Polity: Introduction and Constitutional Development

Vocabulary terms from the introductory lecture on Indian Polity and Constitutional Development, including types of constitutions and key historical events like the Magna Carta and the rise of the East India Company.

Polity

The study of the system of governance and basic principles.

Constitution

The basic principles used to govern a country, acting as a reflection of the nation, protection of rights, and a means to restrict or limit the government.

Magna Carta

The 'Great charter of freedom' signed in $1215$ stating that no one is above the law and establishing basic rights.

King John

The British King who signed a legal paper at the Runnymede River in $1215$ after increasing tax rates and facing demands for land rights from Lords.

Written Constitution

A deliberately written, formalized legal document with defined structures, usually created by a Constituent Assembly and often hard to change.

Non-written Constitution

Laws that evolved over time with the progression of society, characterized by having no single defined structure and being flexible in nature.

Longest Written Constitution

The Constitution of India.

Oldest Functioning Written Constitution

The Constitution of the U.S.A.

East India Company (EIC)

A company that came to India in $1600$ and eventually filed for bankruptcy after the Battle of Plassey and the Battle of Buxar.

Treaty of Allahabad

A treaty following the Battle of Buxar where the EIC defeated the Mughals and gained rights over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.

Lord North

The individual associated with the 'Secret Committee' mentioned in early constitutional development.

NDA Polity Question Weightage

An average of $6-8$ questions are asked, ranging from simple to moderate difficulty levels.

Constituent Assembly

The body responsible for drafting a written constitution.