Indian Polity for SSC Exam

1. The Constitution of India

The Constitution is the supreme law of India and lays down the framework for political governance.

Preamble

●​ The Preamble to the Indian Constitution sets forth the ideals and principles on which the Constitution
is based. It mentions the terms Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
●​ Sovereign: India is free to conduct its internal and external affairs.
●​ Socialist: The state is committed to achieving social and economic equality.
●​ Secular: India does not have an official religion.
●​ Democratic: The government is elected by the people.
●​ Republic: The head of state is elected and not a hereditary monarch.

Part Structure

The Constitution consists of:

●​ Parts I to XXII: Dealing with various aspects such as the Union and its territories, Fundamental Rights,
Directive Principles, and the Union Government.
●​ Schedules: The Constitution has 12 schedules, which provide additional details like the allocation of
powers, languages, and elections.

Amendments

●​ The Amendment Procedure: The Constitution allows for amendments (under Article 368) to address
changing needs and conditions, but it requires a special procedure for significant changes.
●​ Key amendments that are often tested in the SSC exam include 42nd Amendment (1976), 44th
Amendment (1978), and the 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992), which relate to Panchayati Raj and
Urban Local Bodies.

2. Fundamental Rights & Duties

The Fundamental Rights are guaranteed to all citizens and are essential for the development of an individual.
They are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution.

Fundamental Rights (Article 12 to 35)

●​ Right to Equality (Article 14-18): Equal protection under the law, prohibition of discrimination.
●​ Right to Freedom (Article 19-22): Freedom of speech, assembly, and movement; Protection against
arrest and detention.
●​ Right against Exploitation (Article 23-24): Prohibition of human trafficking and forced labor.
●​ Right to Freedom of Religion (Article 25-28): Freedom to practice, propagate, and profess any
religion.
●​ Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 29-30): Protection of language, script, and culture of
minorities.
 ●​ Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32): The right to move the Supreme Court for the
enforcement of rights.

Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)

●​ These are moral duties expected of citizens, like respecting the Constitution, promoting harmony,
protecting the environment, and preserving cultural heritage.

3. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)

●​ These are guidelines for the government to ensure the welfare of the people and social and economic
justice.
●​ While DPSPs are not legally enforceable, they are fundamental in the governance of the country.
●​ Article 36-51 in Part IV of the Constitution outlines these principles, covering aspects like equal pay for
equal work, securing a uniform civil code, and providing adequate means of livelihood.

4. The Union Government

The Union Government comprises the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.

Executive

●​ President of India (Article 52-78): The President is the head of the state and exercises executive powers,
but in practice, they act on the advice of the Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister.
○​ Powers include appointing the Prime Minister, dissolving the Lok Sabha, promulgating
ordinances, and giving assent to bills.
●​ Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the head of the government and holds significant executive
powers, including forming the Council of Ministers.
●​ Council of Ministers: Includes Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers who assist
the Prime Minister in the administration.

Legislature

●​ Bicameral System: The Indian Parliament consists of two houses:

Judiciary

●​ Supreme Court of India (Article 124-147): The apex court, with the power of judicial review to interpret
and safeguard the Constitution.
●​ High Courts: Each state or group of states has its High Court, and they deal with state-specific issues.
●​ Lower Courts: District courts and sub-ordinate courts deal with routine legal matters.

5. State Government
●​ The structure of the state government mirrors the Union Government.
○​ Governor: The head of the state, acting as the representative of the President at the state level.
○​ Chief Minister: The leader of the majority party in the Legislative Assembly and the head of the
state government.
○​ State Legislature: Includes the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislary Council
(Vidhan Parishad), in states that have a bicameral legislature.
○​ State Judiciary: The High Court is the highest court at the state level, followed by district and
subordinate courts.

6. Local Government

●​ The Constitution provides for Panchayati Raj and Municipalities to decentralize governance.
○​ Panchayati Raj (73rd Amendment, 1992): It aims to establish a three-tier system (Gram
Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Panchayat) for local self-governance in rural areas.
○​ Urban Local Bodies (74th Amendment, 1992): Covers Municipalities and Municipal
Corporations for urban areas.

7. Elections and Representation

●​ Election Commission: An autonomous body responsible for conducting free and fair elections at the
national, state, and local levels.
●​ Lok Sabha Elections: Held every five years, members are elected directly by the people.
●​ Rajya Sabha Elections: Members are elected indirectly by the members of the state legislative
assemblies.

Key Concepts Related to Elections

●​ Universal Adult Franchise: Every citizen above 18 years has the right to vote.
●​ First-Past-the-Post System: The candidate with the highest number of votes wins the election.

8. Important Political Concepts and Terms

●​ Secularism: The government does not favor any religion and treats all religions equally.
●​ Federal System: India has a federal system of government, but with a strong central government.
●​ Majority Rule: The government is formed by the party with the majority in the Lok Sabha.
●​ Impeachment: The procedure to remove the President or judges of higher courts from office.

Preparation Tips for SSC Polity

1.​ Focus on Articles: Memorize important articles and their significance, such as Article 14 (Equality),
Article 32 (Right to Constitutional Remedies), and Article 368 (Amendment of the Constitution).
2.​ Understand Key Amendments: Amendments like 42nd, 44th, 73rd, and 74th are commonly asked in
exams.
3.​ Refer to NCERT Books: The NCERT Political Science books from class 6-12 are great for building a solid
foundation.
4.​ Use Current Affairs: Keep up with recent political developments, elections, and constitutional
amendments.