RBSE VU Political Science key terms

The opening statement of the Indian Constitution that declares its source of authority as the people and lists the objectives of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. Courts treat it as part of the Constitution and a guide to interpretation.

The principle, established in Kesavananda Bharati (1973), that Parliament may amend the Constitution but cannot destroy its essential features such as supremacy of the Constitution, judicial review, federalism and free elections.

The power of courts to examine laws and executive actions and declare them void if they violate the Constitution. In India it flows from Articles 13, 32 and 226 and is treated as part of the basic structure.

The constitutional right that lets a person move the Supreme Court directly for enforcement of Fundamental Rights. Dr. Ambedkar called it the heart and soul of the Constitution; the Supreme Court can issue writs under it.

A formal written order of a court commanding a person or authority to act or refrain from acting. The five constitutional writs are habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari and quo warranto.

A limitation on a Fundamental Right that the Constitution itself permits, such as public order, decency or morality. Courts test whether the restriction is backed by law, serves a legitimate aim and is proportionate.

A standard of review asking whether a rights-limiting measure pursues a legitimate goal, is suitable and necessary for it, and does not burden the right more than required. Indian courts increasingly apply it alongside reasonableness.

A set of enforceable guarantees in Part III of the Constitution, including equality, freedom, protection from exploitation, religion, culture and education, and constitutional remedies. They are mostly available against the State and can be enforced in courts.

Guidelines in Part IV of the Constitution that direct governments to promote welfare, social justice and a fair economy. They are not directly enforceable in court but are fundamental in governance and inform policy and legislation.

Eleven obligations listed in Article 51A, added by the 42nd Amendment, asking citizens to respect the Constitution, the national flag and anthem, protect the environment and pursue education, among others. They are non-justiciable.

The provision allowing the President, on a report from the Governor, to assume functions of a State government when constitutional machinery there has failed. Its misuse led to the S.R. Bommai ruling requiring judicial review of such proclamations.

A bill dealing only with taxation, borrowing, the Consolidated Fund and related financial matters, certified as such by the Speaker and introduced only in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes within 14 days.

A temporary law made by the President or a Governor under Articles 123 and 213 when a House is not in session, requiring approval within six weeks of reassembly. It has the force of an Act but lapses if not approved.

The convention that the Council of Ministers stands or falls together and answers to the Lok Sabha for all government actions. It is expressly stated in Article 75 for the Union and Article 164 for States.

A motion moved in the Lok Sabha to test whether the Council of Ministers retains majority support. If it fails, the government must resign, making it the practical expression of parliamentary accountability.

The principle that judges decide cases without pressure from the executive or legislature, supported by security of tenure, fixed salaries charged on the Consolidated Fund and difficult removal procedures.

The practice, developed through the Second and Third Judges cases, in which the Chief Justice and senior Supreme Court judges recommend appointments and transfers of judges. It is criticised for lacking transparency and statutory backing.

A system dividing powers between a national government and constituent units, each supreme in its own sphere. India's version is often called quasi-federal because of a strong Centre and emergency provisions.

The constitutional list that distributes legislative subjects among the Union List, State List and Concurrent List. Residuary powers rest with Parliament, and Union law prevails in case of conflict on concurrent subjects.

The constitutional head of a State, appointed by the President and acting on the advice of the State Council of Ministers. Discretionary powers and the timing of reports to the President have made the office politically contested.

The three-tier rural local government structure of village, block and district councils given constitutional status by the 73rd Amendment, with reserved seats and a State Election Commission and Finance Commission.

1992 amendments that created Part IX and Part IXA, making panchayats and urban local bodies constitutional bodies with five-year terms, reserved seats for women and marginalised groups, and mandatory elections and devolution.

The assembly of all registered voters in a village, defined in Article 243A. It functions as the direct democratic base of Panchayati Raj, approving plans, budgets and social audits.

The independent constitutional body under Article 324 that superintends, directs and controls elections to Parliament, State legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President. It registers parties and enforces the model code.

The Election Commission's set of guidelines for parties and candidates once elections are announced, covering rallies, spending, official machinery and advertisements. It is not a statute but is enforced through Commission powers.

The Tenth Schedule, inserted in 1985, disqualifies legislators who voluntarily leave their party or vote against its whip. Courts have limited the Speaker's decision-making and read exceptions for genuine splits and mergers.

The pattern of competition among political parties in a polity. India has shifted from Congress dominance to a multiparty system with coalition and regional parties, shaped by social cleavages and the first-past-the-post rule.

The aggregate of views citizens hold on public issues, formed through family, education, media, parties and social interaction. Democracies claim legitimacy from it, though measurement through polls has known limits.

The supreme and final authority within a state to make and enforce binding decisions. In a democracy it is located in the people, who exercise it through representatives, as the Indian Preamble asserts.

The freedom to act and choose without arbitrary interference, bounded by law and the equal freedom of others. Thinkers distinguish negative liberty as absence of restraint from positive liberty as capacity for self-mastery.

The principle that persons are of equal moral worth and should be treated alike unless relevant differences justify distinction. Indian constitutional equality permits protective classification and special measures rather than blind uniformity.

Preferential treatment given to disadvantaged groups to correct historical injustice, such as reservations in education and public employment. Article 15(4), 16(4) and 46 provide the constitutional basis in India.

The idea that legitimate political authority arises from an agreement among people to leave the state of nature and form a common power. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau developed rival versions with different implications for obligation and resistance.

Rousseau's concept of the collective will of citizens aimed at the common good, distinct from the sum of private preferences. It grounds popular sovereignty but raises concerns about conformity and majority tyranny.

Gandhi's method of non-violent resistance through truth and self-suffering, used to convert an opponent rather than coerce him. It shaped India's freedom movement and later civil rights struggles abroad.

India's Cold War policy of avoiding military blocs while retaining independent judgment and promoting decolonisation. Formulated under Nehru, it was institutionalised through the Non-Aligned Movement and later adapted to a changed world order.

The five principles of peaceful coexistence agreed in the 1954 India-China treaty: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. They became a staple of Indian diplomacy.

The contemporary aim of Indian foreign policy to keep freedom of decision rather than align with a single power bloc, pursued through multi-alignment, diversified partnerships and issue-based coalitions.