Indian Polity Comprehensive Review

Flashcards covering the historical background, constitutional development, functional organs of the Indian government, and significant amendments found in the lecture notes.

Regulating Act Of $1773$

The first step to control and regulate the affairs of the East India Company; it designated the Governor of Bengal as the Governor General of Bengal and established a Supreme Court at Calcutta in $1774$.

Warren Hastings

The $1^{st}$ Governor-General of Bengal as designated under the Regulating Act of $1773$.

Sir Elizah Impey

The first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court established at Calcutta in $1774$.

Pitt’s India Act, $1784$

Act that established a system of Dual government consisting of the Board of Control for political affairs and the Court of Directors for commercial affairs.

Charter Act of $1833$

Act that made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India, established the Indian Law Commission, and declared the slavery system illegal.

William Bentinck

The first Governor-General of India.

Charter Act of $1853$

The last Charter Act, which introduced an open competition system for the selection and recruitment of civil servants.

Government Of India Act, $1858$

Known as the Act of Good Governance, it transferred powers to the British Crown, abolished the Dual Government, and changed the title of Governor-General of India to Viceroy.

Lord Canning

The first Viceroy of India.

Indian Councils Act, $1909$

Also known as the Morley Minto Reforms, it introduced separate electorates for Muslims and allowed Indians in the Viceroy's Executive Council.

Government of India Act, $1919$

Also known as the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, it introduced Dyarchy in Provincial Subjects and granted voting rights to Indian women for the first time.

Government of India Act, $1935$

Act that proposed an All-India Federation, abolished dyarchy in provinces, established the Reserve Bank of India, and separated Burma from India.

Cabinet Mission Plan ($1946$)

The plan that laid the groundwork for the Constituent Assembly, consisting of members Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A V Alexander.

Objective Resolution

Moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on $13^{th}$ December $1946$, it served as the basis for the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

Dr. Sachidanand Sinha

The oldest member of the Constituent Assembly who was elected as the temporary chairman.

Drafting Committee

Committee set up on $29^{th}$ August $1947$ chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to prepare the draft of the Constitution.

Sovereign

A Preamble term indicating that India is a completely independent State, neither a dominion nor a dependent on any other country.

Berubari Union Case ($1960$)

Supreme Court case where it was held that the Preamble is not a part of the Constitution.

Kesavananda Bharati Case ($1973$)

Supreme Court case establishing that the Preamble is part of the Constitution and can be amended, provided the 'Basic Structure' remains intact.

Article $1$

Describes India, that is Bharat, as a 'Union of States' rather than a 'federation of states'.

DHAR Commission ($1948$)

Commission that recommended the reorganization of states based on administrative convenience rather than linguistic factors.

Fundamental Rights (Part III)

Justiciable rights borrowed from the USA, protecting individual liberties and freedoms against the state; known as the Magna Carta of India.

Article $17$

The article of the Indian Constitution that provides for the abolition of untouchability.

Habeas Corpus

Literal meaning 'To have the body of'; a writ issued by a court to a person who has detained another to produce them before the court.

Mandamus

Literal meaning 'We command'; a writ issued to a public official asking them to perform duties they have failed or refused to perform.

Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)

Non-justiciable principles described as a 'novel feature' by B.R. Ambedkar that embody the concept of a welfare state.

Fundamental Duties (Part IVA)

Duties added by the $42^{nd}$ CAA, $1976$ based on Swaran Singh Committee recommendations; there are currently $11$ duties.

Article $61$

The article detailing the procedure for the impeachment of the President of India on grounds of 'violation of the constitution'.

Vice-President of India

The ex-officio chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).

Money Bill (Article $110$)

Bills concerned with financial matters like taxation that can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha on the recommendation of the President.

Quorum

The minimum of one-tenth of total members of a House (including the presiding officer) required to be present before it can transact business.

Casting Vote

The power of the Speaker or Chairman to vote only in the case of an equality of votes to resolve a tie.

Joint Sitting (Article $108$)

A combined meeting of both Houses of Parliament summoned by the President to resolve deadlocks over ordinary bills.

Adjournment Sine Die

The termination of a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period by the Presiding Officer.

Prorogation

The official termination of a session of Parliament declared by the President of India.

Zero Hour

An informal parliamentary device starting immediately after Question Hour for members to raise matters of urgent public importance.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

A parliamentary committee that examines CAG audit reports; the CAG acts as its 'friend, philosopher, and guide.'

$\text{UPSC}$ (Union Public Service Commission)

A constitutional body (Articles $315$ to $323$) responsible for recruitment to all-India services and central services.

$\text{ECI}$ (Election Commission of India)

A constitutional body established under Article $324$ for the superintendence, direction, and control of elections.

Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG)

Known as the 'Guardian of the public purse,' this officer audits all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India.

NITI Aayog

An extra-constitutional body and 'Think Tank' introduced in $2015$ to replace the Planning Commission.

$73^{rd}$ Constitutional Amendment Act, $1992$

The amendment that constitutionalized Panchayati Raj institutions by adding Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule.

$42^{nd}$ Constitutional Amendment Act, $1976$

Often called the 'Mini Constitution,' it added the words 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble.