SYLLABUS
Section 1: Polity and governance
Indian polity and governance-constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, rights issues, etc.
- Indian constitution
- Historical underpinnings
- Evolution
- Features
- Amendments
- Significant provisions
- Basic structure
- Centre-state
- Functions and responsibilities of the union and the states
- Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure
- Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
- Separation of powers between various organs
- Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
- Parliament and state legislatures
- Structure
- Functioning
- Conduct of business
- Powers & privileges and issues.
- Executive and the judiciary
- Structure
- Organization
- Functioning
- Ministries and departments of the government
- Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the polity.
- Salient features of the representation of people’s act.
- Constitutional posts
- Appointment
- Powers
- Functions
- Responsibilities of various constitutional bodies.
- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
- Important aspects of governance
- Transparency and accountability
- E-governance applications
- Models
- Successes
- Limitations
- Potential
- Citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
- Role of civil services in a democracy.
Section 2: International relations.
- India and its neighbourhood- relations.
- Groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
- Bilateral
- Regional
- Global
- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on
- India’s interests
- Indian diaspora
- Important international institutions, agencies and forums.
- Structure
- Mandate
