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PART 5: INDIAN POLITY

Indian Polity

Constitution is the basic law of a country. It is superior to all other laws.
  • Constitution can be divided into two—written and unwritten.
  • Indian Constitution and American Constitution are the examples of written constitution.
  • British Constitution and Israel constitution are examples of unwritten constitution.
  • India is the Largest democracy in the world.
  • Indian Constitution is the longest and the largest written constitution in the world.
  • MN Roy was the first Indian to put forward the idea of Constitution for India.
  • Swaraj Party was the first political party which raised the demand for a Constituent Assembly to frame a constitution for India.
  • The Constituent Assembly was setup on 6th November 1946, under the provision of the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946).
  • Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Chairman), Sir Stafford Cripps and AV Alexander were the members of the Cabinet Mission.
  • Clement Attlee was the Prime Minister of Britain who sent the cabinet mission to India.
  • Cabinet Mission came to India on 23rd March, 1946 and its plan was published on 16th May 1946
  • On the day of the first meeting, Dr Sachidananda Sinha, the oldest member of the assembly was appointed as the temporary President of the Constituent Assembly
  • Permanent president of the Constituent Assembly was Dr Rajendra Prasad. He was elected on 11th December 1946.
  • Total elected members of the Constituent Assembly were 292.
  • There were 17 women members in the constituent assembly.
  • 17 Malayalee including 3 women were members of the Constituent Assembly. Out of these seventeen, 9 from Madras, 6 from Travancore and 1 from Kochi.
  • Dr BR Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
  • Drafting Committee was appointed on 29th August 1947.
  • On 17th November 1947, the Constituent Assembly, for the first time, met as the Legislative Assembly. It elected Dr GV Mavalankar as the speaker of the Assembly.
  • India became a republic on 26th January 1950
  • January 26 is observed as the Republic Day and November 26 is observed as the Law Day.
  • On 26th January 1930, Indian people observed the ‘First Independence Day’ following the Purna Swaraj resolution passed at the Lahore Congress session held in the midnight of 31st December 1929.
  • The Constituent Assembly took 2 years 11 months and 18 days to frame the Constitution of India.
  • The final session of the Constituent Assembly was held on 24th January 1950.
 
THE PREAMBLE
  • Technically, preamble is the introduction or preface to the constitution
  • In India, preamble is the Heart and Soul of the Constitution
  • Jawaharlal Nehru is the architect of the preamble
  • The base of the preamble was ‘Objective Resolution’.
  • The only date mentioned in the Preamble is 26th November 1949.
  • According to the Preamble, India is a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic.
  • Rejecting the earlier opinion, the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala, 1973 held that the Preamble is part of the Constitution. It can be amended under Article 168 without destroying the basic structure of the Constitution.194
  • Cover page of the Indian Constitution was designed by Nandalal Bose
  • The draft of the Indian Constitution was prepared by BN Rau
 
MEMBERS OF THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE
  • Dr BR Ambedkar (Chairman)
  • KM Munshi
  • Muhammed Saadulah
  • Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
  • N Gopalaswami Ayyangar
  • DP Khaitan (who died in 1948 and was replaced by TT Krishnamachari)
  • BL Mitter (who was replaced by N Madhava Rao, because of ill health)
  • The Malayalee who represented United Provinces in the Constituent Assembly was Dr John Mathai.
 
Preamble is Called as
  • Political horoscope KM Munshi
  • Identity card NA Palkhivala
  • Key note of the Constitution Ernest Barker
  • Heart and Soul of the Constitution, Jewel set Thakur Das Bhargava
  • Soul and key to the Constitution Jawaharlal Nehru
 
FIRST CABINET OF INDEPENDENT INDIA
Mountbetten, Governor General of India handed over the power to the first Indian cabinet headed by Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. There were 14 members in the first union ministry of Independent India. Members of the first Cabinet of Independent India took the oath of office on the 15th of August, 1947.
Jawaharlal Nehru
Prime Minister, Externel Affairs
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Deputy Prime Minister and Home
Sardar Baldev Singh
Defense
Shanmukham Chetty
Finance
Dr BR Ambedkar
Law
Syama Prasad Mukherjee
Industry and supply
Moulana Abdul Kalam Azad
Education
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
Health
Jairamdas Daulatram
Food and Agriculture
Rafi Ahmed Kidwai
Communications
Babu Jagjivan Ram
Labor
Narhar Vishnu Gadgil
Public Works, Mines and Power
CH Bhaba
Commerce
N Gopalaswami Ayyangar
Non-portfolio Minister
 
DEFENSE MINISTERS
  • First Defense Minister of India: Baldev Singh
  • First Malayalee Defense Minister: VK Krishna Menon
  • Longest Serving Defense Minister: AK Antony
 
WOMEN LOK SABHA MEMBER OF KERALA
Annie Mascrene, Suseela Gopalan, K Bhargavi, Savithri Lakshmanan, AK Premajam, Sathee Devi, CS Sujatha, PK Sreemathy.
 
Interim Budget
  • The word ‘Interim Budget’ for the first time used by RK Shanmukham Chetty in his budget speech of 1948–1949.
  • The first finance minister to present an interim budget was CD Desmukh (1951–1952).
 
14 States and 6 Union Territories on 1st November 1956
1.
Andhra Pradesh
2.
Assam
3.
Bihar
4.
Mumbai
5.
Jammu and Kashmir
6.
Kerala
7.
Madhya Pradesh
8.
Madras State
9.
Mysore State
10.
Odisha
11.
Punjab195
12.
Rajasthan
13.
Uttar Pradesh
14.
West Bengal
 
Union Territories
1.
Himachal Pradesh
2.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
3.
Delhi
4.
Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands
5.
Manipur
6.
Tripura
 
UNION AND ITS TERRITORY
  • Article 1 says that ‘India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States’.
  • India is a Federal State, but the word Federation is not used in the Constitution.
  • Indian Constitution is described as federal in term but unitary in spirit.
  • The nature of the Indian Constitution is called a Quasi-Federal.
  • Article 3 of the Indian Constitution deals with the formation of new states.
 
REORGANIZATION OF STATES
  • In December 1948, Congress appointed a Linguistic Provinces Committee known as JVP Committee. Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramayya as its members.
  • However, Govt. of India was forced create the first state based on language known as Andhra State on 1st October 1953.
  • It was due to the death of Potty Sreeramulu after his 56 days fast unto death.
  • Gujarat is the 15th State of India (1960) and Goa became the 25th State of India in 1987 though it was liberated from Portuguese in 1961.
  • Telangana is the 29th State of India. It came into being on 2nd June 2014.
 
CITIZENSHIP
  • Part II (Article 5 to 11) of the constitution deals with the Citizenship of India.
  • We adopted the idea of Single Citizenship from Britain.
  • Some Fundamental Rights under Articles 15, 16, 19 and 30 are reserved only for the citizens of India.
  • Parliament enacted Citizenship Act in 1955.
 
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
  • The idea of Fundamental Rights has been taken from the US Constitution (Bill of Rights).
  • Part III (Articles 12 to 35) of the Indian Constitution deals with the Fundamental Rights.
  • Part III of the constitution is called as the ‘Magna Carta of India’ and the ‘Keystone of the Constitution’.
  • The Supreme Court and the High Court are considered as the guardians of Fundamental Rights.
  • The Supreme Court and High court issue writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights.
  • In the original constitution, there were seven categories of Fundamental Rights. But the Janata Government by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1978, deleted Right to Property (Article 31) from the list of Fundamental Rights. Then now, there are only six categories of Fundamental Rights.
  • Article 14 says that all persons are equal before law and entitled to equal protection of the laws.
 
Fundamental Right
  • Right to Equality (14 to 18)
  • Right to Freedom (19 to 22)
  • Right against Exploitation (23 and 24)
  • Right to Freedom of Religion (25 to 28)
  • Cultural and Educational Rights (29 and 30)
  • Right to Constitutional Remedies (32)
  • At present, Right to Property is a legal right (Article 300A)
  • Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex and place of birth.
  • Article 16 provides equality of opportunities in matters of public employment.196
  • Article 17 abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form.
  • Article 18 abolishes titles, except military or academic.
  • Article 21 provides protection of Life and Personal Liberty.
  • Article 22 provides protection against arbitrary arrest and detention. According to Article 22 and arrested person must be produced before the nearest Magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.
  • Article 23 prohibits traffic in human beings and other similar forms of forced labor.
  • Article 24 prohibits employment of children below the age of 14 years (child labor) in any factory, mine or other hazardous activities.
  • Article 29 Provides the protection of interests of minorities.
  • Article 30 Provides the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.
  • Article 32 Provides right to constitutional remedies for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights by the Supreme Court. Dr Ambedkar called the Article as ‘The fundamental of the fundamental rights’ and ‘The heart and soul of the Constitution’.
 
DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES
  • Part IV (Articles 36 to 51) of the Constitution deals with the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
  • The idea of DPSP is taken from the Irish Constitution.
  • Dr BR Ambedkar called these principles as ‘novel features of the Indian Constitution’.
  • Directive Principles aim at the establishment of a ‘Welfare State’. They seek to establish an economic and social democracy in the country, whereas Fundamental Rights seek to establish a political democracy in India.
  • Article 30(d): Equal pay for equal work for men and women.
  • Article 30A: To provide equal justice and to provide free legal aid to the poor.
  • Article 40: To organic village panchayats.
  • Article 44: To provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.
  • Article 47: Prohibition of liquor
  • Article 48: Prohibition of slaughter of cows.
  • Article 48A: Protection of environment.
  • Article 49: To protect the monument, places and objects of national importance.
  • Article 50: Separation of judiciary from the Executive.
  • Article 51: Promotion of International Peace and Security.
 
PRESIDENT OF INDIA
  • The Union executive consists of the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers and the Attorney General of India.
  • Article 52 says that there shall be a President of India. The President is the head of the Indian Union.
  • The President is elected not directly by the people, but by an electoral college consisting of:
    • Elected members of both the Houses of Parliament.
    • Elected members of Legislative Assemblies of states, and the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry.
  • The oath of office to the President is administered by the Chief Justice of India and in his absence, the senior most judge of the supreme court available.
  • The president can resign from his office at any time. His resignation letter should be addressed to the Vice President and the Vice President shall immediately proceeds it to the speaker of Lok Sabha.
 
Term of Office
  • The President is elected for a term of 5 years.
  • He may be elected for any number of terms.
 
Emergency
  • The President of India is powered to problem of three type of emergencies to deal with an extraordinary situation.
    1. National Emergency (Article 352)
    2. State Emergency (Article 356)
    3. Financial Emergency (Article 360)
 
197National Emergency
  • President can proclaim National Emergency under Article 352.
  • Ground for proclaiming National Emergency
    • War
    • External Aggression
    • Armed Rebellion
  • Proclamation of National Emergency must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within one month. Emergency is approved for six months.
  • The first National Emergency was proclaimed by Dr Radhakrishnan on 26th October 1962 due to Chinese Aggression. It was revoked by Zakir Hussain on 10th January 1968.
  • The second National Emergency was proclaimed by VV Giri on 3rd December 1971 due to India-Pak War. (It was continued during the third National Emergency).
  • The third National Emergency (First Internal Emergency) was proclaimed by Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on 25th June 1975 due to Internal Disturbance.
 
PRESIDENTS
  • First president of India: Dr Rajendra Prasad
  • The only person who become the president of India twice: Dr Rajendra Prasad
  • Longest serving president: Dr Rajendra Prasad
  • Shortest serving president: Dr Zakir Husain
  • First muslim to become the president of India: Dr Zakir Husain
  • The first president to die in harness: Zakir Husain
  • The second president to die in harness: Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
  • The president who is known as Bihar Gandhi: Dr Rajendra Prasad
  • The president who was elected with the largest percentage of votes in the presidential election: Dr Rajendra Prasad
  • The president who is known as educational philosopher: Zakir Husain
  • The president who is known as philosopher president: Dr S Radhakrishnan
  • The president who was elected with the highest majority in the president election: KR Narayanan
  • The president who was elected with least majority of votes: VV Giri
  • In the history of president election, the only one person to get elected after counting second preferential votes: VV Giri
  • The first Malayalee to become the president of India: KR Narayanan
  • The president who held the post of Governor of Kerala: VV Giri
  • First Union Finance Minister to become the president of India: R Venkataraman
  • Second Union Finance Minister to become the president of India: Pranab Mukherjee
  • The Lok Sabha Speaker who later became the president of India: Pranab Mukherjee
  • The first president elected unopposed: Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy
  • The Lok Sabha Speaker who later became the president of India: Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy
  • Youngest president of India: Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy
  • Oldest President of India: KR Narayanan
  • The Malayalee who contested against KR Narayanan in the presidential election: TN Seshan
  • The president of India is known as ‘People's President’: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
  • The president known as ‘Missile Man of India’: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
  • First woman president of India: Pratibha Patil
  • The fist person to become in president of India by defeating the sitting vice president: Pratibha Patil
  • First president from South India: Dr S Radhakrishnan
  • First prime minister from south India: PV Narasimha Rao
 
VICE PRESIDENTS
  • The first Vice President of India: Dr S Radhakrishnan
  • Longest serving Vice President: Dr S Radhakrishnan
  • The only one person who held the post of the President, Vice President and the Chief Justice of India: M Hidayatullah
  • The first Malayalee to become the Vice President of India: Dr KR Narayanan
  • The only one Vice President who lost the Presidential election: Bhairon Singh Shekhawat198
  • The oldest Vice President of India: Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
  • The youngest Vice President of India: BD Jetty
  • The only Vice President to die in harness: Krishan Kant.
 
Qualification of President
  • He should be a citizen of India
  • He should have completed 35 years of age
  • He should be qualified to be elected
  • He should not hold any other office of profit.
 
President of India with its Tenure Period
Rajendra Prasad
Jan 26,1950
May 13, 1962
S. Radhakrishnan
May13, 1962
May 13, 1967
Zakir Husain
May 13,1967
May 13, 1969
VV Giri
Aug 24, 1969
Aug 24, 1974
Fakhruddin Ali Ahamed
Aug 24, 1974
Feb 11, 1977
Neelam Sanjeev Reddy
July 25, 1977
July 25, 1982
Gyani Zail Singh
July 25, 1982
July 25, 1987
R Venkataraman
July 25, 1987
July 25, 1992
Shankar Dayal Sharma
July 25, 1992
July 25, 1997
KR Narayanan
July 25, 1997
July 25, 2002
APJ Abdul Kalam
July 25, 2002
July 25, 2007
Pratibha Patil
July 25, 2007
July 25, 2012
Pranab Mukherjee
July 25, 2012
Continuing...
 
Salary–Executives
  • President: 1,50,000
  • Vice President: 1,25,000
  • State Governor: 1,10,000
  • Supreme Court Chief Justice: 1,00,000
  • Supreme Court Judge: 1,00,000
  • High Court Chief Justice: 1,00,000
  • High Court Judge: 90,000
 
Official Languages
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
 
THE PRIME MINISTER
  • The first non-parliament member to become the Prime Minister of India: PV Narasimha Rao
  • The second non-parliament member to become the Prime Minister of India: Deva Gowda
  • The first Rajya Sabha member to become the Prime Minister of India: Indira Gandhi
  • The first Prime Minister to die in harness: Jawaharlal Nehru
  • The first Prime Minister who was assassinated: Indira Gandhi
  • The Prime Minister to die in abroad: Lal Bahadur Shastri
  • Shortest serving Prime Minister: Charan Singh (5 months 17 days)
  • The first Indian Prime Minister to lose an election: Indira Gandhi
  • Cabinet system was introduced: Robert Walpole
  • The first woman Prime Minister in the world: Sirimavo Bandaranayake (Sri Lanka)
  • The second woman Prime Minister in the world: Indira Gandhi
  • The first Prime Minister of India to face the contempt of the court: Indira Gandhi
  • The first woman Prime Minister of India: Indira Gandhi
  • The Prime Minister who started Twenty Point Programme: Indira Gandhi
  • The Prime Minister during the time of Internal Emergency in 1975: Indira Gandhi
  • The Prime Minister who extended the term of the Lok Sabha from 5 years to 6 years: Indira Gandhi
  • The Prime Minister who restored the original term of the Lok Sabha: Morarjee Desai
  • The first Prime Minister who restored buried outside Delhi: Morarjee Desai
  • The first non-Congress Prime Minister: Morarjee Desai
  • The first non-Congress Prime Minister completed his tenure: AB Vajpayee
  • Oldest Prime Minister of India: Morarjee Desai199
  • Youngest Prime Minister of India: Rajiv Gandhi
  • The Accidental Prime Ministers written by: Sanjaya Baru
  • ‘One Life is Not Enough’ is written by: Natwar Singh
  • The Indian Prime Minister to face trial on criminal charges and was convicted: PV Narasimha Rao
  • The Prime Minister who never became the member of Lok Sabha: Manmohan Singh
  • The Prime Minister who is known as father of Indian IT: Rajiv Gandhi
  • The Prime Minister who is known as father of economic reforms in India: PV Narasimha Rao
  • Manmohan Singh was elected to the Rajya Sabha from the state of Assam for the fifth consecutive term
  • The Indian Prime Minister who held the post of Reserve Bank Governor: Manmohan Singh
  • The only one person to become the Acting Prime Minister of India: Gulzarilal Nanda
 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS
  • First Deputy Prime Minister of India: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  • Longest serving Deputy Prime Minister of India: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  • The first Deputy Prime Minister who resigned from the post: Morarjee Desai
 
PRIME MINISTERS WITH ITS TENURE PERIOD
Jawaharlal Nehru
15 Aug, 1947
27 May,1964
Gulzarilal Nanda
27 May, 1964
9 June, 1964
Lal Bahadur Shastri
09 Jun, 1964
11 Jan,1966
Gulzarilal Nanda
11 Jan, 1966
24 Jan, 1966
Indira Gandhi
24 Jan, 1966
24 Mar, 1977
Morarji Desai
24 Mar, 1977
28 Jul,1979
Charan Singh
28 July, 1979
14 Jan,1980
Indira Gandhi
14 Jan, 1980
31 Oct,1984
Rajiv Gandhi
31 Oct, 1984
2 Dec, 1989
VP Singh
02 Dec, 1989
10 Nov,1990
Chandra Shekhar
10 Nov, 1990
21 Jun,1991
PV Narasimha Rao
21 Jun, 1991
16 May,1996
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
16 May, 1996
01 Jun,1996
HD Deve Gowda
01 Jun, 1996
21 Apr,1997
Inder Kumar Gujral
21 Apr, 1997
19 Mar, 1998
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
19 Mar, 1998
22 May, 2004
Dr Manmohan Singh
22 May, 2004
26 May, 2014
Narendra Modi
26 May, 2014
Continuing...
 
Deputer Prime Ministers
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai patel: 1947–1950
  • Morarji Desai: 1967–1969
  • Charan Singh: 1977–1979
  • Jagjivan Ram: 1977–1979
  • Yashwantrao Chavan: 1979–1980
  • Devi Lal: 1989–1991
  • LK Advani–2002–2004.
 
PARLIAMENT
  • The term ‘Parliament’ is originated from the French word Parler which means to discuss
  • Parliament is the highest law making body in India, which is constituted under Article 79 of the Indian Constitution
  • Parliament consists of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and the President of India. However he is not a member of either Houses of Parliament
  • Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower House. Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the Upper House. Thus we have a bicameral legislature at the Center.
  • Rajya Sabha was constituted on 3rd April 1952
  • Lok Sabha was constituted on 17th April 1952
  • The first meeting of Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha was on 13th May 1952
  • The Parliament which is known as ‘Mother of Parliaments’: British Parliament
  • The oldest Parliament in the World: Althing
  • The largest Legislative Assembly in the world: National People's Congress
 
RAJYA SABHA
  • Rajya Sabha is known as ‘the House of Elders’
  • Rajya Sabha is constituted under Article 80 of the constitution200
  • First Malayalee to become the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha: MM Jacob
  • Present Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha: PJ Kurian
  • Second Malayalee to become the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha: PJ Kurian
  • The Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha who got cabinet rank: PJ Kurian
  • UP has the largest representation in the Rajya Sabha (31 members)
  • Kerala has 9 members in the Rajya Sabha.
 
Lok Sabha
  • Lok Sabha is constituted under Article 81 of the constitution
  • 16th Lok Sabha was formed in May 2014.
  • Uttar Pradesh has the maximum membership in the Lok Sabha.
  • Kerala has 20 Lok Sabha Constituencies.
  • Who is known as father of Rajya Sabha: Dr S Radhakrishnan
  • Who is known as father of Lok Sabha: GV Mavlankar
  • The first Malayalee to be nominated to the Lok Sabha: Charles Dias
  • The first Malayalee to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha: Sardar KM Panikkar
  • The House in which a non-member presides over the House: Rajya Sabha
  • The Vice President is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha: Dr S Radhakrishnan
  • First speaker of Lok Sabha: GV Mavlankar
  • Tenure of a Rajya Sabha Member: 6 years
  • Tenure of a Lok Sabha Member: 5 years
  • Tenure of Lok Sabha: 5 years
  • Tenure of Rajya Sabha: No fixed tenure
  • KR Narayanan is the only one Malayalee to hold the post of Chairman of Rajya Sabha
  • First Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha: SV Krishnamoorthy Rao
  • First Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha: MA Ayyangar
  • First Secretary General of Rajya Sabha: SN Mukherjee
  • Lifetime presidents of inter Parliamentary Union: Najma Heptulla
  • First Malayalee woman to become member of Lok Sabha: Annie Mascarene
  • First Malayalee woman to become a member of Rajya Sabha: Lakshmi N Menon
  • Longest serving chairman of Rajya Sabha: Dr S Radhakrishnan
  • First woman to be nominated to the Lok Sabha: Majorio Godfrey
  • First women to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha: Rukmini Devi Arundale
  • First Film actress to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha: Nargis Dutt
  • Shortest serving Chairman of Rajya Sabha: VV Giri
  • First woman Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha: Violet Alva
  • Most number of terms as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson: Najma Heptulla
  • Longest duration as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson: MM Jacob
  • Longest Lok Sabh: Lok Sabha (1971–1977) 5 years 10 months and 6 days.
  • Shortest Lok Sabha: 11th Lok Sabha (1998–1999) 1 year one Month Four Days.
  • The President who dissolved the shortest Lok Sabha: KR Narayanan
 
SPEAKER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER
  • Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha
  • Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha from amongst themselves
  • Longest duration as the Speaker of Lok Sabha: Balram Jakhar
  • Shortest duration as the Speaker of Lok Sabha: Bali Ram Bhagat
  • The Speaker gives his resignation letter to the Deputy Speaker
  • The Deputy Speaker gives his resignation letter to the speaker.
  • The speaker of 16th Lok Sabha: Sumitra Mahajan
  • Second women speaker of Lok Sabha: Sumitra Majan
  • First woman speaker of Lok Sabha: Meera Kumar
  • The first speaker of Lok Sabha, who died in harness: GV Mavlankar
  • The second speaker of Lok Sabha First Malayalee to become the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha: MM Jacob
  • The second speaker of Lok Sabha who died in harness: GMC Balayogi201
  • Resignation of member of Rajya Sabha is given to the Chairman
  • Resignation of member of Lok Sabha is given to the Speaker
 
BUDGET
  • The term budget has not been used in the Constitution. The term used in Article 112 is Annual Financial Statement
  • Financial year in India is from 1st April to 31st March
  • Budget is laid before Parliament in the name of the President
  • The first budget of free India was presented by RK Shanmukham Chetty (on 26th November 1947)
  • Government of India has two budgets:
    1. Railway Budget
    2. General Budget
  • Railway budget was separated from the General Budget in 1921 on the recommendation of the Acworth Committee
  • The first budget of the Republic of India was presented by John Mathai on 28th February 1950
  • First Finance Minister to present a budget in the Lok Sabha is CD Deshmukh, 1952
  • The first budget in India was presented by James Wilson in 1860 during the viceroyalty of Lord Canning.
  • PC Mahalanobis is called as the father of Indian Budget
  • The only woman to hold the post of finance minister of India: Indira Gandhi
  • The first prime minister to present the budget during the finance ministership: Jawaharlal Nehru
  • The Budget of 1973–1974 is known as ‘black budget’ due to budget deficit.
 
ZERO HOUR
  • Zero hour is an Indian innovation and has been in existence since 1962.
  • Zero hour is an informal device available to the MPs to raise matters without any prior notice.
  • It is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure
  • Zero Hour starts immediately after the question hour and lasts until the agenda for the day is taken up. Usually it is from 12 to 1 pm.
 
NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION
  • No-confidence motion can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha.
  • No-confidence motion can be introduced only against the council of ministers and not against any individual minister. It is introduced by the opposition party.
 
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (PAC)
  • There are 22 members in the PAC (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha).
  • The Chairman of the PAC is appointed by the Speaker and he is invariably from Lok Sabha and from the opposition party.
  • A Minister is not eligible for election to the committee
  • The PAC examine the audit reports of the CAG.
  • Present chairman of Public Accounts Committee: KV Thomas
  • The CAG is called as the Friend, Philosopher and guide of the Public Accounts Committee.
  • Public Accounts Committee: CAG
 
OPPOSITION LEADERS
  • The first leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha: AK Gopalan
  • The first recognized opposition leader in the Lok sabha: Dr Ram Subhag Singh
  • The first recognized opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha: SN Mishra
 
SUPREME COURT
  • Article 124 provides for the establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court
  • Supreme Court of India was inaugurated on 28th January 1950.
  • At present there is a Chief Justice and 30 other Judges in the Supreme Court (Initially it had a Chief Justice and 7 other Judges).
  • The PIN Code of Supreme Court 110201
  • In September 2013 the Department of Posts launched a separate PIN Code for the Supreme Court, the first Customized PIN code in India.202
  • The first case of impeachment of a judge in India was of Justice V Ramaswami of the Supreme Court in May 1993. The motion fell through in the Lok Sabha as the ruling congress abstained from voting.
  • The first Malayalee to become a judge of the Supreme Court: Justice P Govinda Menon
  • The first Malayalee to become the Chief Justice of India: Justice KG Balakrishnan
  • The first woman judge of the Supreme Court: Fathima Beevi
  • First all women court in India: Malda
  • First High Court to establish a Green Bench in India: Calcutta High Court
  • First state to start Mobile Court in India: Haryana
  • National Judicial Academy is at Bhopal
 
HIGH COURTS
  • Indian High Court Act was passed in 1861 during the period of Lord Canning
  • First High court was inaugurated in India during the period of John Lawrence.
  • According to Article 214, there shall be a High Court for each state.
  • Judges of the High Court shall hold office until they attain the age of sixty two years.
  • The oldest High Court in India: Calcutta High Court
  • The High Court having most number of Judges: Allahabad High Court
  • First woman Chief Justice of a High Court: Leila Seth
  • First woman to become a judge of a High Court: Anna Chandi
  • First Woman Magistrate in India: Omana Kunjamma
  • First woman advocate in India: Cornelia Sorabji
  • First Indian to become a Judge of a High Court: Sambhunath Pandit
  • First Indian to become the Chief Justice of a High Court: PB Chakravarthi
 
ELECTION COMMISSION
  • Election Commission came into force on 25th January 1950
  • National Voters day—January 25
  • Head Quarters of Election Commission is Nirvachan Sadan, located at New Delhi.
  • The tenure of Election Commission is 6 years or until they attain 65 years of age, whichever is earlier
  • The Article which deals with the universal adult franchise Article 326
  • Voting age was reduced to 18 years from 21 years in 1989 by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act of 1988.
  • The Prime Minister who reduced the voting age to 18 years: Rajiv Gandhi
  • Right of vote is a Legal Right
  • Shortest duration as Chief Election Commissioner: VS Ramadevi
  • Generally polling starts at 7 am
  • Chief Electoral Officer is appointed by the Election Commission of India
 
State Election Commission
  • The first state to issue election identity cards to all voters: Haryana
  • First state to computerize all voters list: Haryana
  • Kerala State Election Commission came into existence on 3rd December 1993 according to the Article 243 of the Indian Constitution
  • MSK Ramaswami was the first State Election Commissioner of Kerala
  • Present Kerala State Election Commissioner: K Sasidharan Nair
 
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
  • Union Public Service Commission was established on 1st October 1926 on the recommendation of Lee Commission
  • Articles 315 to 323 of the Constitution deal with Public Service Commissions.
  • The Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission and Joint State Public Service Commissions are appointed and removed by the President
  • The chairman and members of the State Public Service Commission are appointed by the Governor of the state, but they are removed only by the President.
  • The first state Public Service Commission to conduct online examination Rajasthan PSC
  • Union Public Service Commission is the Watchdog of merit system in India.203
  • The first Chairman of UPSC: Sir Ross Barker.
  • The first woman Chairperson of UPSC: Rose Milen Basthew
  • Chairman of Union Public Service Commission: Deepak Gupta
  • Chairman of Kerala Public Service Commission: MK Sakeer
  • First Indian to become UPSC Chairman: HK Kripalani
  • The first Malayalee to become a member of UPSC: Dr KG Adiyodi
  • The first Chairman of Kerala Public Service Commission: VK Velayudhan
  • Staff Selection Commission (SSC) was established in 1975. It is a centralized agency responsible for recruiting personnel to middle and lower level service of Central Government.
 
FINANCE COMMISSION
  • Article 280 of the Constitution deals with Finance Commission. It is a Constitutional Body appointed by the President every five years.
  • It functions as a quasi-judicial body
  • Chairman of the first Finance Commission: KC Neyogi
  • The first Malayalee to become a member of Finance Commssion: VP Menon
  • First Malayalee to become the member secretary of Finance Commission: PC Mathew
  • Chairman of 13th Finance Commission: Vijay Kelkar
  • Chairman of 14th Finance Commission: YV Reddy
 
COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL
  • Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is appointed by the President
  • CAG holds office for a term of 6 years or until 65 years of age whichever is earlier
  • The CAG is not eligible for further office under the Govt. of India or of any state after his retirement.
  • CAG is known as the guardian of public purse or watchdog of Public purse
  • Present CAG of India: Sashi Kant Sharma
  • CAG is the head of Indian Audit and Accounts Department
  • CAG is an officer of the Parliament and is Called ‘Ears and Eyes of the Public Accounts Committee’.
  • The Salary of CAG is equal to that of a Judge of the Supreme Court
  • V Narahari Rao was the first CAG of India
 
ATTORNEY GENERAL
  • The highest law officer of India: Attorney General
  • Attorney General of India: Mukul Rohatgi
  • The Article which deals with the Attorney General: Article 76
  • Attorney General is appointed by the President
  • Attorney General should have the qualification to be a judge of the Supreme Court
  • The first Attorney General of India: MC Setalvad
  • Longest serving Attorney General of India: MC Setalvad
  • President Advocate General of Kerala: KP Dandapani
 
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
  • The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an autonomous statutory (not a constitution) body
  • NHRC is established on 12th October 1993 under the provision of the Protection of Human Right Act, 1993.
  • The Protection of Human Rights Act extends to the whole of India and the state of Jammu and Kashmir in specified matters.
  • The NHRC is the ‘Watchdog’ of human rights in India.
  • NHRC consists of a Chairman and four other members.
  • The Chairman of NHRC shall be a retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
  • Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission: Justice JB Koshy
  • Present chairman of National Human Rights Commission: Shri HL Datta
  • Justice Ranganath Mishra was the first chairman of NHRC
  • The Chairman and members of the NHRC are appointed and removed by the President of India.204
  • The Chairman and members hold office for a term of five years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
 
KERALA STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
  • The Kerala State Human Rights Commission was constituted on 11th December 1998.
  • The Chairman of the State HRC shall be a retired Chief Justice of a High Court.
  • The Chairman and members of the SHRC shall be appointed by the Governor, but they are removed only by the President
  • The first Chairman of the Kerala state Human Rights Commission: Justice MM Pareed Pillay
 
Right to Information
  • Sweden is the first country to pass Right to Information Act.
  • Right to Information Act was passed by the Indian Parliament on 15th June 2005.
  • The organization which was instrumental in the passage of the RTI Act: Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan
  • Tamil Nadu is the first state in India to pass RTI Act, which passed in 1997 even before the enactment by the Parliament
  • The RTI Act is applicable to all states and Union Territories except Jammu and Kashmir.
  • August Kranti Bhavan (New Delhi) is the headquarters of Central Information Commission.
  • Wajahat Habibullah was the first Chief Information Commissioner of India
  • First woman to become Central Chief Information Commissioner: Mrs. Deepak Sandhu
  • Kerala State Information Commission was formed on 19th December 2005.
  • Information can be obtained within 48 hours from the time of request, if it is a matter of life or liberty of a person.
  • Palat Mohandas was the first chief information commissioner of Kerala.
 
National Commission for Women
  • As per the recommendation of the committee on the status of the women in India, National Commission for Women Act was passed by the Parliament in 1990.
  • The first National Commission for Women (NCW) was constituted on 31st January 1992.
  • Chairperson of National Commission for Women: Lalitha Kumaramangalam
  • Chairperson of Kerala Women's Commission: KC Rosakutty
  • Jayanti Patnaik was the first Chairperson of NCW
 
Kerala Women's Commission
  • The Kerala Women's Commission Act was passed on 15th September 1995.
  • The Kerala Women's Commission Bill was drafted under the guidance of the Minister KR Gouri Amma with legal aid from Justice VR Krishna and Justice Subramanian Potty.
  • The first Kerala Women's Commission came into force on 14th March 1996.
  • The Chairperson and members of the KWC shall hold office for a period of five years.
  • Smt. Sugatha Kumari was the first Chairperson of Kerala Women's Commission.
 
Right of Children
  • Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was passed in 2012.
  • Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act was passed in 2005.
  • National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was set up in March 2007.
  • Prof Shantha Sinha was the first chairperson of NCPCR.
  • Present Chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights: Mrs Kushal Singh.
 
Right to Education Act (RTE)
  • Right to Education Act 2009 came into force on 1st April 2010.
  • RTE Act is applicable to all states except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Program launched by Central govt for universalization of education in line with the 86th Amendment: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
 
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
  • CVC was established in 1964 on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee.205
  • The CVC consists of a chairperson and not more than two members. They are appointed and removed by the President of India.
  • N. Srinivasa Rau was the first vigilance commissioner of India
  • Headquarters of CVC: Satarkta Bhavan (New Delhi)
 
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
  • Notification of Scheduled Castes: Art 341 (Parliament is empowered to include/exclude)
  • Notification of Scheduled Tribes
  • Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes are defined under Article 366 of the constitution
  • Reservation for Seats for SC and ST in Lok Sabha: Article 330
  • Reservation for Seats for SC and ST in State legislature: Article 332
  • National Commission for Scheduled Castes: Article 338
  • National Commission for Scheduled Castes: Article 338 A
  • National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Scheduled tribes were separated by 89th Constitutional Amendment Act 2003.
 
Law Commission
  • The first Law Commission of Pre-Independent India was established in 1834 under the Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay
  • The first Law Commission of independent India was established in 1955 under the Chairmanship of Mr MC Setalvad, who was the first Attorney General of India.
  • The Chairman of Twentieth Law Commission: Justice AP Shah.
 
Lok Ayukta
  • The Lok Ayukta is an anti-corruption authority constituted at the state level. It investigates allegations of corruption, and maladministration against public servants and is tasked with speedy redressal of public grievances.
  • Kerala Lok Ayukta Act was passed in 1999.
  • Kerala Lok Ayukta Act came into force on 15th November 1998.
  • A person to be appointed as Lok Ayukta should have held the post of a Judge of Supreme Court or Chief Justice of High Court
  • First Lok Ayukta of Kerala: Justice PC Balakrishna Menon
  • Second Lok Ayukta of Kerala: Justice K Sreedharan
  • The Present Lok Ayukta of Kerala: Justice Pius C Kuriakose
  • A person to be appointed as Upa Lok Ayukta should have held or holds the post of a Judge of High Court
  • Lok Ayukta is appointed by the Governor
  • Governor appoints the Lok Ayukta as advised by Chief Minister
  • Lok Ayukta and Upa Lok Ayukta can resign by submitting their resignation to the Governor
  • Salary of Lok Ayukta is equal to that of the Chief Justice of High Court.
  • Salary of Upa Lok Ayukta is equal to that of the Judge of High Court
  • The Information System developed for Lok Ayukta—CLAIMS (Computerized Lok Ayukta Information Management System)
  • The First State in India to pass the Lok Ayukta Act: Odisha
  • The First State in India to appoint Lok Ayukta: Maharashtra
  • Lok Ayukta has to present a consolidated report annually to the Governor.
 
Lokpal
  • Lokpal is an anti-corruption authority constituted at the center
  • It is modeled on the Ombudsman system in the Scandinavian countries.
  • The word ‘Lokpal’ was come by Dr LM Singhvi
  • The concept of Lokpal was suggested by Ashoke Kumar Sen
  • Lokpal Bill was firstly introduced in the Loksabha by Shanti Bhushan in 1968.
 
Ombudsman
  • The institution of Ombudsman was first created in Sweden206
  • An Ombudsman is to be appointed by the Legislature
  • Omdusman can be removed by the Legislature
  • First Commonwealth country to appoint an Ombudsman: New Zealand
  • The demand for creating Ombudsman in India was initially put forward by Sri KM Munshi
  • The National Ombudsman recommended by the Second Administrative Reforms commission (ARC): Rashtriya Lok Ayukta
 
Ombudsman for Local Self Government Institutions
  • Local Govt Ombudsman started functioning in Kerala from 2000
  • Local Govt Ombudsman is appointed by the Governor
  • Qualification of Govt. Ombudsman can be removed by the Legislative Assembly
  • Local Govt Ombudsman is appointed for a term of three years
  • Ombudsman of Local Self Govt. Institutions Kerala: Justice ML Joseph
  • Banking Ombudsman is appointed by Reserve Bank of India
  • How many Banking Ombudsmen are appointed in India: Fifteen
 
IMPORTANT ARTICLES
Article 1
Name and territory of the union.
Article 2
Admission and establishment of the new state.
Article 3
Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries, and name of existing states.
Article 5
Citizenship at the commencement of the constitution.
Article 6
Rights of citizenship of certain person who have migrated to India from Pakistan.
Article 10
Continuance of rights of citizenship.
Article 11
Parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law.
Article 12
Definition of the state
Article 13
Laws inconsistent with the fundamental rights.
Article 14
Equality before the law.
Article 15
Prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
Article 16
Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.
Article 17
Abolition of the untouchability.
Article 18
Abolition of titles.
Article 19
Right to six freedoms.
Article 19(1) (a)
Right to Information.
Article 20
Protection in respect of conviction for offences.
Article 21
Protection of life and personal liberty.
Article 21(A)
Right to Education.
Article 22
Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
Article 23
Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labor.
Article 24
Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines. under age of 14.
Article 25
Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.
Article 26
Freedom to manage religious affairs.
Article 27
Freedom as to pay taxes for promotion of any particular religion.
Article 28
Freedom from attending religious instruction
Article 29
Protection of interest of minorities.
Article 30
Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.
Article 32
Remedies for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
Article 36
Article 37
Application of directive principles of state policy (DPSP)207
Article 39A
Equal justice and free legal aid.
Article 40
Organization of village panchayat.
Article 41
Right to work, to education, and to public assistance in certain cases.
Article 43
Living Wages, etc. for Workers.
Article 43A
Participation of workers in management of industries.
Article 44
Uniform civil code (applicable in Goa only).
Article 45
Provision for free and compulsory education for children.
Article 46
Promotion of educational and economic interest of scheduled castes, ST, and OBC.
Article 47
Duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health.
Article 48
Organization of agriculture and animal husbandry.
Article 49
Protection of monuments and places and objects of natural importance.
Article 50
Separation of judiciary from executive.
Article 51
Promotion of international peace and security.
Article 51(a)
Fundamental Duties.
Article 52
The President of India
Article 53
Executive Power of the union.
Article 54
Election of President
Article 61
Procedure for Impeachment of the President.
Article 63
The Vice-president of India.
Article 64
The Vice-President to be ex-officio chairman of the council of states.
Article 66
Election of vice-president
Article 72
Pardoning powers of President.
Article 74
Council of minister to aid and advise President.
Article 76
Attorney-General for India.
Article 79
Constitution of Parliament
Article 80
Composition of Rajya Sabha.
Article 81
Composition of Lok Sabha.
Article 83
Duration of Houses of Parliament.
Article 93
The speakers and Deputy speakers of the house of the people.
Article 105
Powers, Privileges, etc. of the House of Parliament.
Article 109
Special procedure in respects of money bills
Article 110
Definition of ‘Money Bills’.
Article 112
Annual Financial Budget.
Article 114
Appropriation Bills.
Article 123
Powers of the President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of parliament.
Article 124
Establishment of Supreme Court.
Article 125
Salaries of Judges.
Article 126
Appointment of acting Chief justice.
Article 127
Appointment of ad-hoc judges.
Article 128
Attendance of retired judge at sitting of the Supreme Court.
Article 129
Supreme court to be court of Record.
Article 130
Seat of the Supreme court.
Article 136
Special leaves for appeal to the Supreme Court.
Article 137
Review of judgments or orders by the Supreme court.
Article 141
Decision of the Supreme Court binding on all the courts.
Article 148
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
Article 149
Duties and Powers of CAG.
Article 153
Governors of State
Article 154
Executive Powers of Governor.
Article 161
Pardoning powers of the Governor.
Article 165
Advocate-General of the State.208
Article 213
Power of Governor to promulgate ordinances.
Article 214
High Courts for states.
Article 215
High Courts to be court of record.
Article 226
Power of High Courts to issue certain writs.
Article 233
Appoinment of District judges.
Article 235
Control over Subordinate Courts.
Article 243A
Gram Sabha
Article 243B
Constitution of Panchayats
Article 280
Finance Commission
Article 300A
Right to property.
Article 301
Freedom to trade, commerce, and intercourse.
Article 302
Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce, and intercourse.
Article 312
All-India-Service.
Article 315
Public service commissions for the union and for the states
Article 320
Functions of Public Service Commission.
Article 323A
Administrative Tribunals
Article 324
Superintendence, direction and control of Elections to be vested in an Election Commission.
Article 325
No person to be ineligible for inclusion in or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex.
Article 326
Elections to the house of the people and to the legislative assemblies of states to be on the basis of adult suffrage.
Article 338
National Commission for the SC, and ST.
Article 340
Appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes.
Article 343
Official languages of the Union.
 
Special Articles
Article 371
Special provision with respect to the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Article 371A
Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland
Article 371B
Special provision with respect to the State of Assam
Article 371C
Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur
Article 371D
Special provisions with respect to the State of Andhra Pradesh
Article 371E
Establishment of Central University in Andhra Pradesh
Article 371F
Special provisions with respect to the State of Sikkim
Article 371G
Special provision with respect to the State of Mizoram
Article 371H
Special provision with respect to the State of Arunachal Pradesh
Article 371I
Special provision with respect to the State of Goa
Article 345
Official languages or languages of states.
Article 348
Languages to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts.
Article 351
Directive for development of the Hindi language.
Article 352
Proclamation of emergency (National Emergency).
Article 356
State Emergency
Article 360
Financial Emergency
Article 361
Protection of President and Governors
Article 368
Powers of Parliaments to amend the constitution.
Article 370
Special provision for Jammu and Kashmir.
 
Important Subjects Covered by Three Lists
 
Union List
  • Defense
  • External Affairs209
  • Posts and Post office Savings Bank
  • Lotteries
  • Census
  • Taxes on Income other than agricultural Income
  • Corporation Tax
 
State List
  • Police
  • Local Government
  • Public Health and Sanitation
  • Fisheries
  • Taxes on agricultural income
 
Concurrent List
  • Forests
  • Education
  • Electricity
  • Protection of wild animals and birds
  • Population control and family planning
  • Price control
  • Weights and measures except the established standards
  • Administration of Justice, constitution and organization of all courts, except the supreme court and the high courts.
  • Economic and social planning
  • Marriage and divorce
 
PANCHAYATI RAJ
  • The term Panchayati Raj in India signifies the system of rural local self-government.
  • Article 40 under Part IV of the Indian Constitution mandates for the establishment of Panchayati Raj Institutions in India.
  • Panchayati Raj was constitutionalized through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992.
  • Panchayati Raj Act came into force on 24th April 1993.
 
BALWANT RAI MEHTA COMMITTEE
  • In January 1957, Government of India appointed a committee to examine the working of the Community Development Programme and the National Extension Service
  • Balwant Rai Mehta was the Chairman of this committee
  • Balwant Rai Mehta is known as the father of Panchayati Raj in India
 
ASHOK MEHTA COMMITTEE
  • In December 1977, the Janata Government appointed a committee under the Chairmanship of Ashok Mehta, which is known as ‘Committee on Panchayati Raj Institutions’.
  • The Malayalee member of Ashok Mehta Committee was EMS
 
GVK RAO COMMITTEE
  • In 1985, a committee on administrative Arrangement for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation Programme was set up by the Planning Commission under the Chairmanship of GVK Rao.
 
LM SINGHAVI COMMITTEE
In 1986, Rajiv Gandhi Government appointed a committee on Revitalization of Panchayati Raj Institution for Democracy and Development under the Chairmanship of LM Singhvi.
 
74TH AMENDMENT
  • The first Municipal Corporation in India was set up at Madras in 1688.
  • Municipal corporation were set up at Bombay and Calcutta in 1726.
  • Chief Executive of a Municipal Corporation: Mayor
  • Chief Executive of a Municipality: Chairman
 
STATE ADMINISTRATION
 
Governor
  • Article 153 says that there shall be a Governor for each state.
  • 7th Constitutional Amendment Act 1956 facilitated the appointment of the same person as governor for two or more states.
  • Constitutional heads of Union Territories are called Lieutenant Governors.
  • The state executive consists of the Governor, the chief minister, the council of ministers and the advocate general of the state.210
 
The Chief Minister
  • The Chief Minister is the real executive authority in a state. The position of the chief minister at the state level is analogous to the position of prime minister at the center.
  • The Chief minister shall be appointed by the Governor
  • Chief Minister is the chairman of the State Planning Board.
  • He is the political heads of the services in the state.
 
State Legislature
  • There is no uniformity in the organization of state legislatures, 22 states have unicameral system.
  • Only 7 states have bicameral legislature, i.e. legislative assembly and legislative council.
 
State with Bicameral System
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana.
 
BUDGET–KERALA
  • The first budget of Kerala was presented by C Achutha Menon, the first finance minister of Kerala on 7th June 1957.
  • KM Mani holds the record of having presented maximum number of budgets (12 Budgets till 2014) and the longest budget speech.
  • KM Mani overcame the record of V Viswanatha Menon
  • The shortest budget speech was that of EK Nayanar on 3rd March 1987.
  • KM Mani Center for Budget Studies was started at Cochin University of Science and Technology
  • It was inaugurated by Hamid Ansari on 17th February 2013.
 
EXTRA FACTS
  • During National Emergency, the President can suspend the Fundamental Rights of Citizen except:
    • Six Freedom under Article 19 will automatically be suspended only during an External Emergency (due to war of External Aggression) and not in the case of an Internal Emergency (due to Armed Rebellion)
  • The first president to cast his vote in the Lok Sabha election: KR Narayanan
  • The first president to cast his vote in the Assembly election: APJ Abdul Kalam
  • First Malayalee woman to contest in the Presidential election: Captain Lakshmi Sehgal
  • The first Malayalee to contest in the Presidential election: VR Krishna Iyer
 
Hamid Ansari
  • 14th Vice President of India
  • 12th person to become the Vice President
  • 2nd person to become vice President twice
  • 1st Dr S Radha Krishnan (1952–1962)
  • ‘Travelling Through Conflict’—Written by Hamid Ansari.
  • Gram Sabha is the foundation of Panchayati Raj System
  • It is a body consisting of person registered in the electoral rolls of a village
  • Article 243 A deals with Grama Sabha
  • The Grama Sabha shall meet at least once in three months
  • The Quorum for a meeting of Grama Sabha 1/10 of total members.
  • Kerala Panchayati Raj Act came into force of 23rd April 1994
  • Kerala Municipality Act came into force on 39th May 1994
  • The state which has the largest number of MLA's: UP (403)
  • The State which has the lead number of MLA's: Sikkim (32)
  • First Municipality in India to get ISO Certificate for quality Management: Malappuram (Kerala)