General Studies for Civil Services Preliminary Examination Vol II Indian Polity and Economy

Cover Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents INDIAN POLITY 1 INDIAN CONSTITUTION The Constitutional Framework Historical Background An Analysis of the Indian Constitution Indian Constitution – A Living Law The Structure of the Indian Constitution The Preamble Parts I–XXII Covering Articles 1–395 The Schedules Union of India—Its States and Union Territories The Union of India The Re-organisation of the States The Present Structure of the Union Indian Federalism Indian Citizenship Nature of Citizenship Citizenship Act and Its Amendments Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Fundamental Rights as Defined in the Constitution The Scope of Fundamental Rights Classification of Fundamental Rights Discussion Points: Important Related Topics Discussion Points: Connected to Fundamental Rights Emergency Directive Principles Introduction The Scope of Directive Principles Classification of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) Directive Principles: Important Amendment Acts Fundamental Duties of a Citizen of India Fundamental Duties Supreme Court’s Notice on Fundamental Duties Discussion Points: Connected to Fundamental Rights List of Important Constitutional Amendments The Procedure of Amendment (Article 368) Part I: The Union and its Territory Part II: Citizenship Part III: Fundamental Rights Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy Part IVa: Fundamental Duties Part V: The Union Part VI: The States Part VII: The States in Part B of the First Schedule Part VIII: The Union Territories Part IX: The Panchayats Part IXa: The Municpalities Part X: The Scheduled and Tribal Areas Part XI: Relations Between the Union and the States Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits Part XIII: Trade, Commerce and Intercourse within the Territory of India Part XIV: Services Under the Union and the States Part XIVa: Tribunals Part XV: Elections Part XVI: Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes Part XVII: Official Language Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions Part XIX: Miscellaneous Part XX: Amendment of the Constitution Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions Part XXII: Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals Multiple-Choice Questions Original UPSC-Civil Services Questions 2 INDIAN GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION The Union Government Machinery of the Union Government The President and the Vice-President The President The Vice-President The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers The Prime Minister The Council of Ministers The Parliament Composition The Rajya Sabha The Lok Sabha Government Business Legislative Process Parliamentary Committees Important Terms in Conduct of Business in the Parliament Administrative Set-Up of Indian Government The Judiciary The Structure of the Supreme Court The Chief Justice of India The State Judiciary (The HCs) The Judges of the High Court Subordinate Courts Family Courts Lok Adalats and Nyaya Panchayats Important Processes in Indian Judiciary System The Machinery of State Government The State Government The State Legislature The Structure and Nature of the State Legislature Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) Panchayats—As Rural Self-Governing Institutions Local Governments Role of State Government Urban Self-Governing Institutions Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Important Constitutional Statutory Authorities Election Commission Finance Commission Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) The Attorney General of India Advocate General The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Key Functionaries The Lokpal and the Lokayuktas General Elections Political Parties The Political Process Indian Elections—Scale of Operation Discussion Points: Related to Indian Election Processes Political Parties and Elections Historical Background The Official Language Act, 1963 Other Languages Official Language Provisions Relating to Special Classes Welfare of Scheduled Castes STs Development Welfare of Backward Classes Welfare of Minorities Special Position of Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian Union Discretion of Conferring Special Status to J&K State Significance of Article 370 Distribution of Powers—Centre and States Centre–State Relationships Inter-State Councils Zonal Councils (ZCs) Interstate Water Disputes Order of Precedence Constitutional/Non-Constitutional/Statutory Bodies In India Social Legislation in India Additional Readings Multiple-Choice Questions Original UPSC-Civil Services Questions Miscellaneous Exercise ECONOMY 1 PUBLIC FINANCE Introduction Character, Size, and Structure of the Indian Economy National Income and Structural Changes Definition Important Acronyms and Formulae Concepts of National Income Calculation of National Income India’s National Income Estimates for 2012–13 (at 2004–05 Prices) New Series of National Statistics (Base Year 2011–12) Annual Estimates of Expenditures on GDP Population and Economic Development Theory of Demographic Transition Correlation between Population Growth and Economic Development National Capital Formation Population and Capital Formation Gross Capital Formation Consumption Expenditure Estimates at per Capita Level India’s Public Finance Sources of Revenue Annual Financial Budget Public Debt Public Sector Plan: Resource Position—Centre and States Central Government Budget Documents The Brief Description of the Main Budget Documents The Brief Description of the Other Explanatory Documents of the Budget Planning in India Development Planning Planning Commission Five-Year Plans Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007–12) Round up of Key Developments Monitorable Targets for the Twelfth Plan Multiple-Choice Questions Original UPSC-Civil Services Questions 2 AGRICULTURE Overview Agriculture in India Agriculture in Indian Economy Gross Capital Formation in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Investment in Agriculture Agricultural Production Growth in Foodgrain Production All-India Research Projects on Indian Agriculture The Indian Agricultural Scenario Flagship Programmes New Initiative New Schemes Important Policy Initiatives Under Consideration National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oil Development Board (NOVOD) The Green Revolution The Genesis The Benefits of Green Revolution Agricultural Marketing in India Need for Reforms Terminal Market Complex Agri-Business Development Project Through the ADB Marketing Extension Marketing Research and Information Network (AGMARKNET) Construction of Rural Godowns Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) The Central Sector Scheme for Agribusiness Development Agricultural Cooperation, Micro-Management, Warehousing and Storage Indian Cooperative Sector International Cooperation Macro-Management of Agriculture Agricultural Warehousing and Storage Enhancement in Storage Agricultural Extension Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms The National Gender Resource Centre in Agriculture (NGRCA) Irrigation Ultimate Irrigation Potential Irrigation Development Programmes Problems Faced in Progress of Irrigation in India Seeds As Critical Input for Agriculture Production Seed Policy Reforms Seed Production and Distribution Programmes Psus Handling Seeds Fertilisers Consumption of Fertilisers Availability and Prices Fertiliser Subsidy Fertiliser Control Plant Protection, Agricultural Credit and Crop Insurance Plant Protection Agricultural Credit Crop Insurance Technology and Mechanisation Need for Mechanisation of Agriculture The Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering Technology Missions Disaster Management Natural Resource Management Krishi Vigyan Kendras New Crop Varieties Information Technology The National Agriculture Policy (NAP) Development of Agricultural Informatics and Communication and Other Applications IT Apparatus at DAC Headquarters and its Field Offices/Directorates Agricultural Taxation Agricultural Exports Government Initiatives Agricultural Exports External Aid The Public Distribution System Understanding the Public Distribution System in India Facilities Provided Under PDS Other Activities Under PDS Animal Husbandry, Dairy, and Fishery Livestock and Poultry Fishing Major Schemes in Animal Husbandry Other Special Policy Initiatives Rehabilitation Package for Distressed Farmers National Policy for Farmers, 2007 (NPF) Gender Perspectives in Agriculture Short Note on the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture—Government of India Services/Activities Functions and Organisational Structure Notes on Schemes/Programme in Indian Agriculture Agricultural Census Agricultural Marketing Agricultural Credit Cooperation Crops Economic Administration Extension Horticulture Information Technology Integrated Nutrient Management Natural Resources Management Plant Protection Macro-Management Seeds Oilseeds Trade Multiple-Choice Questions Original UPSC-Civil Services Questions 3 INDUSTRY AND OTHER IMPORTANT SECTORS Industry in India Industrial Scene at Independence Government Policies on Industrial Development The New Industrial Policy 1991 Industrial Slowdown Index of Industrial Production (IIP) Foreign Direct Investment Important Information on Indian Industries Industrial Finance Institutions Foreign Trade Introduction Commodity Composition of Imports India’s Share in World Exports India’s Foreign Trade Partners Foreign Exchange System Balance of Payment (BoP) Infrastructure Postal Services Telecommunication Telecommunications Indian Railways Shipping and Ports in India Ports–Sector Snapshot Air Transport Civil Aviation Road Networks Sector Snapshot Money Supply and Prices Working Groups on Money Supply Remedial Measures to Control Inflation Currency System Foreign Economic Relations: AID Banking System Development of Banking System in India Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Public Sector Banks Other Important Banks and Financial Institutions Banking Sector Reforms in India Narasimham Committee Report on Banking Sector Reforms Insurance Introduction Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) General Insurance Corporation (GIC) Insurance Regulatory Authority Insurance Sector—An Overview Investment National Investment Fund (NIF) Unit Trust of India Global Depository Receipts/Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds Portfolio Investment from Foreign Institutional Investors Non-Resident Indian Investments Mutual Funds Pension Reforms Main Features and Architecture of the New Pension System Stock Exchanges Stock Markets in India Securities and Exchange Board of India Mints and Presses Indian Currency Symbol for Indian Rupee Historical Background Acquisition of Security Features Indigenisation Coins The Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) Multiple-Choice Questions Original UPSC-Civil Services Questions 4 DEMOGRAPHICS Census Birth Rate Death Rate Density of Population Relative Growth of Rural and Urban Population Sex Ratio Literacy Rate Important Information Concerning Census 2011 Definitions Multiple-Choice Questions 5 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Understanding Sustainable Development Sustainability Development Sustainable Development Economic Growth Holistic Definitions of Sustainable Development Sustainable Development in India Why Environment Matters to Achieve Sustainable Development in the Specific Context of India Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Livelihoods Protecting and Managing the Natural Resource Base of Economic and Social Development Sustainable Development in a Globalising World Governance for Sustainable Development Scope for Local Level Governance Scope for National Level Governance Scope for International Cooperation Multiple-Choice Questions Original UPSC-Civil Services Questions 6 SHORT NOTES ON POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT Poverty Estimated Poverty Lines and Poverty Ratios Poverty Line Poverty ratios by ‘URP’ and ‘MRP’ Estimation of Poverty and BPL Households Expert Groups for Estimating Poverty and BPL Families Tendulkar Committee Report Saxena Committee Report S.R. Hashim Committee Report Population Under Poverty Line Among Religious Groups Employment Unemployment Employment in the Organised Sector Socio-Economic Development in Indian States Anti-Poverty Programmes Multiple-Choice Questions Original UPSC-Civil Services Questions 7 OTHER SOCIAL SECTOR INITIATIVES AND INCLUSIONS Socio-Economic Sectors Health Sector Literacy and Education Structure of Education Elementary Education Secondary Education University and Higher Education Technical Education Multiple-Choice Questions 8 OTHER SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES Social Protection Programmes Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Bharat Nirman Rural Drinking Water Rural Sanitation: Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) Rural Infrastructure and Development Urban Infrastructure, Housing and Sanitation Skill Development Human Development and Gender Inequality Social Defence Sector Important Definitions Multiple-Choice Questions Original UPSC-Civil Services Questions Miscellaneous Exercises Glossary