Polity · X-Factor Notes
The Governance System revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
High-Yield Revision| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Elements of a State | The four essential elements are Population, Territory, Government, and Sovereignty. Sovereignty is the most important element. | |
| Sovereignty of India | The word 'Sovereign' implies India is an independent state. India's membership in the Commonwealth of Nations does not curtail or affect its sovereignty. | U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017 |
| Republic | India is a Republic, which implies that the head of the State is elected. | U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017 |
| Welfare State | The statement, "The State is everywhere: it leaves hardly a gap," explains the concept of a welfare state. The architect of the Indian Constitution provided for a welfare State through the Directive Principles of State Policy. | U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2012 |
| Preamble Sequence | The correct sequence of the terms in the Preamble (as amended by the 42nd Amendment) is: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic. | UPPSC RO-ARO 2023 R.E |
| Constitutional Government | By definition, a constitutional government is a limited government, as the Constitution imposes limitations upon the government in the interest of the people. | |
| Cardinal Features | The cardinal features of the political system in India are that it is a democratic republic, it has a Parliamentary form of government, and the supreme power vests in the People of India. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008, UPPCS (Pre) 2009 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Governance System in India | India follows the Parliamentary form of government, which is influenced by the system of the United Kingdom. | UPPCS (Pre) 1990 |
| Origin of Parliamentary System | The Parliamentary form of Government was first introduced in Great Britain (UK). | UPPCS (Pre) 2018 |
| Cabinet Form Principles |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Indian Constitution | The Indian Constitution exhibits a mixture of federal and unitary features. The assertion that the Constitution provides for a federal system and the reason that it created a very strong center are both true, but the reason is not the correct explanation for the assertion. | UPPCS (Pre) 1995 |
| Unitary Features | Examples include a strong center, single Constitution, single Citizenship, integrated Judiciary, appointment of the state Governor by the centre, and Emergency provisions. | |
| This system ensures the collective responsibility of the Government to the people. Members of the Cabinet are members of the Parliament. Ministers hold office until they enjoy confidence in the Parliament. |
| Head of Cabinet | The Cabinet is headed by the Head of the Government, the Prime Minister. The Head of the State is the President. |
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| Presidential Government | In a Presidential form of Government, all the executive powers are vested in the President, who serves as both the head of the state and head of the Government. This form is not a feature of the Indian Constitution. | UPPCS (Pre) 2005, UPPCS (Mains) 2015 |
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| Subordination of Executive | In Indian Polity, the executive is subordinate to the Legislature. |
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| Shift in Federalism Trend | The Parliamentary System in India shifted from Centralism towards Federalism during the decade of the 1980s. |
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| Cooperative Federalism |
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| Indian Federalism was described as Cooperative Federalism by G. Austin. |
| Quasi-Federalism | India was termed a quasi-federal state by K.C. Wheare. | U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010 |
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| Residuary Powers | In India, residuary powers are vested in the Centre (Parliament). This contrasts with the USA, where they are vested in the States. |
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| Executive Power of Union/States | The executive power of the Union extends to giving directions to the States (under Article 257) to ensure that the State's executive power is exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the Union's executive power. |
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