Punjab Police Constable key terms

Six groups of rights guaranteed to citizens by Part III of the Indian Constitution, including equality, freedom, and constitutional remedies. They are enforceable in the Supreme Court and High Courts through writ petitions.

Guidelines in Part IV of the Constitution directing the State to promote social and economic welfare. They are not enforceable in courts, but courts treat them as fundamental in governance.

Eleven obligations listed in Article 51A of the Constitution, added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, asking citizens to respect the Constitution, national symbols, and public property.

A formal application asking a High Court or the Supreme Court to issue a constitutional order enforcing a fundamental right. Common writs include habeas corpus, mandamus, certiorari, prohibition, and quo warranto.

A Latin-named writ meaning 'to have the body'. It commands a person detaining another to produce the detainee before the court and justify the detention, protecting against unlawful custody.

A written record prepared at the time of arrest giving the arrested person's name, the offence, the arresting officer, and the date and time. It is attested by a witness and countersigned.

Eleven procedural safeguards laid down by the Supreme Court in 1997 for arrests and detentions, covering arrest memos, medical examination, informing family, and police control room reporting. Breach invites contempt.

The first information about a cognizable offence recorded by police under Section 154 of the old CrPC, now Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. It sets the investigation in motion.

An FIR registered at any police station regardless of territorial jurisdiction, later transferred to the station having jurisdiction. It ensures no delay in registering a serious offence.

An offence in which police may register an FIR and begin investigation without a magistrate's permission, and may arrest without a warrant. Examples include murder, robbery, and kidnapping.

An offence for which police cannot investigate or arrest without a magistrate's order. The complainant is referred to court, and the police only record the information in a general diary.

The criminal code that replaced the Indian Penal Code from 1 July 2024. It retains most offences while reorganising them and adding provisions on organised crime and community service as a punishment.

The procedural criminal law replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure from 1 July 2024. It governs FIRs, investigation, arrest, bail, and trial, and permits electronic recording of many processes.

The police process of collecting evidence about an offence, including examining witnesses, searching premises, seizing property, and recording statements. It is distinct from inquiry and trial.

The final police report filed before a magistrate after investigation, listing the accused, the offences, and the evidence. It is filed under Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

A strategy where police work with residents, local bodies, and volunteers to prevent crime and solve neighbourhood problems. It emphasises trust, information sharing, and joint problem-solving rather than enforcement alone.

Basic entitlements every person holds by virtue of being human, such as life, liberty, dignity, and fair trial. In policing, they restrict the use of force, torture, and arbitrary detention.

Physical or mental harm inflicted on a person in police or judicial custody, including torture and custodial death. It is an offence and a serious human rights violation attracting departmental and criminal action.

A police official assigned a defined local area to patrol, gather intelligence, verify tenants and servants, and build contact with residents. The beat system is the base unit of preventive policing.

Systematic movement of police personnel through an area on foot, bicycle, motorcycle, or vehicle to deter crime, observe suspicious activity, and reassure the public. Routes and timings are recorded in a diary.

A police checkpoint or picket set up on roads to check vehicles and persons, often during festivals or after a crime. It is used to intercept suspects and enforce traffic and security rules.

The main commercial market area of a town or city, usually centrally located and busy. In Punjab, a thana or police post is often positioned near it for quick response to crowding and theft.

The campaign, especially strong from the 1950s to 1966, for a Punjabi-speaking state. It led to the reorganisation of Punjab on 1 November 1966 and the creation of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh areas.

The demand for a separate state where Punjabi would be the official language. The slogan and movement shaped Punjab's linguistic politics and resulted in the 1966 reorganisation of the state.

The division of the erstwhile Punjab into Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Himachal Pradesh under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, effective 1 November. Punjabi-speaking areas remained in Punjab.

The longest river flowing through Punjab, entering near Ropar and forming part of the state's southern boundary with Haryana. The Bhakra Dam is built on it, and it supports major irrigation canals.

A Himalayan river that flows entirely through Punjab after entering near Pathankot, joining the Sutlej near Harike. It feeds the Indira Gandhi Canal and is central to Punjab's irrigation system.

A major multipurpose dam on the Sutlej at the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border, completed in 1963. It provides hydropower and irrigation water to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

A Ramsar wetland at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej in Punjab, created by the Harike barrage. It is a major habitat for migratory birds and an important source of irrigation water.

The adoption of high-yielding wheat and rice varieties, fertilisers, and tubewell irrigation in Punjab from the late 1960s. It made Punjab a leading food-grain producer but also caused groundwater depletion.

Punjab's dominant cropping pattern of wheat in winter and paddy in summer, supported by minimum support prices and assured procurement. It raises output but strains soil and water resources.

The steady fall in underground water levels caused by pumping more than rainfall and canals recharge. In Punjab it is driven by paddy cultivation and free electricity for tubewells.

The legislative assembly of a state. Punjab's Vidhan Sabha has 117 elected members, and the party or coalition with a majority forms the state government led by the Chief Minister.

The head of a state government, appointed by the Governor and normally the leader of the majority party in the Vidhan Sabha. The Chief Minister advises the Governor on most appointments and policy.

The constitutional head of a state, appointed by the President. The Governor appoints the Chief Minister, summons the legislature, and exercises powers on the advice of the council of ministers, except in specified discretionary matters.

A non-resident Indian, meaning an Indian citizen residing abroad, often for work or business. Punjab has large NRI communities in Canada, the UK, and the Gulf who remit money and invest in the state.

Money sent by migrants to their home country or region. In Punjab, remittances from NRIs support households, property, and local consumption, and are a notable part of the state's economy.

An Indo-Aryan language written in the Gurmukhi script in India and Shahmukhi in Pakistan. It is the official language of Punjab and a classical language recognised by the Government of India in 2024.

The script used to write Punjabi in India, traditionally attributed to Guru Angad Dev. It has 35 primary letters plus auxiliary signs and is taught in Punjab schools as a compulsory subject.

Crime committed using computers or the internet, such as online fraud, identity theft, phishing, and data theft. Complaints in India can be filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or by calling 1930.

A fraud where an attacker sends fake messages or websites to trick a person into revealing passwords, OTPs, or bank details. Awareness and never sharing OTPs are the main defences.

A password valid for a single login or transaction, usually sent by SMS or generated by an app. Banks never ask for an OTP, so sharing it is a common cause of online fraud.