General Studies-II

Historical Underpinning & Evolution

• Regulating Act (1773) to Independence Act (1947)

• Constituent Assembly

• Objective Resolution

• Enactment & Enforcement of Constitution

Features

• Written

• Flexible & Rigid

• Federal & Unitary

• Parliamentary Form of Government (Presidential vs. Parliamentary Type of Government)

Amendments

• List of Significant Amendments & Their Provisions

• Procedure for Amending Constitution

Significant Provisions

• Fundamental Rights

• Directive Principles of State Policy

• Judicial Review

• Universal Adult Franchise

• Single Citizenship

• Separation of Powers

Basic Structure

• The Doctrine

• Judgments & Cases

Functions & Responsibilities of the Union and the States

• 7^th Schedule

• Legislative Functions

• Financial Functions

• Administrative & Quasi-Judicial Functions

Issues & Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure

Federal Structure in India - Is India truly Federal?

Cooperative & Competitive Federalism

Centre-State Relations

• Legislative Relations

• Administrative Relations

• Financial Relations

• Trends in Centre-State Relations

Inter-State Relations

• Inter-state Water Disputes

• Inter-State Councils

• Public Acts, Records and Judicial Proceedings

• Inter-State Trade and Commerce

• Zonal Councils

Emergency Provisions

Role of Governor

Reports of Various Commissions

• 2nd ARC, Punchhi, Sarkaria, etc.

Devolution of Powers & Finances to Local Levels & Challenges Therein

• Role of State Government

• Role of State Finance Commission

• 11^th & 12^th Schedule

• Reasons for Ineffective Performance

• Panchayat Devolution Index ( NITI Aayog)

• Steps That Can Be Taken to Improve Their Performance

Separation of Powers Between Various Organs

• Doctrine of Separation of Power

• Separation of Power in Indian Constitution

• Doctrine of Checks & Balances

• Provisions for Checks & Balances in Indian Constitution

• Related Judgments - Golaknath case, Kesavananda Bharati, Indira Gandhi Vs Raj Narain, Ram Jawaya vs Punjab

Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions

• RTI

• PIL

• Tribunals, etc.

Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme With That of Other Countries Parliament & State Legislatures

Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges

• Written Constitution

• Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility

• Federal System with Unitary Bias

• Parliamentary Form of Government

• Synthesis of Parliamentary Sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy

• Integrated and Independent Judiciary

• Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Duties

• Secular State

• Universal Adult Franchise

• Single Citizenship

• Emergency Provisions

• Three-tier Government

• Due Process of Law vs. Procedure Established by Law

• Impeachment of President, etc.

Structure, Organization & Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary

Executive

• Union:

  • President

  • Prime Minister

  • Council of Ministers

  • Cabinet Secretariat

• State:

  • Governor

  • Chief Minister

  • Council of Ministers

  • Secretariat

Judiciary

• Three-Tier Structure

• Chief Justice of India

• SC & HC Judges

• Jurisdiction

Ministries and Departments of the Government

• Cabinet Ministries

• Other Ministries

• Parliamentary Secretaries

Pressure Groups & Formal/informal Associations & Their Role in Polity

• Characteristics of Pressure Groups

• Pressure Groups & Political Parties

• Pressure Groups & Interest Groups

• Types of Pressure Groups

• Functions, Role & Importance of Pressure Groups

• Techniques/Methods of Pressure Groups

• Pressure Groups in India

• Shortcomings of Pressure Groups

Salient Features of Representation of People's Act

Appointment to Various Constitutional Posts

Appointment, Powers, Functions & Responsibilities of:

• Election Commission

• Union Public Service Commission

• State Public Service Commission

• Finance Commission

• National Commission for SCs

• National Commission for STs

• Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities

• Comptroller and Auditor General of India

• Attorney General of India

• Advocate General of the State

Statutory, Regulatory & Quasi-Judicial Bodies

• NITI Aayog

• RBI

• National Human Rights Commission

• State Human Rights Commission

• Central Information Commission

• Central Vigilance Commission

• Central Bureau of Investigation

• Lokpal and Lokayuktas

• National Commission for Women

• National Commission for Backward Classes

• National Commission for Minorities

• Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority

• Securities and Exchange Board of India

• Competition Commission of India

• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

• Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

• Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

• Central Pollution Control Board

• Medical Council of India

• Inland Waterways Authority of India

• Central Ground Water Authority

• Directorate General of Civil Aviation

• Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

• Bar Council of India

• University Grants Commission

• Financial Stability and Development Council

• All India Council for Technical Education

• National Green Tribunal

• Competition Appellate Tribunal

• Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal

• Cyber Appellate Tribunal

• Intellectual Property Appellate Board

Government Policies & Interventions for Development

Government Policies & Interventions in Various Sectors

• Health, Gender, Education, Poverty, Economic etc

Issues Arising Out of Their Design & Implementation

• Concerns/Issues

• Suggestions for Improvement

• Critical Assessment of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)

• Rationalisation of CSS

• Analysis of Main Schemes:

  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

  • Smart City

  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

  • MGNERGA

  • Digital India

  • Make in India

  • Skill India

  • PM Jan Dhan Yojana

  • Start-up India etc.

Development Processes & the Development Industry

• Role of Social Capital Organisations

• Indian Context

• Classification

• Provisions for the Third Sector in the Indian Constitution

• National Policy on the Voluntary Sector 2007

Non-Governmental Organisations

• Role and Impact of Non-governmental Organizations

• Issue Areas: Accreditation, Legitimacy & Accountability, Foreign Funding etc.

Self Help Groups (SHGs)

• Need for SHGs

• Benefits of SHGs

• Weaknesses of SHGs

• Challenges

• Measures to Make SHGs Effective

• Case Studies: Kudumbashree (Kerala), Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (Maharashtra)

Societies, Trusts and Cooperatives

• Societies

• Trust

• Religious Endowments

• Cooperatives –

  • Need for Cooperatives

  • Constitutional Provisions

  • National Policy on Co-operatives, 2002

  • Issues and Challenges in the Cooperatives Sector

Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency & Accountability

Governance

• Dimensions of Governance

• Good Governance (GG)

• Aspects of GG

• Barriers to GG

• Necessary Pre-conditions for GG

• How to Ensure GG

E-Governance

• Applications

• Models

• Successes

• Limitations

• Potential

• Recent e-governance Initiatives by Government

Citizens Charters (CC)

• Components of CC

• Features of CC

• Six Principles of CC

• Shortcomings of CC

• Measures to Make CC Effective

• Sevottam Model

Aspects of Transparency

Elements & Types of Accountability

Means to ensure Transparency & Accountability

• RTI

• Social Audit

• Whistleblower Protection Bill

• Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act

Role of Civil Services in a Democracy

Relationship Between Civil Service And Democracy

Role Played By Civil Services

• Advisory Role in Policy Making

• Institutionalise Socio-economic change

• Discharge Delegated Functions

• Administer Law of the Land

• Watchdogs

• Continuity in times of Political Instability

• Record-Keeping

• Channel of Communication

Ailments/Issues Afflicting Indian Civil Services

• Lack of Professionalism & Poor Capacity Building

• Inefficient Incentive Systems

• Outdated Rules & Procedures

• Systemic Inconsistencies in Promotion

• Lack of Adequate Transparency & Accountability Procedures

• Arbitrary & Whimsical Transfers

• Political Interference & Administrative Acquiescence

• Gradual Erosion in Values & Ethics

• Redtapism

• Elitist in Nature

• Poor Pay

• Tendency to Capture Power

Reforming Bureaucracy to Strengthen Democracy

• Setting Right the Asymmetry of Power

• Insulating Civil Servants from Undue Political Interference

• Professionalisation with Stability of Tenure & Competition

• Citizen-Centric Administration

• Accountability

• Outcome Orientation

• Promoting Public Service Values & Ethics

Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections

Schemes for the Following Vulnerable Sections

• SCs & STs

• Minorities

• Children

• Elderly

• Disabled

• Women

• Transgender

Performance of These Schemes

Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions & Bodies Constituted for Protection & Betterment of These Vulnerable Sections

• SCs:

  • The Protection of Civil Rights Act

  • The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act

  • National Commission for Scheduled Castes

  • Scheduled Castes Sub Plan

• Disabled:

  • The Rehabilitation Council of India Act

  • The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act

  • Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act

  • The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with

    Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act

  • Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act

• STs:

  • National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

  • Tribal Sub Plan

  • TRIFED

  • Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act

• Minorities:

  • National Commission for Minorities

  • National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities

Women & Children

• The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act

• The Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act

• The Dowry Prohibition Act

• The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act

• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act

• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act

• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act

• Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA)

• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act

• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)

• Pre-Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act

• Gender Budgeting

• National Policy for Women

• Domestic Violence Act

• Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act

Elderly

• Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act

Issues Relating to Development & Management of Social Sector/Services

Health

• India’s Performance on Various Health Indicators

• Weaknesses of Indian Healthcare System

• Health Infrastructure in India

• Universal Health Coverage

• 12th FYP Strategy

• Universal Health Coverage

• Health Insurance

• National Family Health Survey

• National Health Policy

• National Health Mission

• Maternal & Adolescent Health

• Child Health

• Antimicrobial Resistance

• Disease Burden in India

• Measures to Ensure Good Health Outcomes

• Government Initiatives

Education

• Status of Literacy in India

• Education Structure in India

• Challenges Faced by Education Sector in India

• Reforms Required

• Government Initiatives

• ASER Report

• Financing Education

• Subramanian Panel Report

Human Resource

• Need For Skill Development

• Skill Development Initiatives

• Challenges in Skilling Landscape in India

• Shortcomings of Current Skill Development Initiatives

• Reforms Required

• Steps that can Be Taken

Issues Relating to Poverty & Hunger

• Relation between Poverty & Hunger

• Distribution of Poverty & Hunger

• Magnitude & Trends of Poverty & Hunger

• Causes of Poverty & Hunger

• Cost/Impact of Poverty & Malnutrition

• MDGs & SDGs

• Food and nutrition insecurity - a consequence of structural inequities

• Constraints in Reducing Poverty & Hunger

• Measure to Reduce Poverty & Hunger – National Food Security Act, Mid-day Meal Scheme, MGNREGA etc.

India and its Neighborhood – Relations

India’s Relations With

• China

• Pakistan

• Myanmar

• Bhutan

• Bangladesh

• Sri Lanka

• Afghanistan

• Nepal

• Maldives

Bilateral, Regional & Global Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests

India’s Major Foreign Policy Doctrines Since 1947

• Non-aligned Movement (NAM)

• Nuclear Doctrine

• Gujral Doctrine

• Look East to Act East

• Think West, etc.

Bilateral Relations With

• Major Powers Like – USA, Russia, Japan

• Central Asian Countries

• West Asian Countries

• African Countries

• Australia & New Zealand

• EU & European Countries

• Latin American Countries

• Pacific Countries

Regional & Global Groupings

• SAARC

• BRICS

• BBIN & BCIM

• BIMSTEC

• IBSA

• ASEAN & RCEP

• India-Africa Forum

• SCO

• Ashgabat Agreement

• FIPIC

• IOR-ARC

• Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC)

• Raisina Dialogue

• Heart of Asia Conference

• East Asia Summit

• G-20

• Asian Development Bank

• National Security Summit

• Multilateral Nuclear Export Regulatory Regimes: Wassenar, MTCR, Australia Group

• Asian Development Bank

• APEC, etc

Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed & Developing Countries on India's Interests

• One Belt One Road

• International North–South Transport Corridor

• Global Trade War

• Global Currency War

• Syrian Crisis

• UN Reforms

• WTO Reforms

• South China Sea Conflict

• Brexit

• Deglobalisation & Protectionism – US Sanctions on Iran, US Pullout from Paris Agreement, H-1B Visa Issue etc.

• OPEC Oil Prices Manipulation, etc.

Indian Diaspora

• Spread of Indian Diaspora

• India’s Diaspora Policy & Engagement Initiatives

  • OCI

  • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

  • Know India Programme, etc.

• LM Singhvi High Level Committee on the Diaspora

• Role played by Indian Diaspora

• Issues Concerning the Diaspora:

  • Dual Nationality

  • Remittances, etc.

Important International Institutions

• UN & its Agencies

• WTO

• World Bank

• IMF

• World Economic Forum

• Commonwealth of Nations, etc.