Important Political Science Notes for UPSC, PSC, SSC Exams(Part-IV)

Chapter 30: Governor

Summary:
The Governor is the nominal executive head of a State, similar to the President at the Centre.

Important Points:

  • Articles 153 to 162 → Deal with Governors.
  • Appointment:
    • Appointed by the President.
    • Must be an Indian citizen, 35 years old, and not hold an office of profit.
  • Term:
    • 5 years (but holds office during President’s pleasure).
  • Powers:
    1. Executive Powers → Appoints CM, ministers, Advocate General, State Election Commissioner.
    2. Legislative Powers → Summons, prorogues state legislature; dissolves Legislative Assembly; gives assent to bills.
    3. Financial Powers → Ensures annual budget is laid before state legislature.
    4. Judicial Powers → Can grant pardons (only in certain cases).
  • Special Powers:
    • Can reserve certain bills for President’s consideration (Art 200).
    • Has discretionary powers in some cases (e.g., hung assembly).
  • Comparison with President:
    • President must act on advice of Council of Ministers always; Governor has limited discretionary powers.

Key Highlight:
The Governor is the “link” between Centre and State, but sometimes causes Centre-State friction.

Chapter 31: Chief Minister

Summary:
The Chief Minister is the real executive authority at the state level (like PM at the Centre).

Important Points:

  • Appointment:
    • Appointed by Governor; leader of majority in Assembly.
  • Powers and Role:
    1. Heads the State Council of Ministers.
    2. Advises the Governor.
    3. Link between State Governor and Council.
    4. Leader of Legislative Assembly.
  • Tenure:
    • Depends on confidence of Assembly (not a fixed term).
  • Importance:
    • Chief Minister is the “Real executive and leader of the state.”

Key Highlight:
Chief Minister = “De facto executive head” of the state (while Governor is de jure head).

Chapter 32: State Council of Ministers

Summary:
The real executive powers of the State are exercised by the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.

Important Points:

  • Structure:
    • Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers.
  • Collective Responsibility:
    • Council is collectively responsible to the State Legislative Assembly.
  • Function:
    • Aids and advises the Governor (who must act accordingly, except in discretion).

Key Highlight:
State Council of Ministers follows Parliamentary norms similar to Union Council.

Chapter 33: State Legislature

Summary:
Some states have a unicameral legislature (only Assembly), while others have bicameral (Assembly + Council).

Important Points:

  • Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha):
    • Lower House (directly elected).
    • 60 to 500 members.
    • Term: 5 years.
  • Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad):
    • Upper House (indirectly elected).
    • Size: About 1/3rd of Assembly (not more than 1/3rd).
    • Not every state has it (only 6 states currently).
  • Powers:
    • Assembly has more powers (money bills, confidence votes).
    • Council has advisory role only.
  • Speaker and Deputy Speaker → Heads Assembly.

Key Highlight:
Creation or abolition of Legislative Councils is done by Parliament, not the state itself (Art 169).

Chapter 34: High Court

Summary:
High Court is the highest judicial authority at the state level.

Important Points:

  • Articles 214 to 231 → Deal with High Courts.
  • Composition:
    • Chief Justice + Other Judges (number decided by President).
  • Jurisdiction:
    • Original jurisdiction (in some cases like writs).
    • Appellate jurisdiction (civil and criminal appeals).
    • Writ jurisdiction under Art 226 (wider than Supreme Court’s Art 32).
  • Appointment of Judges:
    • By President after consultation with Chief Justice of India and State Governor.
  • Tenure:
    • Hold office until 62 years of age.
  • Independence Ensured by:
    • Fixed service conditions.
    • Security of tenure.
    • Expenses charged on Consolidated Fund of State.

Key Highlight:
High Courts can issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights and for other purposes (unlike SC).

Chapter 35: Tribunals

Summary:
Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies created for specific types of disputes.

Important Points:

  • Constitutional Provisions:
    • Art 323A: Administrative Tribunals (service matters).
    • Art 323B: Other Tribunals (tax, labor, etc.).
  • Examples:
    • Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for government service disputes.
    • National Green Tribunal (NGT) for environmental issues.
  • Advantages:
    • Speedy and specialized justice.
    • Reduces burden on regular courts.

Key Highlight:
Tribunals are not bound by strict rules of procedure (Civil Procedure Code) — flexibility.

Chapter 36: Subordinate Courts

Summary:
Subordinate courts work under High Courts, ensuring justice at the district and lower levels.

Important Points:

  • Structure:
    • District Court (civil cases).
    • Sessions Court (criminal cases).
  • Control over District Judges:
    • By High Court (Art 235).
  • Lok Adalats:
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism.
    • Cheaper and faster.
  • Family Courts and Gram Nyayalayas:
    • Specialized courts for family and rural disputes.

Key Highlight:
High Courts exercise superintendence over all courts under its jurisdiction (Art 227).

Chapter 37: Special Provisions for Some States

Summary:
Certain states have special provisions under the Constitution due to unique circumstances.

Important Points:

  • States: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka.
  • Examples:
    • Nagaland (Art 371A): Special protection for Naga customs and land.
    • Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh: Autonomous district councils.
    • Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (Art 371D): Reservation in jobs and education.
  • Special Category States:
    • Extra financial assistance.
    • Relaxed terms for Centre’s schemes.

Key Highlight:
Article 371 to 371J provide special constitutional status to different states.

[Quick Recap]

Now you have completed detailed notes up to Chapter 37:

Chapter No.Topic Covered
30Governor
31Chief Minister
32State Council of Ministers
33State Legislature
34High Court
35Tribunals
36Subordinate Courts
37Special Provisions for States

Chapter 38: Panchayati Raj

Summary:
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are the backbone of rural local governance in India, created to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level.

Important Points:

  • Constitutional Status:
    • Added by 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
    • Added Part IX (Articles 243 to 243-O) and 11th Schedule.
  • Three-tier system:
    1. Gram Panchayat (village level)
    2. Panchayat Samiti (block level)
    3. Zila Parishad (district level)
  • Key Features:
    • Gram Sabha: All adults of a village — foundation of Panchayati Raj.
    • Reservation:
      • SC/STs and Women (at least 1/3rd seats).
    • Elections:
      • Every 5 years, conducted by State Election Commission.
    • State Finance Commission:
      • Every 5 years to recommend financial distribution.
  • PESA Act 1996:
    • Extension of Panchayati Raj to Scheduled Areas (tribal areas).
  • Important Committees:
    • Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957): Recommended 3-tier PRIs.
    • Ashok Mehta Committee (1978): Suggested 2-tier system.
    • G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985): Strengthening local institutions.

Key Highlight:
73rd Amendment = Constitutionalization of Panchayati Raj.
Local self-governance is now a Fundamental Directive Principle under Indian Constitution.

Chapter 39: Municipalities

Summary:
Municipalities govern urban areas (towns and cities), ensuring planned development and local services.

Important Points:

  • Constitutional Status:
    • Added by 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
    • Added Part IX-A (Articles 243-P to 243-ZG) and 12th Schedule.
  • Types of Urban Local Bodies:
    1. Municipal Corporations (for big cities like Mumbai, Delhi).
    2. Municipal Councils (for medium towns).
    3. Nagar Panchayats (for transitional areas — rural to urban).
  • Structure:
    • Elected Councillors.
    • Chairpersons/Mayors.
    • Municipal Commissioner (executive head, appointed by State).
  • Reservation:
    • SC/STs and Women (at least 1/3rd seats).
  • State Election Commission:
    • Conducts elections every 5 years.
  • 12th Schedule Functions (Key Examples):
    • Urban planning.
    • Regulation of land use.
    • Water supply, sanitation.
    • Public health.
    • Fire services, slum improvement, poverty alleviation.
  • Important Committees:
    • Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990): Suggested municipal reforms.
    • Second Administrative Reforms Commission: Suggested strengthening municipal governance.

Key Highlight:
74th Amendment gave constitutional protection to Urban Local Bodies — making urban governance more systematic and accountable.

Quick Revision:

Chapter No.Topic Covered
38Panchayati Raj
39Municipalities

Next Section: PART-VI: UNION TERRITORIES AND SPECIAL AREAS

(Ch 40-41: Union Territories, Scheduled and Tribal Areas)

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PART-VI: UNION TERRITORIES AND SPECIAL AREAS

Chapter 40: Union Territories

Summary:
Union Territories (UTs) are regions governed directly by the Central Government — unlike states which have their own governments.

Important Points:

  • Constitutional Provisions:
    • Article 1: India = States + Union Territories.
    • Article 239 to 241: Deal with UTs.
  • Current List (as of now):
    • 8 Union Territories:
      1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
      2. Chandigarh
      3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
      4. Lakshadweep
      5. Delhi (NCT)
      6. Puducherry
      7. Jammu and Kashmir
      8. Ladakh
  • Administration:
    • Administered by President through an Administrator (appointed by President).
    • Some UTs (Delhi, Puducherry, J&K) have their own legislatures and governments.
  • Special Cases:
    • Delhi (NCT):
      • Has an elected assembly (69th Amendment Act, 1991).
      • Chief Minister + Lt. Governor (Administrator).
      • Subjects like Police, Public Order, Land are under Centre’s control.
    • Puducherry:
      • French colonies merged into India (1962).
      • Legislature and Council of Ministers under special arrangement.
  • Recent Change:
    • 2019: Jammu and Kashmir reorganized into 2 UTs — J&K (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).

Key Highlight:
UTs are created for reasons like strategic importance, cultural distinctiveness, or administrative convenience.

Chapter 41: Scheduled and Tribal Areas

Summary:
Special provisions exist to protect the cultural distinctiveness and development needs of Scheduled Areas and Tribal populations.

Important Points:

  • Scheduled Areas:
    • Areas with majority Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations, declared under the Fifth Schedule.
  • Constitutional Provisions:
    • Fifth Schedule (Art 244):
      • Special administration for Scheduled Areas (mostly in normal states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand).
      • Governor has special powers (can regulate laws for these areas).
      • President can declare Scheduled Areas.
    • Sixth Schedule (Art 244 + 275):
      • For Northeastern tribal areas (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram).
      • Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) created.
      • Councils have powers of legislation, taxation, administration.
  • Autonomous District Councils (ADCs):
    • 3 types of members: elected, nominated by Governor, and ex-officio.
    • Powers over land, forest, water, village administration, inheritance laws, etc.
  • Purpose:
    • Preserve tribal customs.
    • Promote self-rule among tribes.
  • Important Bodies:
    • Tribal Advisory Council in Fifth Schedule areas (if more than 50% ST population).
    • Governor’s Reports on administration of Scheduled Areas to the President.

Key Highlight:
Fifth Schedule = Normal States
Sixth Schedule = Tribal Areas of Northeast (with greater autonomy).

Quick Recap:

Chapter No.Topic Covered
40Union Territories
41Scheduled and Tribal Areas
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