General Studies-II

(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International

Relations)
 Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments,
Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.
 Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges
Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local
Levels and Challenges Therein.
 Separation of Powers between various organs Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and
Institutions.
 Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries.
 Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers
& Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.
 Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries
and Departments of the Government; Pressure Groups and Formal/Informal
Associations and their Role in the Polity.
 Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
 Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies.
 Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.
 Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues
arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Development Processes and the Development Industry — the Role of NGOs, SHGs,
various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
 Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States
and the Performance of these Schemes; Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies
constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections.
 Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to
Health, Education, Human Resources.
 Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger.
 Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability, E-governance-
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; Citizens Charters,
Transparency & Accountability and institutional and other measures.
 Role of Civil Services in a Democracy.
 India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
 Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or
affecting India’s interests.
  Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s
interests, Indian Diaspora.
 Important International Institutions, agencies and fora - their Structure, Mandate.

POLITY

Indian Constitution
Historical Underpinning & Evolution Significant Provisions
 Regulating Act (1773) to  Fundamental Rights
Independence Act (1947)  Directive Principles of State Policy
 Constituent Assembly  Judicial Review
 Objective Resolution  Universal Adult Franchise
 Enactment & Enforcement of  Single Citizenship
Constitution  Separation of Powers
Features Basic Structure
 Written  The Doctrine
 Flexible & Rigid  Judgments & Cases
 Federal & Unitary
 Parliamentary Form of Government
(Presidential vs. Parliamentary Type
of Government)
Amendments
 List of Significant Amendments &
Their Provisions
 Procedure for Amending Constitution
Functions & Responsibilities of the Union
and the States
 7 Schedule
th  Financial Functions
 Legislative Functions  Administrative & Quasi-Judicial
Functions
Issues & Challenges Pertaining to the
Federal Structure
Federal Structure in India - Is India truly  Inter-State Councils
Federal?  Public Acts, Records and Judicial
Cooperative & Competitive Federalism Proceedings
Centre-State Relations  Inter-State Trade and Commerce
 Legislative Relations  Zonal Councils
 Administrative Relations Emergency Provisions
 Financial Relations Role of Governor
  Trends in Centre-State Relations Reports of Various Commissions
Inter-State Relations  2nd ARC, Punchhi, Sarkaria, etc.
 Inter-state Water Disputes
Devolution of Powers & Finances to Local
Levels & Challenges Therein
 Role of State Government  Reasons for Ineffective Performance
 Role of State Finance Commission  Panchayat Devolution Index ( NITI
 11th & 12th Schedule Aayog)
 Steps That Can Be Taken to Improve
Their Performance
Separation of Powers Between Various
Organs
 Doctrine of Separation of Power  Provisions for Checks & Balances in
 Separation of Power in Indian Indian Constitution
Constitution  Related Judgments - Golaknath case,
 Doctrine of Checks & Balances Kesavananda Bharati, Indira Gandhi
Vs Raj Narain, Ram Jawaya vs Punjab
Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and
Institutions
 RTI  Tribunals, etc.
 PIL
Comparison of the Indian Constitutional
Scheme With That of Other Countries
Parliament & State Legislatures
Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business,  Secular State
Powers & Privileges  Universal Adult Franchise
 Written Constitution  Single Citizenship
 Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility  Emergency Provisions
 Federal System with Unitary Bias  Three-tier Government
 Parliamentary Form of Government  Due Process of Law vs. Procedure
 Synthesis of Parliamentary Established by Law
Sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy  Impeachment of President, etc.
 Integrated and Independent Judiciary
 Fundamental Rights, Directive
Principles of State Policy,
Fundamental Duties
Structure, Organization & Functioning of the
Executive and the Judiciary
Executive Judiciary
 Union:  Three-Tier Structure
 President  Chief Justice of India
 Prime Minister  SC & HC Judges
  Council of Ministers  Jurisdiction
 Cabinet Secretariat
 State:
 Governor
 Chief Minister
 Council of Ministers
 Secretariat
Ministries and Departments of the
Government
 Cabinet Ministries  Parliamentary Secretaries
 Other Ministries
Pressure Groups & Formal/informal
Associations & Their Role in Polity
 Characteristics of Pressure Groups  Functions, Role & Importance of
 Pressure Groups & Political Parties Pressure Groups
 Pressure Groups & Interest Groups  Techniques/Methods of Pressure
 Types of Pressure Groups 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 &  National Commission for STs
Responsibilities of:  Special Officer for Linguistic
 Election Commission Minorities
 Union Public Service Commission  Comptroller and Auditor General of
 State Public Service Commission India
 Finance Commission  Attorney General of India
 National Commission for SCs  Advocate General of the State
Statutory, Regulatory & Quasi-Judicial
Bodies
 NITI Aayog  Central Pollution Control Board
 RBI  Medical Council of India
 National Human Rights Commission  Inland Waterways Authority of India
 State Human Rights Commission  Central Ground Water Authority
 Central Information Commission  Directorate General of Civil Aviation
 Central Vigilance Commission  Pension Fund Regulatory and
 Central Bureau of Investigation Development Authority
 Lokpal and Lokayuktas  Food Safety and Standards Authority
 National Commission for Women of India
 Bar Council of India
  National Commission for Backward  University Grants Commission
Classes  Financial Stability and Development
 National Commission for Minorities Council
 Insurance Regulatory and  All India Council for Technical
Development Authority Education
 Securities and Exchange Board of  National Green Tribunal
India  Competition Appellate Tribunal
 Competition Commission of India  Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal
 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India  Cyber Appellate Tribunal
 Central Electricity Regulatory  Intellectual Property Appellate Board
Commission
 Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

GOVERNANCE

Government Policies & Interventions for

Development
Government Policies & Interventions in  Analysis of Main Schemes:
Various Sectors  Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
 Health, Gender, Education, Poverty,  Smart City
Economic etc  Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Issues Arising Out of Their Design &  MGNERGA
Implementation  Digital India
 Concerns/Issues  Make in India
 Suggestions for Improvement  Skill India
 Critical Assessment of Centrally  PM Jan Dhan Yojana
Sponsored Schemes (CSS)  Start-up India etc.
 Rationalisation of CSS
Development Processes & the Development
Industry
 Role of Social Capital Organisations  Challenges
 Indian Context  Measures to Make SHGs Effective
 Classification  Case Studies: Kudumbashree (Kerala),
 Provisions for the Third Sector in the Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal
Indian Constitution (Maharashtra)
 National Policy on the Voluntary Societies, Trusts and Cooperatives
Sector 2007  Societies
Non-Governmental Organisations  Trust
 Religious Endowments
  Role and Impact of Non-governmental  Cooperatives –
Organizations  Need for Cooperatives
 Issue Areas: Accreditation, Legitimacy  Constitutional Provisions
& Accountability, Foreign Funding etc.  National Policy on Co-
Self Help Groups (SHGs) operatives, 2002
 Need for SHGs  Issues and Challenges in the
 Benefits of SHGs Cooperatives Sector
 Weaknesses of SHGs
Important Aspects of Governance,
Transparency & Accountability
Governance  Features of CC
 Dimensions of Governance  Six Principles of CC
 Good Governance (GG)  Shortcomings of CC
 Aspects of GG  Measures to Make CC Effective
 Barriers to GG  Sevottam Model
 Necessary Pre-conditions for GG Aspects of Transparency
 How to Ensure GG Elements & Types of Accountability
E-Governance Means to ensure Transparency &
 Applications Accountability
 Models  RTI
 Successes  Social Audit
 Limitations  Whistleblower Protection Bill
 Potential  Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act
 Recent e-governance Initiatives by
Government
Citizens Charters (CC)
 Components of CC
Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
Relationship Between Civil Service And  Arbitrary & Whimsical Transfers
Democracy  Political Interference & Administrative
Role Played By Civil Services Acquiescence
 Advisory Role in Policy Making  Gradual Erosion in Values & Ethics
 Institutionalise Socio-economic  Redtapism
change  Elitist in Nature
 Discharge Delegated Functions  Poor Pay
 Administer Law of the Land  Tendency to Capture Power
 Watchdogs Reforming Bureaucracy to Strengthen
 Continuity in times of Political Democracy
Instability  Setting Right the Asymmetry of Power
 Record-Keeping  Insulating Civil Servants from Undue
 Channel of Communication Political Interference
Ailments/Issues Afflicting Indian Civil  Professionalisation with Stability of
Services Tenure & Competition
 Lack of Professionalism & Poor  Citizen-Centric Administration
Capacity Building  Accountability
 Inefficient Incentive Systems  Outcome Orientation
 Outdated Rules & Procedures  Promoting Public Service Values &
 Systemic Inconsistencies in Promotion Ethics
 Lack of Adequate Transparency &
Accountability Procedures

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections

Schemes for the Following Vulnerable  STs:
Sections  National Commission for
 SCs & STs Scheduled Tribes
 Minorities  Tribal Sub Plan
 Children  TRIFED
 Elderly  Scheduled Tribes and Other
 Disabled Traditional Forest Dwellers
 Women (Recognition of Forest Rights)
 Transgender Act
Performance of These Schemes  Minorities:
Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions & Bodies  National Commission for
Constituted for Protection & Betterment of Minorities
These Vulnerable Sections  National Commission for
 SCs: Religious and Linguistic
 The Protection of Civil Rights Minorities
Act Women & Children
 The Scheduled Castes and the  The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention  The Indecent Representation of
of Atrocities) Act Women (Prevention) Act
 National Commission for  The Dowry Prohibition Act
Scheduled Castes  The Commission of Sati (Prevention)
 Scheduled Castes Sub Plan Act
 Disabled:  The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act
 The Rehabilitation Council of  Protection of Women from Domestic
India Act Violence Act
  The Persons with Disabilities  Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection
(Equal Opportunities, of Children) Act
Protection of Rights and Full  Central Adoption Resource Agency
Participation) Act (CARA)
 Mental Retardation and  The Protection of Children from
Multiple Disabilities Act Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act
 The National Trust for Welfare  Sexual Harassment of Women at
of Persons with Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition
Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental and Redressal)
Retardation and Multiple  Pre-Conception and Pre Natal
Disabilities Act Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act
 Rights of the Persons with  Gender Budgeting
Disabilities Act  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 Education
 India’s Performance on Various  Status of Literacy in India
Health Indicators  Education Structure in India
 Weaknesses of Indian Healthcare  Challenges Faced by Education Sector
System in India
 Health Infrastructure in India  Reforms Required
 Universal Health Coverage  Government Initiatives
 12th FYP Strategy  ASER Report
 Universal Health Coverage  Financing Education
 Health Insurance  Subramanian Panel Report
 National Family Health Survey Human Resource
 National Health Policy  Need For Skill Development
 National Health Mission  Skill Development Initiatives
 Maternal & Adolescent Health  Challenges in Skilling Landscape in
 Child Health India
 Antimicrobial Resistance  Shortcomings of Current Skill
 Disease Burden in India Development Initiatives
 Measures to Ensure Good Health  Reforms Required
Outcomes  Steps that can Be Taken
 Government Initiatives
Issues Relating to Poverty & Hunger
 Relation between Poverty & Hunger  MDGs & SDGs
  Distribution of Poverty & Hunger  Food and nutrition insecurity - a
 Magnitude & Trends of Poverty & consequence of structural inequities
Hunger  Constraints in Reducing Poverty &
 Causes of Poverty & Hunger Hunger
 Cost/Impact of Poverty &  Measure to Reduce Poverty & Hunger
Malnutrition – National Food Security Act, Mid-day
Meal Scheme, MGNREGA etc.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India and its Neighborhood – Relations

India’s Relations With  Bangladesh
 China  Sri Lanka
 Pakistan  Afghanistan
 Myanmar  Nepal
 Bhutan  Maldives
Bilateral, Regional & Global Groupings &
Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting
India's Interests
India’s Major Foreign Policy Doctrines Since  BBIN & BCIM
1947  BIMSTEC
 Non-aligned Movement (NAM)  IBSA
 Nuclear Doctrine  ASEAN & RCEP
 Gujral Doctrine  India-Africa Forum
 Look East to Act East  SCO
 Think West, etc.  Ashgabat Agreement
Bilateral Relations With  FIPIC
 Major Powers Like – USA, Russia,  IOR-ARC
Japan  Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC)
 Central Asian Countries  Raisina Dialogue
 West Asian Countries  Heart of Asia Conference
 African Countries  East Asia Summit
 Australia & New Zealand  G-20
 EU & European Countries  Asian Development Bank
 Latin American Countries  National Security Summit
 Pacific Countries  Multilateral Nuclear Export
Regional & Global Groupings Regulatory Regimes: Wassenar,
 SAARC MTCR, Australia Group
 BRICS  Asian Development Bank
  APEC, etc
Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed &
Developing Countries on India's Interests
 One Belt One Road  WTO Reforms
 International North–South Transport  South China Sea Conflict
Corridor  Brexit
 Global Trade War  Deglobalisation & Protectionism – US
 Global Currency War Sanctions on Iran, US Pullout from
 Syrian Crisis Paris Agreement, H-1B Visa Issue etc.
 UN Reforms  OPEC Oil Prices Manipulation, etc.
Indian Diaspora
 Spread of Indian Diaspora  LM Singhvi High Level Committee on
 India’s Diaspora Policy & Engagement the Diaspora
Initiatives  Role played by Indian Diaspora
 OCI  Issues Concerning the Diaspora:
 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas  Dual Nationality
 Know India Programme, etc.  Remittances, etc.
Important International Institutions
 UN & its Agencies  IMF
 WTO  World Economic Forum
 World Bank  Commonwealth of Nations, etc.