GPSC Class 1 & 2 key terms

A judicial principle holding that Parliament cannot amend the Constitution in a way that destroys its essential features, such as judicial review, federalism, or secularism. Established in Kesavananda Bharati (1973).

The power of constitutional courts to examine whether legislative acts and executive orders conform to the Constitution and to declare them void if they violate it. Exercised under Articles 13, 32, and 226.

The constitutional provision prescribing how Parliament may amend the Constitution, through simple majority, special majority, or special majority plus ratification by half the state legislatures for federal provisions.

The introductory statement of the Constitution declaring India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and listing justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity as objectives. Courts use it as an interpretive aid.

Guidelines in Part IV (Articles 36-51) directing the state toward social and economic welfare goals. They are non-justiciable but fundamental in governance and inform legislative and policy choices.

Enforceable individual liberties guaranteed in Part III (Articles 12-35), including equality, freedom of speech, life and personal liberty, and constitutional remedies. Violations can be challenged directly in the Supreme Court.

The authority of the Supreme Court (Article 32) and High Courts (Article 226) to issue writs such as habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, and quo warranto for enforcing rights.

A tendency of courts to interpret law expansively and intervene in policy or governance failures, often through public interest litigation, expanding standing, and issuing continuing mandamus or guidelines.

Litigation filed to protect the interests of the public at large, where courts relax traditional standing rules so any concerned citizen or organisation may approach them on behalf of affected groups.

A system dividing powers between a central government and constituent units, each sovereign in its sphere. In India, this is reflected in the Seventh Schedule's Union, State, and Concurrent Lists.

The constitutional schedule that distributes legislative subjects among the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List, defining the legislative competence of Parliament and state legislatures.

The constitutional head of a state, appointed by the President, who exercises executive power on the advice of the state council of ministers except in limited discretionary situations specified by the Constitution.

The head of a state government, appointed by the Governor and normally the leader of the majority party in the Legislative Assembly, who advises the Governor on most executive functions.

The body of ministers headed by the Prime Minister or Chief Minister that aids and advises the President or Governor. Its advice is binding in most matters, and it is collectively responsible to the legislature.

The constitutional convention that the council of ministers stands or falls together and is jointly answerable to the legislature for all government decisions, requiring resignation if a no-confidence motion passes.

A parliamentary motion moved in the Lok Sabha expressing lack of confidence in the council of ministers. If passed by a majority, the government must resign.

The Tenth Schedule provision disqualifying legislators who voluntarily give up party membership or vote against the party whip, aimed at curbing defection and unstable floor-crossing.

The presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, elected by members, who conducts proceedings, decides questions of disqualification under the anti-defection law, and certifies money bills.

A bill dealing solely with taxation, borrowing, or the Consolidated Fund, certified as such by the Speaker and introduced only in the Lok Sabha with the President's recommendation.

A bill dealing with financial matters but not confined to the subjects listed for a money bill. It may be introduced in either House but requires the President's recommendation for introduction.

The fund into which all government revenues are credited and from which expenditure is met, requiring parliamentary appropriation. No money can be withdrawn without legislative sanction.

A government account holding money received on behalf of others, such as provident funds and small savings, from which withdrawals do not require parliamentary appropriation each time.

A constitutional body constituted every five years under Article 280 to recommend the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and states and among states, and principles for grants-in-aid.

A constitutional body under Article 279A chaired by the Union Finance Minister with state finance ministers as members, recommending tax rates, exemptions, and thresholds for goods and services tax.

The excess of total government expenditure over total receipts excluding borrowings, indicating how much the government must borrow to meet its spending requirements in a year.

Actions by a central bank to manage money supply, interest rates, and credit to achieve price stability and growth, using tools such as repo rate, cash reserve ratio, and open market operations.

A monetary framework in which the central bank commits to a numerical inflation target and uses policy rates to achieve it. India adopted flexible inflation targeting in 2016.

The rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends short-term funds to commercial banks against government securities, serving as the principal policy rate for liquidity management.

The policy rate at which the central bank lends overnight funds to banks against approved securities; raising it typically tightens liquidity and cools demand, while lowering it does the reverse.

The share of net demand and time liabilities that banks must hold as cash reserves with the Reserve Bank of India, used to control credit creation and liquidity in the banking system.

A composite measure combining life expectancy, education, and per capita income to rank countries on average human development, published annually by the United Nations Development Programme.

A measure counting overlapping deprivations in health, education, and living standards at household level, used to identify poverty beyond income thresholds.

Seventeen global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 for achievement by 2030, covering poverty, health, education, inequality, environment, and institutional governance.

A biogeographic region with exceptionally high species richness and endemism that has lost a large share of its original habitat, making it a priority for conservation. India hosts four such hotspots.

A species naturally found only in a specific geographic area and nowhere else, making it highly vulnerable to habitat loss and a key criterion for conservation prioritisation.

A legally designated zone managed for conservation of biodiversity, such as a national park, wildlife sanctuary, or biosphere reserve, where human activity is regulated or restricted.

A transition zone between two ecological communities, such as a forest edge or mangrove belt, often rich in species diversity and sensitive to environmental change.

The pathway by which elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus move between living organisms and the physical environment through biological, geological, and chemical processes.

The warming of the Earth's surface as certain atmospheric gases absorb and re-emit outgoing infrared radiation, trapping heat and regulating global temperature.

A reservoir such as a forest, soil, or ocean that absorbs and stores more carbon than it releases, helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions from human activity.

The three-tier system of local self-government in rural India established by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, comprising village, block, and district panchayats with elected representatives and reserved seats.

The assembly of all registered voters in a village, functioning as the foundational deliberative body of Panchayati Raj and exercising powers such as approving plans and social audits.

Institutions of local self-government in cities and towns, such as municipal corporations and municipal councils, constituted under the 74th Constitutional Amendment with elected councils and ward committees.

A law guaranteeing at least one hundred days of unskilled wage employment per rural household per year, with unemployment allowance payable if work is not provided within fifteen days.

A participatory review of a public programme's implementation by the community, examining records, expenditure, and outcomes to identify irregularities and improve accountability.

A statutory right allowing citizens to seek information from public authorities within prescribed time limits, subject to exemptions, with an appeal mechanism to information commissions.

An anti-corruption ombudsman established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, empowered to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries, including the Prime Minister in limited cases.

A government-run network of fair price shops supplying subsidised food grains and other essentials to eligible households, using ration cards linked to poverty and food security criteria.

Reliable physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for an active and healthy life, addressed in India through buffer stocks, procurement, and entitlement laws.

A price announced by the government before sowing to protect farmers from steep price falls, under which designated agencies procure crops at that floor price.

The division of taxing and spending powers and responsibilities between the Union and states, including revenue sharing, grants, and borrowing rules, coordinated through constitutional institutions.

A model of intergovernmental relations emphasising collaboration, consultation, and shared problem-solving between the Union and states, embodied in institutions such as the Inter-State Council and GST Council.

A constitutional body under Article 263 established by presidential order to inquire into and advise on disputes or matters of common interest between states and the Union.