Indian Government: Union Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and Federalism
What the domain tests
This domain tests the working of the Union government and the federal division of powers. Expect questions on the President, Prime Minister, Parliament, courts, and Centre-State relations.
Core ideas
- Union Executive: the President is constitutional head; the Vice-President chairs the Rajya Sabha; the Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers, which is responsible to the Lok Sabha.
- Parliament: President, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. It legislates, controls finance, oversees the executive, and amends the Constitution.
- Judiciary: Supreme Court at the apex, High Courts, and subordinate courts; judicial review and public interest litigation.
- Federalism: Union, State and Concurrent Lists in the Seventh Schedule; residuary powers with the Union; cooperative and competitive federalism.
Worked example
If a subject falls in the Concurrent List, both Parliament and a State legislature may legislate, but Union law prevails in case of conflict under Article 254. The reasoning applies the list system and the repugnancy rule.
Traps
Do not call India a pure federation or a unitary state. Do not say the President is elected directly. Do not claim the Supreme Court only hears appeals; it also has writ and review jurisdiction.