Civics: Constitution, Government and Local Self-Government
Civics tests how the Indian Constitution works rather than how it reads: who may do what, which level of government is responsible, and what a citizen can claim.
Constitutional basics
- The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950; Dr B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee.
- Fundamental Rights (Part III) are enforceable in the courts. Directive Principles (Part IV) are goals for the state and are not directly enforceable. Fundamental Duties (Part IVA) were added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976.
- Federal features: two levels of government, a written constitution, and division of powers into the Union, State and Concurrent Lists.
Parliament and the states
- Parliament has the President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Money bills can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, and the Speaker certifies them.
- The Governor is appointed by the President and acts on the advice of the state's Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
- Rajasthan has a unicameral legislature - a Vidhan Sabha only, with no Vidhan Parishad.
Local self-government
- The 73rd Amendment (1992) gave panchayats constitutional status and a three-tier structure: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad.
- Rajasthan is regarded as the pioneer: panchayati raj was inaugurated at Nagaur on 2 October 1959, and the state reserves half the seats for women.
Worked example
"Education was earlier a State List subject. Which list does it belong to now?" Reason: the 42nd Amendment (1976) shifted education from the State List to the Concurrent List, so both Parliament and the state legislature can legislate, but central law prevails in case of conflict. Answer: Concurrent List.
Traps
Do not treat Directive Principles as enforceable rights. A money bill is not introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Rajasthan has no upper house, so any option mentioning a Vidhan Parishad is wrong. Panchayats are elected bodies, not courts.