anglo-Indians
• Privileges & right issued to SC’s, ST’s,
Backward Classes, Minorities & Anglo-Indians

Current Affairs • Recent issues on Indian Polity & Governance

• List of All Schemes of Indian Government for
UPSC!
• Government Schemes & Policies Current
Affairs 2023
• Recent Government Bills & Governance-
Actions

Page - 8