Political Science: Constitution, Rights, and Government
What the Political Science section tests
This domain covers the Indian Constitution, rights and duties, federalism, the three organs of government, elections, and local self-government. Questions reward precise article references and clear distinctions between similar institutions.
Core rules
- Fundamental Rights (Part III) are justiciable; Directive Principles (Part IV) are moral guidelines for policy and are not enforceable in court.
- The five writs: habeas corpus (illegal detention), mandamus (command a public authority), prohibition (stop a lower court), certiorari (quash a lower court order), quo warranto (question authority to hold office).
- Federal division: Union List, State List, Concurrent List; residuary powers rest with the Union.
- The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) gave constitutional status to panchayats and urban local bodies, with reservations for SC/ST and one-third seats for women.
- The Election Commission conducts elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.
Worked example
A person is detained without being told the grounds. Which right and which writ apply? Article 22(1) protects against detention without being informed of the grounds; Article 21 protects life and liberty. Habeas corpus is the remedy to produce the detained person. State the article, the right, and the writ separately because examiners award each step.
Traps
Writing that Fundamental Rights are absolute, when they are subject to reasonable restrictions; confusing mandamus with habeas corpus; saying the President is directly elected; mixing the 73rd (rural) and 74th (urban) Amendments; treating the Concurrent List as exclusively Union.