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

Chapter 54: Political Parties

Summary:
Political parties are essential for the functioning of a representative democracy.

Important Points:

  • Types of Parties:
    • National Parties (e.g., BJP, Congress, AAP).
    • State Parties (e.g., DMK, TMC, SP).
  • Recognition by Election Commission:
    • Based on performance in elections (votes and seats).
    • Benefits include common symbol, free broadcast time.
  • Functions of Parties:
    • Contest elections.
    • Form governments.
    • Frame policies and programs.
    • Shape public opinion.

Key Highlight:
Political parties are called “vehicles of democracy” but also need internal reforms.

Chapter 55: Elections

Summary:
Elections are the backbone of Indian democracy, ensuring peaceful transfer of power.

Important Points:

  • Election Process:
    • Voter registration.
    • Nomination of candidates.
    • Campaigning.
    • Polling and counting.
    • Declaration of results.
  • Universal Adult Franchise:
    • Every Indian citizen 18+ years can vote (Art 326).
  • First Past the Post System:
    • Candidate with the highest votes wins (even if not absolute majority).
  • Recent Reforms:
    • VVPAT with EVMs.
    • NOTA option (None Of The Above).
    • Electoral bonds for transparent political funding.
  • Proposed Reforms:
    • Simultaneous elections (One Nation, One Election).
    • Decriminalization of politics.
    • State funding of elections.

Key Highlight:
Electoral integrity is essential for a strong democracy.

Chapter 56: Anti-Defection Law

Summary:
The law prevents elected members from changing parties after elections (political defections).

Important Points:

  • Constitutional Basis:
    • Tenth Schedule, inserted by 52nd Amendment Act, 1985.
  • Key Provisions:
    • Disqualification if:
      • Voluntarily gives up party membership.
      • Votes/abstains against party directions without permission.
  • Exceptions:
    • Merger of two-thirds of a party with another party.
  • Decision-making Authority:
    • Presiding officer (Speaker/Chairman) of the House.
  • Challenges:
    • Speaker’s bias towards ruling party.
    • Delayed decisions on disqualification.
  • Recent Update:
    • Supreme Court in 2020: Disqualification petitions should be decided within 3 months.

Key Highlight:
Anti-Defection Law aims to promote stability but needs strengthening to avoid misuse.

Chapter 57: Official Language

Summary:
The Constitution provides for Hindi and English as official languages, with protection for regional languages.

Important Points:

  • Constitutional Provisions:
    • Article 343-351 → Official language provisions.
  • Key Points:
    • Hindi in Devanagari script = Official language of the Union.
    • English to continue along with Hindi for official work.
    • States can adopt their own official languages.
  • Special Bodies:
    • Committee of Parliament on Official Language.
  • Promotion of Hindi:
    • Without affecting usage of English and regional languages.
  • Language of Judiciary and Supreme Court:
    • English.

Key Highlight:
India has no National Language — only Official Languages!

Chapter 58: Tribunals

Summary:
Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies that decide specialized disputes.

Important Points:

  • Constitutional Provision:
    • Art 323-A (Administrative Tribunals).
    • Art 323-B (Other Tribunals).
  • Important Tribunals:
    • Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) — for public servants.
    • National Green Tribunal (NGT) — for environmental cases.
    • Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT).
  • Advantages:
    • Speedy disposal.
    • Less technical, more accessible than courts.
  • Concerns:
    • Lack of judicial independence in appointments.
    • Parallel system weakening judiciary.

Key Highlight:
Tribunals are essential for specialized and quick justice but need reforms for independence.

Quick Recap:

Chapter No.Topic Covered
54Political Parties
55Elections
56Anti-Defection Law
57Official Language
58Tribunals

Chapter 59: Cooperative Societies

Summary:
Cooperative societies are voluntary organizations where people come together for mutual economic benefit.

Important Points:

  • Constitutional Status:
    • Given by 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011.
  • Key Provisions:
    • Part IX-B added (Articles 243-ZH to 243-ZT).
    • Right to form cooperative societies → Fundamental Right (Art 19(1)(c)).
    • Principles for their management:
      • Regular elections within 5 years.
      • Professional management.
      • Democratic functioning.
  • Multi-State Cooperative Societies:
    • Registered under Centre’s law (for societies operating across states).
  • Recent Development:
    • Ministry of Cooperation (new ministry) created in 2021 to promote ease of doing business for cooperatives.

Key Highlight:
Cooperatives now have constitutional protection ensuring democracy + autonomy.

Chapter 60: Political Dynamics

Summary:
Understanding recent trends in Indian politics is crucial for exams and for governance understanding.

Important Points:

  • Coalition Governments:
    • Became common since 1989 (end of Congress dominance).
    • Examples: UPA, NDA, various state-level alliances.
  • Regionalism:
    • Rise of regional parties in governance (TMC, DMK, AAP).
  • Caste and Religion:
    • Still influence electoral outcomes heavily.
  • Criminalization of Politics:
    • Increase in candidates with criminal backgrounds.
    • Supreme Court orders for political parties to explain candidate selections.
  • Voter Behavior:
    • Increasing awareness.
    • Rise of women voters.
    • Urban apathy vs rural enthusiasm.

Key Highlight:
Indian politics is maturing but faces challenges like money power, muscle power and identity politics.

Chapter 61: Judicial Reforms and Important SC Judgments

Summary:
Recent Supreme Court decisions have greatly influenced Indian governance and civil rights.

Important Points:

  • Important Recent Judgments:
    • Right to Privacy (2017):
      • Declared as a Fundamental Right under Art 21 (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy case).
    • Decriminalization of Section 377 IPC (2018):
      • Decriminalized homosexuality.
    • Triple Talaq Verdict (2017):
      • Instant triple talaq declared unconstitutional.
    • Sabarimala Verdict (2018):
      • Women allowed to enter the temple.
    • Ayodhya Verdict (2019):
      • Land awarded for Ram temple; mosque to be built elsewhere.
    • Electoral Bonds Judgments:
      • Pending; concerns on transparency vs privacy.
  • NJAC Case (2015):
    • National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act struck down → Collegium system continues.

Key Highlight:
SC is asserting itself as the “guardian of Fundamental Rights” and “arbiter of Constitutional morality.”

Chapter 62: Important Government Schemes and Policies (Quick Revision)

Summary:
Some important schemes you MUST remember for MCQs and GS-II:

Scheme NamePurpose
Beti Bachao Beti PadhaoSave and educate the girl child
PM-KISANDirect income support to farmers
Ayushman BharatHealth insurance for poor families
Atmanirbhar Bharat AbhiyanSelf-reliant India campaign
Swachh Bharat MissionClean India (sanitation, toilets)
Jal Jeevan MissionTap water supply to all rural households
Digital IndiaImprove internet infrastructure and access

Key Highlight:
Latest schemes show shift towards inclusive development and digital governance.

Chapter 63: Electoral Reforms

Summary:
Electoral reforms aim to improve transparency, fairness, and efficiency in the election process.

Important Points:

  • Major Electoral Reforms Implemented:
    • Lowering of voting age to 18 years (61st Amendment, 1989).
    • Introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
    • Use of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) with EVMs.
    • Introduction of NOTA (None of the Above) option (2013).
    • Disclosure of criminal records, assets, and liabilities of candidates.
    • Ceiling on election expenditure by candidates.
  • Pending Reforms (Suggestions):
    • Simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
    • State funding of elections.
    • Decriminalization of politics.
    • Regulating inner-party democracy.
    • Strengthening the Election Commission.

Key Highlight:
Free and fair elections = cornerstone of democracy → continuous reforms needed!

Chapter 64: Simultaneous Elections

Summary:
Simultaneous elections refer to holding Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections at the same time.

Important Points:

  • Advantages:
    • Reduces election costs.
    • Reduces policy paralysis and Model Code of Conduct restrictions.
    • Better governance and continuity.
  • Challenges:
    • Requires constitutional amendments (Articles 83, 172, etc.).
    • Difficult to synchronize all State elections.
    • Federal structure issues (states’ autonomy concerns).
  • Recent Efforts:
    • Law Commission Report (2018) supported the idea.
    • NITI Aayog Discussion Paper on “One Nation, One Election.”

Key Highlight:
Simultaneous elections = efficiency vs federalism debate.

Chapter 65: Separation of Powers

Summary:
Separation of powers is the division of functions among Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.

Important Points:

  • Indian Context:
    • No strict separation (like USA).
    • Functional separation maintained (based on British model).
  • Examples:
    • Parliament can impeach President and Judges.
    • Judiciary can review laws made by Parliament.
    • Executive administers laws but under Judiciary’s scrutiny.
  • Recent Issues:
    • Judicial activism sometimes seen as encroaching into executive/legislative domains.
    • Legislature sometimes attacks judiciary on grounds of overreach.

Key Highlight:
Indian Constitution ensures a “system of checks and balances” — not absolute separation.

Chapter 66: Judicial Accountability and Transparency

Summary:
Judicial accountability ensures that judiciary remains independent, responsible, and ethical.

Important Points:

  • Mechanisms Proposed:
    • Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill (lapsed).
    • Internal mechanisms within judiciary for discipline.
    • More transparency in appointment and performance evaluation.
  • Challenges:
    • Lack of effective external oversight.
    • Collegium system lacks transparency.
  • Recent Initiatives:
    • Supreme Court judgments mandating disclosure of judges’ assets.
    • Public interest movements demanding transparency in judicial appointments.

Key Highlight:
Judicial accountability strengthens public trust in justice delivery.

Chapter 67: Digital Governance and e-Governance

Summary:
Digital governance is transforming service delivery, transparency, and citizen-government interaction.

Important Points:

  • Major Initiatives:
    • Digital India Mission (2015).
    • e-Courts Project (digitization of judiciary).
    • MyGov platform (citizen engagement).
    • UMANG App (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance).
    • Aadhaar integration in governance.
  • Benefits:
    • Transparency.
    • Speedy services.
    • Reduced corruption.
    • Citizen empowerment.
  • Challenges:
    • Digital divide (rural-urban gap).
    • Cybersecurity threats.
    • Privacy issues.

Key Highlight:
E-Governance = Citizen-centric, transparent, efficient governance.

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