Institutions and Governance in India
This domain tests how the Union and State governments are composed, what powers each organ holds, and how the Constitution restrains them.
President and Council of Ministers
The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college of elected MPs and elected MLAs (Art 54) and is head of state; executive power is exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers (Art 53, 74). The Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Art 75(3)) - the core of parliamentary government. Clemency power: Art 72 (President), Art 161 (Governor). Ordinance power: Art 123 (President), Art 213 (Governor).
Parliament
Lok Sabha: not more than 530 members from states and up to 20 from Union Territories; the 104th Amendment (2019) ended the nomination of two Anglo-Indians. Rajya Sabha: 233 elected by elected MLAs plus 12 nominated. Money Bills (Art 110) originate only in the Lok Sabha; the Rajya Sabha has 14 days to recommend, and its recommendations may be rejected.
Judiciary and the federal frame
Supreme Court under Art 124; judicial review is implied, and Kesavananda Bharati (1973) established the basic structure doctrine. The Seventh Schedule divides powers into the Union, State and Concurrent lists; Art 249 allows temporary Union legislation on a State subject; Art 356 is President's Rule; the Governor is appointed, not elected (Art 155).
Worked example
'Can the Rajya Sabha amend a Money Bill?' Reasoning: it can only recommend; the Lok Sabha may accept or reject; the Bill is deemed passed after 14 days regardless. So the answer is no - but the reason is the Art 109 procedure, not that the Rajya Sabha is a lesser House.
Traps
Confusing the Council of Ministers with the Cabinet; saying the President has no discretion at all (discretion exists, notably in choosing a PM in a hung House); mixing Art 32 (Supreme Court writs) with Art 226 (High Court writs); and forgetting that the Governor acts on ministerial advice except in the situations the Constitution specifies.