UPMSP Intermediate Civics flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Constituent Assembly

Body that drafted the Indian Constitution; first met on 9 December 1946, adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and its Drafting Committee was chaired by B. R. Ambedkar.

Preamble

Opening statement of the Constitution declaring India a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic and listing Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity as objectives; held to be part of the Constitution.

Basic structure doctrine

Principle from Kesavananda Bharati (1973) that Parliament cannot amend the Constitution in a way that destroys its essential features, such as judicial review, secularism, and free elections.

Article 368

Provision prescribing the procedure for amending the Constitution; requires special majority in both Houses and, for federal provisions, ratification by half the State legislatures.

Article 32

Right to constitutional remedies allowing a person to move the Supreme Court directly for enforcement of Fundamental Rights; Ambedkar called it the heart and soul of the Constitution.

Directive Principles

Guidelines in Part IV (Articles 36-51) directing State policy toward social and economic welfare; they are not enforceable in courts but guide legislation and interpretation.

Fundamental Duties

Eleven duties in Article 51A, added by the 42nd Amendment 1976 on the Swaran Singh Committee's recommendation; they require citizens to respect the Constitution, flag, and national unity.

Right to Education

Article 21A, inserted by the 86th Amendment (2002), making free and compulsory education a Fundamental Right for children aged six to fourteen years.

Article 21

Protects life and personal liberty; courts have expanded it to include the right to privacy, dignity, clean environment, and fair procedure, making it the most interpreted Fundamental Right.

President's election

Indirect election by an electoral college of elected MPs and elected MLAs through proportional representation by single transferable vote; the President holds office for five years.

Money Bill

Bill dealing only with taxation, borrowing, or the Consolidated Fund; it can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha with the President's recommendation and requires only Lok Sabha approval.

Judicial review

Power of courts to examine laws and executive actions and declare them void if they violate the Constitution or exceed constitutional authority; exercised under Articles 32 and 226.

Article 74

Provides that a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister advises the President; the advice is binding after the 42nd and 44th Amendments, with one reconsideration allowed.

Article 356

Allows the President to impose President's Rule in a State when constitutional machinery fails; S. R. Bommai (1994) held such proclamations subject to judicial review.

Seventh Schedule

Lists Union, State and Concurrent subjects; residuary powers rest with Parliament under Article 248, reflecting India's strong centralising federal tendency.

Governor

Constitutional head of a State appointed by the President, not elected; holds office at the President's pleasure and may reserve Bills for the President under Article 200.

GST Council

Constitutional body created by the 101st Amendment (2016) to decide indirect tax rates; includes the Union Finance Minister and State finance ministers, with weighted voting.

Election Commission

Constitutional body under Article 324 that conducts elections to Parliament, State legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President, and enforces the Model Code of Conduct.

Anti-defection law

Tenth Schedule provision, added by the 52nd Amendment 1985, disqualifying legislators who voluntarily leave their party or defy the party whip; the Speaker decides.

NOTA

None of the Above option on electronic voting machines, introduced in 2013 after a Supreme Court ruling, allowing voters to reject all candidates without invalidating the election.

First-past-the-post

Electoral system in which the candidate with the most valid votes wins, even without a majority; used for Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections in India.

Pressure groups

Organised groups such as trade unions and business associations that seek to influence government policy without contesting elections, using lobbying, strikes, and public campaigns.

Public opinion

Aggregate of citizens' attitudes on public issues, shaped by family, education, media, religion, and caste; it influences elections and government policy in a democracy.

73rd Amendment

1992 amendment that gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj, mandating three tiers, five-year terms, reservations for women and SC/ST, and State Election and Finance Commissions.

Gram Sabha

Body of all registered voters in a village; it is the constitutional base of direct democracy and approves Panchayat plans, budgets, and accounts.

Eleventh Schedule

List of 29 subjects, such as agriculture, drinking water, and poverty alleviation, assigned to Panchayats by the 73rd Amendment to define their functions.

Panchsheel

Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence agreed with China in 1954, covering mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, equality, and peaceful coexistence; a pillar of Indian foreign policy.

Non-Aligned Movement

Group of States founded at Belgrade in 1961 that refused to join Cold War blocs; India was a leading founder under Nehru's policy of non-alignment.

UN Security Council reform

India's long-standing demand for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council, reflecting its population, economy, and contributions to peacekeeping.

Lokpal

Ombudsman institution created by the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 to investigate corruption complaints against public officials, including the Prime Minister, with safeguards.

Mandal Commission

Commission headed by B. P. Mandal (1980) that recommended reservation for Other Backward Classes in education and public employment; implemented in 1990.

Article 17

Abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form; the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 enforce it.