Indian Polity - CDS/NDA Complete Revision Flashcards

This set of 300 flashcards covers the historical development, features, administrative structure, and constitutional provisions of the Indian government based on lecture notes and past year questions.

MN Roy (1934)

The person who first proposed the idea of a Constitutional Assembly for India.

INC Official Demand (1935)

The year the Indian National Congress officially demanded a Constituent Assembly.

Objective Resolution (1938)

Passed by JL Nehru, this document outlined the philosophy of the Constitution and later became the Preamble.

August Offer (1940)

A proposal by Viceroy Linlithgow offering Dominion status and declaring that framing a new Constitution was primarily the duty of Indians.

Cripps Mission (1942)

A failed mission that proposed Dominion status and a Constituent Assembly after World War II, rejected by INC and Muslim League.

Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)

The plan that finally led to the formation of one Constituent Assembly for India.

Motilal Nehru (1928)

Chairman of the committee that drafted a Constitution for India during the All Party Conference.

Constituent Assembly Total Seats (Nov 1946)

The assembly was originally composed of $389$ seats.

British Province Seats in CA

Consisted of $296$ seats, including $292$ from governor's provinces and $4$ from Chief commissioner's provinces.

Princely States Seats in CA

Consisted of $93$ seats filled through nomination by kings.

Single Transferable Vote

The voting method used for the election of the Constituent Assembly based on proportional representation.

CA Election Results (INC)

The Indian National Congress won $208$ seats in the July-August $1946$ elections.

Muslim League CA Seats (Pre-Withdrawal)

The Muslim League originally won $73$ seats before withdrawing.

CA Seats After Partition

The total seats were reduced to $299$, with $229$ for provinces and $70$ for princely states.

First Meeting of CA (9 Dec 1946)

The meeting boycotted by the Muslim League, with only $211$ members present.

Sachchidananda Singa

The oldest member of the CA who served as the Temporary Speaker (Protem Speaker), following the French practice.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly.

HC Mukherjee and VT Krishnamchari

The two individuals who served as Vice Presidents of the Constituent Assembly.

Dual Function of CA

The body served as both a Constitutional body (led by Rajendra Prasad) and a Legislative body (led by GV Mavalankar).

Preamble Adoption Date

The modified version of the Objective Resolution was adopted on $22$ January $1947$.

Commonwealth Ratification

India ratified its membership in the Commonwealth in May $1949$.

National Flag Adoption

Adopted on $22$ July $1947$, designed by Pingali venkayya.

National Anthem and Song Adoption

Both were officially adopted on $24$ January $1950$.

First President of India Election

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President on $24$ January $1950$.

Duration to Frame Constitution

It took $11$ sessions over a period of $2$ years, $11$ months, and $18$ days.

Provisions Active on 26 Nov 1949

Citizenship, Elections, and Emergency provisions became effective on this date.

Adoption of Constitution Details

Adopted on $26$ Nov $1949$ with a Preamble, $395$ Articles, and $8$ Schedules.

Dr BR Ambedkar

Recognized as the Father of the Constitution and the Chief Architect of the Constitution of India.

Union Powers Committee Chairman

JL Nehru.

Provincial Constitution Committee Chairman

Sardar Patel.

Drafting Committee Chairman

Dr BR Ambedkar.

Advisory Committee on FR and Minorities

Headed by Sardar Patel.

Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee Chair

JB Kriplani.

Minorities Sub-Committee Chair

HC Mukherjee.

Drafting Committee Establishment Date

$29$ August $1947$.

Drafting Committee Size

Consisted of $7$ members.

BN Rau

The Constitutional Advisor (Legal Advisor) to the Constituent Assembly.

HVR Iyengar

The Secretary of the Constituent Assembly.

SN Mukherjee

The Chief Draftsman of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly.

Prem Bihari Raizada

The calligrapher who wrote the original English version of the Constitution in Italic style.

Nandlal Bose

The artist who decorated the original Constitution along with Beohar Rammanohar Sinha.

Vasant Krishna Vaidya

The person who wrote the Hindi version of the original Constitution.

Symbol of CA

The Elephant was adopted as the seal of the Constituent Assembly.

58th CAA 1987

Introduced Article $394A$ for the authoritative text of the Constitution in the Hindi language.

Regulating Act of 1773

The first step by the British government to control the East India Company and lay the foundation of central administration.

Warren Hastings

The first Governor-General (GG) of Bengal, assisted by a $4$-member executive council.

Establishment of Supreme Court (1774)

Located at Calcutta, consisting of $1$ Chief Justice and $3$ Judges.

Pitt’s India Act of 1784

Established a System of Double Government with the Board of Control and Court of Directors.

Board of Control

The body established in $1784$ to manage political affairs in India.

Charter Act of 1793

Extended the trade monopoly for $20$ years and mandated members of the Board of Control be paid from Indian Revenue.

Charter Act of 1813

Abolished the EIC trade monopoly except for tea and trade with China; allowed Christian Missionaries.

Charter Act of 1833

Made the GG of Bengal the Governor-General of India (William Bentick) and abolished the EIC trade monopoly completely.

William Bentick

The first Governor-General of India.

Charter Act of 1853

Established the GG’s Legislative Council as a 'Mini Parliament' and introduced open competition for civil servants.

Macaulay Committee (1854)

A committee on the Indian Civil Service that allowed Indians to compete for positions.

GoI Act 1858

Known as the Act for the Good Government of India, it abolished EIC and transferred power to the British Crown.

Viceroy of India Title

Introduced in $1858$ to replace GG of India; Lord Canning was the first.

Secretary of State for India

A new office created in $1858$ with a $15$-member council, responsible to the British Parliament.

Indian Council Act 1861

Restored legislative powers to Bombay and Madras (decentralization) and introduced the Portfolio System.

Portfolio System

Introduced by Canning in $1861$, where a member of the council was made in-charge of departments.

Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)

Increased the size of legislative councils and introduced a separate electorate for Muslims.

Satyendra Prasad Sinha

The first Indian to join the Viceroy's Executive Council, serving as a Law member.

Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919)

Introduced Dyarchy (reserved and transferred subjects) and bicameralism at the center.

Transferred Subjects (1919)

Subjects administered by the Governor with the aid of ministers responsible to the Legislative Council.

Reserved Subjects (1919)

Subjects administered by the Governor and his executive council without responsibility to the Legislative Council.

Communal Representation (1919)

Extended separate electorates to Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans.

Central Public Service Commission (1926)

Established based on the Government of India Act $1919$ provisions.

Communal Award (August 1932)

Announced by Ramsay MacDonald to provide separate electorates for depressed classes.

Federal List (1935)

Contained $59$ subjects under the central government's jurisdiction.

Provincial List (1935)

Contained $54$ subjects under the provinces' jurisdiction.

Concurrent List (1935)

Contained $36$ subjects under both central and provincial jurisdiction.

Provincial Autonomy

Introduced by the GoI Act $1935$, replacing dyarchy in the provinces with responsible government.

Reserve Bank of India Establishment

Authorized by the GoI Act of $1935$ to control currency and credit.

Federal Court (1937)

Established in accordance with the provisions of the Government of India Act $1935$.

Clement Attlee’s Declaration

Stated on Feb $20$, $1947$, that British rule in India would end by June $30$, $1948$.

Indian Independence Act Date

Presented in Parliament on July $4$ and received Royal Assent on July $18$, $1947$.

Office of Viceroy Abolition

The Indian Independence Act $1947$ abolished this office, replacing it with a Governor-General for each dominion.

Emperor of India Title

Dropped from the royal titles of the King of England by the $1947$ Independence Act.

Lengthiest Written Constitution

The Indian Constitution currently has approx $448$ Articles, $25$ Parts, and $12$ Schedules.

Rigidity and Flexibility

Features of the Indian Constitution as it requires a special majority for some amendments and a simple majority for others.

Quasi-Federal System

Describes the Indian state as having a federal structure with strong unitary features like a single constitution and integrated judiciary.

Westminster Model

The parliamentary system of government followed by India, characterized by the responsibility of the executive to the legislature.

61st CAA 1988

Reduced the voting age from $21$ to $18$ years for elections.

Source: GoI Act 1935

Provided the Federal Scheme, Office of Governor, Judiciary, Public Service Commissions, and Emergency Provisions.

Source: British Constitution

Parliamentary government, Rule of Law, Legislative process, Single citizenship, Cabinet system, and Writs.

Source: USA Constitution

Fundamental Rights, Independence of Judiciary, Judicial review, Impeachment of the President, and Removal of SC/HC judges.

Source: Irish Constitution

Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), nomination of members to Rajya Sabha, and method of election of President.

Source: Canadian Constitution

Federation with a strong centre, vesting of residuary powers in the Centre, and appointment of state governors by the Centre.

Source: Australian Constitution

Concurrent List, Freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse, and Joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament.

Source: Weimar Constitution

Suspension of Fundamental Rights during Emergency.

Source: USSR (Soviet) Constitution

Fundamental Duties and the ideals of justice (social, economic, and political) in the Preamble.

Source: French Constitution

Republic and the ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in the Preamble.

Source: South African Constitution

Procedure for amendment of the Constitution and election of members of Rajya Sabha.

Source: Japanese Constitution

Procedure established by Law.

Shankari Prasad Case (1951)

SC ruled that Parliament can abridge Fundamental Rights under Article $368$.

Golak Nath Case (1967)

SC reversed its earlier stand, ruling that Fundamental Rights cannot be abridged by Constitutional Amendment Acts.

24th CAA 1971

Amendment enacted by the government to state that Article $13$ does not apply to amendments under Article $368$.

Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973)

Established the 'Basic Structure' doctrine, stating Parliament cannot amend fundamental features of the Constitution.

Mini Constitution

A common name for the $42$-nd Amendment Act of $1976$ due to its extensive changes.

Minerva Mills Case (1980)

SC reaffirmed the 'Basic Structure' and struck down provisions that gave Parliament unlimited power to amend.