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Indian Polity #12 | Study Material::General Studies | IAS Help
(+8 rating, 8 votes) Loading ... CIVIL SERVICES IN INDIA Overview DOWNLOAD THIS ARTICLE Indian Polity #12 (279.6 KiB, 1,824 hits)
Running the administration of a vast and diverse country requires efficient management of natural, economic and human resources. This is the primary responsibility of the civil services Civil Services in India originated in the eighteenth century under the rule of the East India Company Civil services in India comprise three types of services o All India Services o Central Civil Services Group A o Central Civil Services Group B o State Civil Services According to the Constitution, more Civil Services can be set up by the Rajya Sabha with a 2/3rd majority vote. This applies to All India and Central Services, while the State Services can be constituted by similar act of state legislatures. The Indian Forest Service and the Indian Foreign Service were set up in this fashion Civil Services under British rule The civil services were first constituted under the East India Company as the Honourable East India Company Civil Servants (HEICS) At this stage there were two groups of civil servants: covenanted (who entered into covenants with the Company) and the uncovenanted. The covenanted civil servants occupied higher positions in the hierarchy while the uncovenanted occupied lower levels This service evolved to become the Indian Civil Service (ICS), which later became the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) after Independence The Public Service Commission 1886-1887 (Aitchison Commission), was constituted to guide the evolution of the civil service. The recommendations of the Aitchison Commission included o Two-tier classification of covenanted/uncovenanted to be replaced by three tier classification Imperial Civil Service, Provincial Civil Service and Subordinate Civil Service o Maximum age of entry to be 23 years o Statutory system of recruitment to be abolished o Competitive exam should not be held simultaneously in England and India o Certain percentage of posts in the Imperial Civil Service to be filled by promotion from Provincial Civil Services The basic pattern of the cadre system in the civil service was established by the Aitchison Commission
In 1912, the Islington Commission was appointed, however its recommendations were not considered By 1934, the system had evolved to consist of seven All India Services The first Indian to rank first in the ICS examination was Gurusaday Dutt in 1905 All India Services The All India Services are those civil services that serve all of India, under both the Union Government and the state governments There are three All India Services: o Indian Administrative Service (IAS) o Indian Police Service (IPS) o Indian Forest Service (IFS) The officers of the All India Services are recruited and trained by the Union Government, but work under the Centre as well as the states Officers of the All India Services are organised into cadres. 24 states have their own cadres. There are also three joint cadres: o Assam-Meghalaya cadre o Manipur-Tripura cadre o Arunchal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre Central Civil Services Central Civil Services function under the Central government The Central services are categorised into two groups: Group A and Group B There are more than 30 Central Services Group A. Prominent services in the Central Civil Services Group A include o Indian Foreign Service (IFS) o Indian Revenue Service (IRS) o Indian Postal Service o Indian Economic Service o Indian Audits and Accounts Service (IA&AS) o Military Engineering Service o Survey of India Service o Central Secretariat Service The Central Civil Service Group B consists of three services o Defence Secretariat Service o Union Territories Administrative Service o Union Territories Police Service State Civil Services Each state has its own civil service State level civil services include o State Civil/Administrative Service o State Police Service o State Forest Service o Public Works Department
UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (UPSC)
The UPSC is a constitutional body authorised to conduct exams for appointment to the civil services. It was established under Part XIV of the Constitution The Constitution provides for a Public Service Commission for the Union and a Public Service Commission for every state The first Public Service Commission was set up in 1926, with the aim of indigenising the civil services The Government of India Act 1935 provided for the establishment of a Federal Public Service Commission and Provincial Public Service Commissions Membership to the Commission The Chairman and other members of the UPSC are appointed by the President of India At least half the members are civil servants with at least 10 years experience in Central or state services The tenure of each member is six years or age 65, whichever is earlier Members of the UPSC can be removed by the President on charges of misbehaviour, if these charges are upheld by the Supreme Court Functions of the UPSC Recruitment to services and posts under the Union Government through conduct of competitive exams Recruitment to services and posts under the Union Government by direct selection. This type of recruitment is done to fill immediate/irregular job vacancies. Advice on the suitability of officers for appointment, promotion and transfer Advice the government on all matters relating to recruitment to various posts and services Handle disciplinary cases related to different civil services Please note: This shall be the last article in the Indian Polity series LAST WEEK: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES 4 February 2010 | Tags: civil services| 3 Comments

(+5 rating, 5 votes) Loading ... PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES IN INDIA Overview DOWNLOAD THIS ARTICLE Indian Polity #11 (349.1 KiB, 1,331 hits)
Since Parliament needs to perform substantial functions in limited time, it cannot go into the details of every legislative and other matter that comes before it For this reason, Parliamentary Committees are constituted to study in detail the legislative and other matters that come before Parliament Committees can be appointed in both Houses of Parliament, and their roles and functions are more or less similar Functions of the Committees To consider the Demand for Grants of various Departments/Ministries and make reports to the Houses To examine Bills that are referred to the Committee by the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha To study annual reports of various Ministries and Departments To consider policy documents presented to the Houses if/when referred to the Committee by the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha
TYPES OF COMMITTEES
Ad hoc Committees They are appointed for a specific purpose and cease to exist when the task is finished They can either belong to one particular Parliament House or be a joint committee There are two types of Ad hoc committees o Committees appointed either by a motion in Parliament or by the Speaker/Chairman to enquire into a specific subject o Select or Joint Committees on Bills. These Committees are constituted to study and report on specific Bills Examples of Ad hoc Committees: Committees on Draft Five Year Plans, Railway Convention Committee, Fertilizer Pricing Committee etc Standing Committees Standing Committees are Committees appointed every year or periodically, and their work goes on in a continuous basis The three most important Standing Committees (which deal with finance) are worth special mention o Committee on Estimates o Committee on Public Accounts o Committee on Public Undertakings Additionally, there are 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees that deal with affairs of a specific Department/Ministry
IMPORTANT COMMITTEES
Departmentally Related Standing Committees There are a total of 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSC) The DRSCs were first introduced in 1993 in a batch of 17, and a further 7 were added in 2004
Each of these Committees consists of no more than 45 members. 30 are to be nominated from the Lok Sabha and 15 from the Rajya Sabha Ministers are not eligible to be nominated to these Committees The term of the Committee is one year Committee on Estimates Consists of 30 members elected from the Lok Sabha Ministers are not eligible for election to this Committee The term of the Committee is one year Primary functions include o report what improvements in organisation, efficiency or administration can be made o suggest policies to bring about improvements in efficiency and economy the Committee can select and study estimates pertaining to any Ministry or government body as it may see fit Committee can also examine matters of special interest that come up or are referred to it by the Speaker Committee on Public Accounts Consists of 22 members: 15 elected from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha Ministers are not eligible for election to this Committee Term of office is one year Primary function is to determine if money granted by the Parliament has been spent by the Government within the scope of the Demand The Committee bases its examinations on the Appropriation Accounts of the Government and the Audit Reports presented by the Comptroller and Auditor General The Committee is not concerned with policy, but only with execution of the policy and its results Committee on Public Undertakings Consists of 22 members: 15 elected from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha Ministers are not eligible for election to this Committee Term of office is one year Functions of the Committee include o Examine reports and accounts of Public Undertakings o Examine reports of the CAG on Public Undertakings o Examine whether Public Undertakings are being managed with sound business principles and prudent commercial practices The Committee does not examine government policy or day-to-day administration of the Undertakings Other important committees S. No. Committee House of Parliament/ Function(s) Notes
Composition
The Speaker is the ex-officio Chairman Recommends the amount of time to be allotted for business in Parliament Members are nominated by the Speaker Committee generally meets at the beginning of each Session
Business Advisory Committee
Lok Sabha 15 (including Speaker)
Allot time to Private Members Bills and Resolutions Examine Private Members Bills seeking to amend the Constitution before introducing them in Lok Sabha Examine all Private Members Bills after they are introduced but before they are taken up for consideration Classify the Bills based on their matter, urgency into Category A or Category B Considers matters of procedure and conduct of business in the House Recommends amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct
Committee on Private Members Bills and Resolutions
Lok Sabha 15 (including Dy Speaker)
The Deputy Speaker is the ex-officio Chairman Members are nominated by the Speaker
R ul e s Committee
Lok Sabha (15 including Speaker)
The Speaker is the ex-officio Chairman Members are nominated by the Speaker
of Business in Lok Sabha Examines every question regarding breach of privilege of the House 4 Committee of Privileges Lok Sabha 15 or of members of any Committee Determines whether breach of privilege was involved and makes Recommendations Examine all papers laid on the table of the House by Ministers Report to the House whether there has been compliance of the Lok Sabha 15 Constitution Report whether there has been unreasonable delay in laying the paper Report whether both Hindi and English version have been laid Consider and report on petitions presented to the House Considers representation from individuals and associations Scrutinizes and reports whether powers to make rules, regulations etc are being properly exercised by the Executive Members are nominated by the Speaker Members are nominated by the Speaker
Committee on Papers Laid on the Table
Committee on Petitions
Lok Sabha 15
Members are nominated by the Speaker Ministers not eligible
Committee on Subordinate Legislations
Lok Sabha 15
Members are nominated by the Speaker Ministers not eligible
Committee on Govt. Assurances
Lok Sabha 15
Scrutinize the assurances promises etc given by Ministers and report on their implementation Considers requests from Members for leave of absence from sittings of the House Examines every case where the member has been absent for 60 days or more without permission Examine the composition and character of Committees
Members are nominated by the Speaker Ministers not eligible Members are nominated by the Speaker M a ke s recommendations whether leave should be granted, absence granted or seat declared vacant
Committee on Absence of Ministers from Sittings of the House
Lok Sabha 15
10
Joint Committee on Offices of Profit
Both Houses 15 10 from LS, 5 from RS
appointed by Government (Central and State) Recommend what offices should/should not disqualify a person as a member of either House of Parliament Considers all matters regarding the welfare of SC/STs
Committee is constituted for the duration of the Lok Sabha
11
Committee on Welfare of SC/ST
falling within purview of Union Government and Union Territories Consider reports submitted by National Commission for SC/ST Examine measures
Ministers not eligible Term of the Committee is one year
taken by Union govt. to secure due representation of SC/ST in govt. services and posts
This was the first Committee to be constituted after Independence (1949)
12
Railway Convention Committee
Review dividend payable by Railways to General Revenues Review other matters relating to Railways finance
Minister of Finance and Minister of Railways are members Ministers of State for Finance and Railways are also Members This is an ad hoc Committee
Reviews and monitors measures taken by Union Govt. to secure equality, status, dignity for women in all matters Both Houses 30 20 from LS, 10 from RS Suggest measures for improving status of women Review measures taken for education and representation of women in legislative bodies and other fields Considers reports of National Commission for Women Sources: Government of India, Parliament of India
13
Committee on Empowerment of Women
LAST WEEK: AG, CAG ~~~~~ NEXT WEEK: CIVIL SERVICE 28 January 2010 | Tags: parliament| No Comments

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF INDIA Overview DOWNLOAD THIS ARTICLE Indian Polity #10 (370.8 KiB, 11,831 hits)
The Attorney General is the Union Governments chief legal advisor and is its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court The Attorney General is the highest law officer in the country The first Attorney General of independent India was M C Setalvad 1950-1963 The current Attorney General is G E Vahanvati (2009 present)
Ke yword s: IAS, IAS Exa m, IAS Study Material, UPSC, UPSC Exa m, UPSC Que stion Papers, Civil Service, Civil Service Exa m, Civil Service Study Material, General Studies, General Studies Que stion Paper, Free, Study Material, Question Paper, 2009, 2010, India
Terms of service The Attorney General is appointed by the President under Article 76 of the Constitution To be appointed Attorney General, a candidate must be qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court
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Powers and functions of the Attorney General The Attorney General gives legal advice to the Government of India He has the right of audience in all courts in India The Attorney General can participate in proceedings of the Parliament without the right to vote The Attorney General appears on behalf of the Government of India in all cases in the Supreme Court The Attorney General is to be consulted only in legal matters of greatest importance and only after the Ministry of Law has been consulted All references to the AG are made by the Ministry of Law The Attorney General cannot appear against the Government of India The AG cannot defend an accused in criminal proceedings The AG cannot accept directorship of a company without permission of the government The AG does not have any executive authority
The Attorney General is assisted by the Solicitor General and four Additional Solicitor Generals
Solicitor General for India The Solicitor General assists the Attorney General He is the second highest law officer of the country The Solicitor General is assisted by four Additional Solicitors General for India Unlike the Attorney General, the Solicitor General does not give legal advice to the government The primary responsibility of the Solicitor General is to appear in courts on behalf of the Government of India The first Solicitor General of independent India was C K Daphtary (1950-1963) The current Solicitor General is Gopal Subramaniam (2009 present)
The Advocate General Each state has an Advocate General, whose position is similar to that of the Attorney General of the Centre The Advocate General is appointed by the Governor A person must be qualified to be a Judge of the High Court to be appointed as Advocate General The Advocate General can participate in proceedings of the state legislature without the right to vote
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COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL OF INDIA Overview The Comptroller and Auditor General of India audits all receipts and expenditures of the Union and state governments The CAG is empowered to audit all revenues and expenditures of the Union and state governments, whether incurred within India or outside The CAG also acts as the external auditor for government owned companies The CAG submits his reports to the President (in case of accounts relating to the Union Government) or to the state Governors (for state government accounts) The reports of the CAG are taken into account by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament and state legislatures The CAG is also the head of the Indian Audits and Accounts Service (IA&AS) The office of the CAG was established in 1860 The first CAG of India was V Narahari Rao (1948-1954)
The current CAG is Vinod Rai (2008 present)
Terms of service The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is appointed by the President The CAG can only be removed from office in manner similar to a Judge of the Supreme Court The salary and benefits of the CAG cannot be changed to his disadvantage during his tenure The CAG is not eligible for further office under the Union of state governments The expenses of the office of the CAG (including all salaries, allowances, pensions etc) is charged to the Consolidated Fund of India
The Indian Audits and Accounts Service (IA&AS) The IA&AS is a central government service that functions under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India The IA&AS is responsible for auditing the accounts of the Union and state governments and public sector undertakings The IA&AS also maintains accounts of state governments Under the IA&AS, each state has a Principal Accountant General in charge of audit functions Each state also has several Accountants General in charge of accounts and entitlement functions Recruitment to the IA&AS is through the Civil Services Exam Once recruited, IA&AS officers are trained at the National Academy of Audit and Accounts, Simla
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PREVIOUS WEEK: ELECTIONS ~~~~~ NEXT WEEK: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES 21 January 2010 | Tags: attorney general, comptroller and auditor general| No Comments
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DOWNLOAD THIS ARTICLE Indian Polity #9 (369.8 KiB, 4,718 hits)
India is the largest democracy in the world (in terms of electorate) The 2009 General Elections had an electorate of 714 million. This is larger than the electorates of the EU and the US combined The first General Elections were held in 1951 The control and conduct of all elections to the Parliament, to the state legislatures and to the offices of the President and Vice-President fall under the purview of the Election Commission of India Panchayat elections are conducted by respective State Election Commissions
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Constitutional provisions for elections Article 324 stipulates that the superintendence, direction and control of elections shall be vested in the Election Commission Article 325 provides a single electoral roll for every constituency. Also stipulates that no person shall be eligible or ineligible for inclusion in electoral rolls on the basis of race, religion, caste or sex Article 326 stipulates that elections shall be held on the basis of adult suffrage. Every person who is a citizen of India and is not less than 18 years of age shall be eligible for inclusion
Election process The Election Commission announces the schedule of elections, but the election process only starts with the notification by the President (or Governors) Model Code of Conduct comes into force the day election dates are announced. No party is allowed to use government resources for campaigning. Campaigning to be stopped 48 hours prior to polling day The Collector of each district is in charge of polling The indelible ink used to mark fingers is produced by the Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd. Currently, India does not have an absentee ballot system. To enrol as a voter, a person needs to be an ordinary resident i.e. reside in a particular constituency for at least 6 months A period of eight days is allowed for filing nominations. Two days are allowed for withdrawal of candidature Candidates to a particular constituency can be from anywhere in the country. However, voters in the constituency must be residents of that constituency A candidate may contest from two constituencies at most
Political parties
Registration of the People Act 1951 provides for registration of political parties with the Election Commission To be recognised as a National Party, a party must satisfy all the following criteria o secure 6% of votes polled in four or more states (in General Elections of Assembly Elections) o win at least 4 seats to the Lok Sabha o win at least 2% of Lok Sabha seats from at least three different states (i.e. min of 11 MPs in the Lok Sabha) There are currently six national parties: INC, BJP, BSP, CPI (M), NCP, CPI To be recognised as a State Party, a party must satisfy all the following o Secure at least 6% of votes polled in that particular state o Wins at least 3 seats to the Legislative Assembly or at least 3% of Assembly seats, whichever is higher
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Judicial Review of election disputes Technically, the decisions of the Election Commission can be challenged in High Courts of the Supreme Courts However, by tradition, the Judiciary does not intervene in the conduct of elections once the process of elections has begun After declaration of election results, the Election Commission cannot reverse the results on its own The results of the elections to Parliament and state legislatures can only be reviewed by filing election petitions at the High Courts For elections of President and Vice-President, election petitions can only be filed with the Supreme Court
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ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
About the Election Commission The Election Commission is autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India The Election Commission was established on 25 Jan 1950 under Article 324 of the Constitution
Powers of the Election Commission The EC enjoys complete autonomy and is insulated from any interference from the Executive It also functions as a quasi-judiciary body regarding matters related to elections and electoral disputes Its recommendations are binding on the President of India However, its decisions are subject to judicial review by High Courts and the Supreme Court acting on electoral petitions
During the election process, the entire Central and state government machinery (including paramilitary and police forces) is deemed to be on deputation to the Commission The Commission takes effective control of government personnel, movable and immovable property for successful conduct of elections
Functions of the Election Commission Demarcation of constituencies Preparation of electoral rolls Supervision, direction and control of elections to Parliament, Legislatures, President/Vice-President Scrutiny of nomination papers Scrutiny of election expenses of candidates Establish rules for elections Issue notification of election dates and schedules Determine code of conduct Allot symbols and accord recognition to political parties Render advice to the President and Governors regarding disqualification of MPs and MLAs Postpone or countermand elections for specific reasons Resolve election disputes Allot schedules for broadcast and telecast of party campaigns Grant exemptions to persons from disqualifications imposed by judicial decisions
Composition of the Election Commission The Election Commission is a multimember Commission, the Chief Election Commissioner acts as the Chairperson All members of the Election Commission enjoy equal vote, while the CEC additionally also enjoys casting vote. Decisions of the EC are to be based on unanimity or majority The CEC is appointed by the President Other members of the Commission are appointed by the President in consultation with the CEC The CEC can be removed from office only in the manner of a Judge of the Supreme Court. Other members can be removed by the President in consultation with the CEC The President may appoint Regional Election Commissioners in consultation with the CEC before elections to the Parliament or Assemblies. Upon conclusion of elections, the REC steps down
Terms of service The tenure of Election Commissioners is six years or up to age of 65 years, whichever is earlier
The CEC cannot hold any office of profit after retirement. Other ECs cannot hold any office of profit after retirement, except as CEC The CEC cannot be reappointed to the post The allowances and salaries of the CEC are drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India
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Chief Election Commissioners of India S. No. 1 2 3 CEC Sukumar Sen K V K Sundaram S P Sen Verma Tenure 1950-1958 1958-1967 1967-1972 Notes First CEC Served as CEC for Nepal and Sudan
Born into Royal family of Dungarpur, Rajasthan Padma Vibhushan 1973 President of the International Court of Justice (1985-1988)
Nagendra Singh
1972-1973
5 6 7 8 9
T Swaminathan S L Shakdhar R K Trivedi R V S Peri Shastri V S Ramadevi
1973-1977 1977-1982 1982-1985 1986-1990 Nov 1990 Dec 1990
Only female CEC Introduced innovative electoral reforms Envisioned voter ID card
10
T N Seshan
1990-1996
Ramon Magsaysay Award 1996 After retirement, founded Deshbkat Trust for social reforms Padma Vibhushan 2000
11 12 13
M S Gill J M Lyngdoh TS Krishnamurthy
1996-2001 2001-2004 2004-2005
Currently, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Ramon Magsaysay Award 2003 Served as IMF advisor in Ethiopia and Georgia As CEC, served as observer to elections in Zimbabwe and USA
14 15 16
B B Tandon N Gopalaswami Navin Chawla
2005-2006 2006-2009 2009-present
Observer to US elections
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DELIMITATION COMMISSION
Established under the Delimitation Commission Act to redraw the boundaries of assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies based on recent census The representation of each state to the Lok Sabha is not changed. However, the number of SC and ST states may change The orders of the Commission are laid down before the Lok Sabha and respective state Legislatures The Commission is a powerful body its orders cannot be changed by Parliament or Legislature, nor can they be challenged in a court of law The Delimitation Commission is expected to be constituted every ten years (following every census), however in practise it has only been constituted four times since Independence: 1952, 1963, 1973, 2002 The Delimitation Commission 2002 was headed by Justice Kuldip Singh as chairperson. The Karnataka Assembly elections 2008 were the first elections to be conducted under newly delimited constituencies. The General Elections 2009 also used these new constituencies. Breakdown of constituencies o Largest (population): Outer Delhi (3 million) o Smallest (population): Lakshadweep (37,000) o Largest (area): Ladakh (173,000 sq km) o Smallest (area): Chandni Chowk, Delhi (10 sq km)
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PREVIOUS WEEK: LOCAL GOVERNMENT ~~~~~ NEXT WEEK: SG, AG, CAG indian-polity-10 14 January 2010 | Tags: elections| No Comments
Indian Polity #8 | Study Material :: General Studies | IAS Help

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN INDIA Overview Local government in India falls mainly under two categories: rural self government and urban self government There are about 3 million elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), about one third of them women There are more than 640,000 village panchayats, about 6000 intermediate bodies and 500 district level bodies. Panchayats cover about 99.6% of Indias rural population The powers and functions of PRIs vary from state to state
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Evolution of local government The earliest references to self government are found in the Rig Veda, which mentions sabhas at the village level Over time, these bodies evolved into Panchayats (council of five persons) Under British rule, local governance was authorised by the Mayo Resolution of 1870 (under Lord Mayo) However, it was the Ripon Resolution of 1882 (under Lord Ripon) that prioritised local government and recognised the twin objectives of administrative efficiency and political education The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) led to the establishment of village panchayats in the provinces and even princely states Panchayat system in post-independence India developed slowly. Multiple committees were constituted to study panchayat system Panchayat system was institutionalised with the passage of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1992
Hierarchy of local government LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN RURAL AREAS Overview Local government in rural areas is enabled by the Panchayat system of governance involving Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) The Panchayat is a three-tier system involving governance bodies at three levels: o Gram Panchayat at the village level o Panchayat Samiti at the Block level o Zilla Parishad at the District level The Panchayat system exists in all states except Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram. It also exists in all Union Territories except Delhi Panchayat system is provided for all states having a population more than 2 million Function of the panchayat include o Planning and implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice relating to the 29 subjects in the Indicative List o To levy and collect taxes, duties, tolls and fees
Committees to study Panchayat system Committee Established Mandate Recommendations
Establish local bodies Devolve power and authority Basic unit of decentralised government to be Block/samiti Body to be constituted for 5 years by indirect elections from village panchayats Functions to include agriculture, local industry Panchayats to have powers to levy tax on land revenue etc Panchayati Raj Finance Corporation to be set up District to be viable administrative unit for planning PRIs as two-tier system with Mandal Panchayat and Zilla Parishad 4 year term, participation of political parties PRIs to be activated and supported GVK Rao 1985 Development of PRIs Block Development Office (BDO) to be center of rural development
Balwantrai Mehta
1957
Community development projects
K Santhanam
1963
Panchayat finance
Ashok Mehta
1978
Effective development of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI)
LM Singhvi
1986
same-
Local self government to be constitutionally recognised Non-involvement of political parties
73rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1992 The Constitution of India did not have originally have provisions for panchayat system of government The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) formally established Panchayat Raj Institutions in the country The Act was meant to provide democracy at the grassroots level The mean features of the Act include
o o o o o o
Establishment of Panchayats as elected bodies A three tier structure of panchayat institutions: village level, Block level and District level Not less than one third of panchayat seats to be reserved for women. Additionally, reservations also for SC/STs Panchayat elections to be supervised by State Election Commissions District Planning Committees provided Constitutional status Indicative List of 29 subjects introduced in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution. Panchayats to plan and implement works related to this List.
VILLAGE LEVEL GOVERNMENT
The panchayat at the village level is known as Gram Panchayat, or simply as Panchayat The Gram Panchayat is the basic level of the Panchayat system, and hence of the system of governance in India Gram Panchayats can be established in villages with a minimum population of 300. If individual villages have small populations, they can be grouped together to form a group-gram panchayat The Gram Panchayat is elected by the Gram Sabha. Gram Panchayats are elected for a period of 5 years
The Gram Sabha The Gram Sabha consists of all residents of a village above the age of 18 years It meets twice a year The annual budget and development schemes for the village are placed before the Gram Sabha for consideration and approval The Sarpanch and his assistants answer questions posed by the people
Constitution of Gram Panchayats The number of members ranges from 7 to 31 The Sarpanch or Chairperson is the head of the Gram Panchayat The Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch are usually elected from and by the elected members of the panchayat. Sometimes, they are elected directly by the people
Responsibilities of the Panchayat Attend to street lights, construction and repair works of roads etc Keep records of births, deaths and marriages in the village Attend to public health and hygiene by providing sanitation and water facilities Provide for education Implement development schemes for agriculture and animal husbandry
Sources of income The main source of income for panchayats is property tax Other sources include profession tax, taxes on pilgrimage (if applicable), animal trade e tc Also, the panchayats receive grants from the state government as well as Zilla Parishads
BLOCK LEVEL GOVERNMENT
The panchayat at the intermediate level is known as Panchayat Samiti It works at the Tehsil or Taluka level, also known as Development Block The Panchayat Samiti acts as the link between the gram panchayat and the district administration The Panchayat Samiti is also known as Mandal Parishad, Taluka Panchayat, Mandal Panchayat The main source of income of the Samiti are grants and loans from the state government
Constitution of Panchayat Samiti The Panchayat Samiti is composed four types of members o Ex-officio members: all sarpanchas of the Development Block, the MPs and MLAs of the area and Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) o Coopted members: representatives of SC/STs and women o Associate members: one farmer, one representative of cooperative societies and one representative of marketing services o Elected members The samiti is elected for a period of 5 years There is a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman There is an officer in charge for every department of the Samiti including administration, finance, public works, agriculture etc
Functions of the Panchayat Samiti Implement schemes for agriculture development Establishment of primary health centres and primary schools Supply of drinking water, sanitation, construction/repair of roads Development of cottage and small scale industries Establishment of cooperative societies Establishment of youth organizations
DISTRICT LEVEL GOVERNMENT
The Zilla Parishad is the local government body at the district level. It is also known as the District Council The Parishad is responsible for administration of the rural areas of the district It is located in the district headquarters
Constitution of the Zilla Parishad The members of the Zilla Parishad are Chairmen of the Panchayat Samitis falling under the area They serve for a period of 5 years Zilla Parishads have min 50 and max 75 members Seats are reserved for SC/STs, backward classes and women The Zilla Parishad is headed by a CEO (who is an IAS officer)
Sources of income Taxes on water, pilgrimage, markets etc Money from the state government for works and schemes assigned to the Parishad Fixed grant from the state government in proportion to the land revenue
Functions of the Zilla Parishad Planning and execution of development projects for the district Provide essential services and facilities to the rural population Agriculture projects such as supply of seeds, irrigation, new techniques of farming etc Education projects such as setting up and running of schools, adult literacy, running libraries Establish primary health centres, hospitals, mobile health centres Carry out vaccination drives and family welfare campaigns Construct/repair bridges and roads Development plans for SC/STs, hostels for SC students, ashramashalas for adivasis Encourage entrepreneurship in small scale industries such as handicrafts, dairy farms e tc
LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN URBAN AREAS Overview There are more than 3000 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in India Based on the 74th Constitution Amendment Act, there are three types of ULBs o Municipal Corporation (nagar nigam) o Municipality (nagar palika) o City Council (nagar panchayat)
According to the Act, there needs to be a City Council for areas in transition from rural to urban, a Municipality for small urban areas and a Municipal Corporation for large urban areas The functions and powers of ULBs vary from state to state Municipal governance in India was first introduced in Madras in 1688. The Madras Municipal Corporation was the first municipal body in the Commonwealth outside the UK. The Bombay and Calcutta Corporations were established in 1726
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
Municipal Corporations are established in cities with population greater than 1 million Municipal Corporations function under the provisions of the Corporation Act 1835 The Corporations are elected directly by the people. Elected members serve a term of 5 years Municipal Corporations provide necessary community services such as health care, educational centres etc Municipal Corporations interact directly with the state governments The head of the Corporation is the Mayor. The principal executive officer is the Municipal Commissioner (an IAS officer)
Sources of income Taxes on property, water, markets, entertainment Taxes on vehicles Grants from the state government
Functions of Municipal Corporations Water supply Hospitals Urban planning Roads Street lighting Sanitation Waste disposal Fire services Records of births and deaths
MUNICIPALITY
A municipality administers an urban area of population 200,000 or less Municipalities interact with the state government through the Directorate of Municipalities or the District Collector
Members of Municipalities are elected for a period of five years The head of the Municipality is the President, elected by and from the members The state government also appoints a Chief Officer and other officers such as Health Inspector, Sanitation Inspector etc to assist the President Their sources of income and functions are pretty much the same as that of Municipal Corporations
CITY COUNCIL
City Council administer urban areas having population greater than 30,000 and less than 100,000 However, as an exception, all previous Town Area Committees (more than 5000 less than 20,000) have been reclassified as City Councils City Councils have a Chairman and ward members Ward members included elected members (min 10) and nominated members (min 3)
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PREVIOUS WEEK: THE STATE EXECUTIVE ~~~~~ NEXT WEEK: ELECTIONS IN INDIA 7 January 2010 | Tags: local government| 1 Comment

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THE GOVERNOR OF A STATE
Overview Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of states and Union Territories have powers at the state level similar to that of the President at the Union level Governors preside over states while Lieutenant-Governors preside over Union Territories and NCT Delhi The office of the Lieutenant-Governor exists only in the Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Pondicherry and NCT Delhi. Other Union Territories have an Administrator, who is usually an IAS officer.
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Conditions of service
Governors and Lieutenant-Governors are appointed by the President for a period of 5 years The Governor or Lieutenant-Governor can be dismissed by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister Unlike the President, Governors and Lieutenant-Governors can not be impeached
POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR
Executive powers o All executive powers of the state government are vested in the Governor o The Governor appoints the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers o He allocates portfolios to the Ministers based on the advice of the Chief Minister o The Governor appoints the judges of the District Courts o The President consults the Governor in the appointment of the judges of the High Court o The Governor appoints the Advocate General and members of the state Public Service Commission Legislative powers o The Governor summons sessions of both Houses of the state legislature and prorogues them o The Governor can dissolve the state Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) on the advice of the Chief Minister o Bills passed by the legislature can become law only on the assent of the Governor o The Governor can return non-Money Bills to the legislature for reconsideration. However, if the legislature sends it back without modification, the Governor must give his assent o The Governor can reserve certain Bills for consideration by the President o The Governor can promulgate Ordinances. These ordinances must be approved by the legislature at its next session. Ordinances remain valid for no more than 6 weeks from the date of convening of the legislature Financial powers o The Governor causes to be laid before the legislature the annual state Budget o Money Bills can be introduced in the legislature only on the prior recommendation of the Governor o The Governor can make advanced from the Contingency Fund of the State to meet unforeseen expenditure o The Governor constitutes the state Finance Commission Discretionary powers o When no political party gets a majority in the Legislative Assembly, the Governor can appoint the leader of the largest party or the largest coalition as the Chief Minister o The Governor can recommend to the President imposition of Presidents rule in the state
THE STATE LEGISLATURE
Overview State legislatures in India can be unicameral or bicameral The lower House is called the Legislative Assembly, and the upper House (if it exists) is called the Legislative Council Currently, only six states in India have Legislative Councils: Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh The provision for instituting and removing Legislative Councils is enshrined in Article 169 of the Constitution
The Legislative Assembly Legislative Assemblies consist of 60 to 500 members Members of the Legislative Assembly are directly elected The Governor can appoint a certain number of Anglo-Indians to the Assembly as he deems fit
The Legislative Council The Legislative Council consists of not more than 1/3rd the strength of the Legislative Assembly and not less than 40 Members of the Council are indirectly elected as well as nominated (by the Governor) The composition of the Council is as follows o Members elected by electorates consisting of members of local bodies o Members elected by MLAs from among people who are not MLAs o Members elected by electorates consisting of persons who are graduates of 3 years standing and who are residents of the state o Members elected by electorates consisting of persons engaged for 3 years in teaching (not lower than secondary school) o Members nominated by the Governor from among persons having expertise in science, arts, social service etc
Conditions of service The minimum age for membership to the state legislature is 25 for the Legislative Assembly and 30 for the Legislative Council To become a member from a particular constituency, a person must be a voter from that constituency The term of the Legislative Assembly is five years. It may be extended by the Governor during an Emergency, but not for more than six months at a time The Legislative Council, like the Rajya Sabha, is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved
The term of members of the Council is 6 years, with 1/3rd retiring every two years
Presiding officers The Legislative Assembly has a Speaker and a deputy Speaker They are elected from among the membership of the Assembly The Legislative Council has a Chairman and a deputy Chairman (who are also elected from among members) Presiding Officers of both Houses have the right to cast their vote in case of a tie
Functions of the state Legislature The Legislature has the power to legislate on all subjects in the State List and the Concurrent List Money Bills can originate in the Legislative Assembly only The Council has 14 days to recommend changes to the Money Bill Elected members of the Legislative Assembly are involved in the process of election of the President of India Each state legislature has one electoral power in electing the President Amendments to the Constitution of India can be executed with approval of half the state legislatures in the country
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PREVIOUS WEEK: THE SUPREME COURT ~~~~~ NEXT WEEK: LOCAL GOVERNMENT 24 December 2009 | Tags: state government| No Comments

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SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Overview The Supreme Court of India is decreed by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution It was established on 28 Jan 1950 According to the Constitution, the role of the Supreme Court is that of a federal court, guardian of the Constitution and the highest court of appeal The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction About the Supreme Court building The first home of the Supreme Court was the Chamber of Princes of the Parliament building, which had been the seat of the Federal Court of India The Court moved to the present premises in 1958 The present premises was designed by Ganesh Bhikaji Deolalikar
COMPOSITION OF THE SUPREME COURT
Judges of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court consists of 31 judges one Chief Justice and 30 other Justices The Constitution originally provided for 7 judges in the Court. However, due to increased workloads, this number has been gradually increased, reaching 31 in 2008 Judges in the Supreme Court sit together in Benches to hear cases A small Bench, with two to three Justices, is called a Division Bench
A large Bench, with five or more Justices, is called a Constitutional Bench A Division Bench may refer a case up to a Constitutional Bench if desired The first woman judge of the Supreme Court was Justice Fatima Beevi in 1987. However, there has been no female Chief Justice Terms of service Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President Judges of the Supreme Court retire at the age of 65 Must be a citizen of India Must have been one of the following o A judge of a High Court for at least 5 years o An advocate of a High Court for at least 10 years o A distinguished jurist, in the opinion of the President Ad hoc Judges Ad hoc Judges are non-Supreme Court judges who sit in the Supreme Court when there is insufficient quorum to perform the judicial duties Ad hoc Judges are appointed by the Chief Justice after obtaining consent from the President Serving and retired judges of the Supreme Court (and High Courts) can sit and act as ad hoc Judges of the Supreme Court Only such persons can be appointed as ad hoc Judges who are qualified to be appointed as a regular Judge of the Supreme Court The office of the Chief Justice The senior most judge of the Supreme Court is appointed as the Chief Justice The Chief Justice remains in office for 5 years or until retirement, whichever is earlier The Chief Justice is responsible for allocation of work to other judges Other judges may refer cases to him if a bench of higher strength is required The Chief Justice administers the oath of office to the President In the absence of the President and the Vice-President, the Chief Justice sits as the Acting President of India The Chief Justice is the ex-officio Chancellor to most autonomous law schools in India Noteworthy Chief Justices The current Chief Justice (K G Balakrishnan) is the 37th Chief Justice of India. He is from Kerala The first Chief Justice of India was H J Kania (1950 1951). Before appointment to the Supreme Court, he served as the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of India (1947 1950). He was from Bombay The shortest tenure was for K N Singh (Nov 1991 Dec 1991, UP) The longest tenure was for Y V Chandrachud (1978 1985, Bombay)
INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGES
The salaries and allowances of Judges are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India and are not subject to a vote of Parliament The salaries and other service conditions of Judges cannot be changed to their disadvantage during their tenure Judges can be removed only by a resolution of both Houses of Parliament passed with a two-third majority Judges can be removed only on grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity Judges are barred from practicing in any court after retirement The decisions and actions of Judges cannot be criticized. Disrespect to Court authority can invite Contempt of Court proceedings The conduct of Judges cannot be discussed in Parliament or state legislatures The appointment of Judges does not depend on the discretion of the President. Judges are appointed by the President in consultation with other Judges of the Supreme Court, while the Chief Justice is appointed based on seniority The Court enjoys complete freedom with respect to appointment of officers of the Court
JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT
1. Original Jurisdiction 1. Original Jurisdiction means that certain types of cases can originate with the Supreme Court only 2. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in 1. Disputes between the Centre and one or more states 2. Disputes between the Centre and any state(s) on one side and one or more states on the other side 3. Disputes between two or more states 4. Disputes regarding the enforcement of Fundamental Rights 2. Appellate Jurisdiction 1. Appellate Jurisdiction means that appeals against judgements of lower courts can be referred to it 2. The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in the country 3. Three types of cases fall with appellate jurisdiction: 1. Constitutional cases: an appeal against a High Court judgement can be made to the Supreme Court if the High Court determines that the case involves questions on the interpretation of the Constitution 2. Civil cases: an appeal can be made in civil cases if the High Court certifies 1. that the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance, and 2. that the said question needs to be decided by the Supreme Court 3. Criminal cases: an appeal can be made in criminal cases if the High Court 1. has reversed an acquittal and sentenced a person to death, or 2. has taken up a case from a subordinate court and sentenced an accused to death 3. interestingly, if the High Court reverses a conviction and orders acquittal, no appeal to the Supreme Court can be made 3. Advisory Jurisdiction
1. Advisory Jurisdiction refers to the process where the President seeks the Courts advice on legal matters 2. If the President asks for advice from the Supreme Court, the Court is dutybound to give it. However, it not binding on the President to accept the advice
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT
1. Court of Record 1. The Supreme Court is a court of record 2. What this means is that its records are admitted to be of evidentiary value and cannot be questioned in any court 3. As a court of record, it also enjoys the power to punish for contempt of court 2. Judicial Review 1. Judicial Review means that the Court can ensure that laws passed by the legislature and orders issued by the executive do not contravene the Constitution 2. If these laws or orders go against the Constitution, the Court can declare them unconstitutional and hence invalid 3. The Court also protects the Fundamental Rights of citizens through various types of writs 3. Other powers 1. The Supreme Court appoints its officers and servants in consultation with the UPSC and determines their conditions of service, in consultation with the President 2. It can make rules regarding the practice and procedure of the court with the approval of the President 3. It can appoint arbitrators to decide cases relating to costs incurred by state governments in carrying out directions of the Union government 4. It adjudicates disputes relating to the election of the President and VicePresident 5. It can recommend the removal of the Chairman and members of the UPSC to the President HIGH COURTS IN INDIA Overview There are 21 High Courts in India The Calcutta High Court, established in 1862, is the oldest High Court in India. The Bombay and Madras High Courts were also established in the same year The newest High Courts are the Chattisgarh (Bilaspur), Uttaranchal (Nainital) and Jharkhand (Ranchi) High Courts, all established in the year 2000 The Bombay, Madras and Calcutta High Courts are the three Chartered High Courts in India The Madras Law Journal, published from the Madras High Court, was the first journal in India dedicated to reporting judgements of a Court (1891) Jurisdiction of High Courts Each High Court has jurisdiction over a particular state(s) and/or Union Territory(ies)
High Courts have original and appellate jurisdiction. High Courts also have jurisdiction over writs States are divided into judicial districts, presided over by a District Judge or a Sessions Judge, who is the highest judicial authority below the High Court The presiding judge is called District Judge when he presides over a civil case, and called a Sessions Judge when presiding over a criminal case The High Court is a court of record Cases relating to admiralty, marriage and contempt of court are referred directly to the High Court Judges and Benches The Judges of a High Court are appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the state The number of Judges in a High Court is decided based on the number of cases instituted and disposed High Courts that handle a large number of cases from a particular region, may establish a permanent Bench there. Benches are present in states that come under the jurisdiction of Courts outside its territory Circuit Benches are temporary courts that hold proceedings for a few months every year Important High Courts and their Jurisdictions High Court Allahabad High Court Bombay High Court Calcutta High Court Delhi High Court Guwahati High Court Location Allahabad Bombay Calcutta New Delhi Kohina, Aizwal, Imphal Circuit Benches at Agartala and Shillong Bench Lucknow Nagpur, Panaji, Aurangabad Port Blair (Circuit Bench) Jurisdiction Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra, Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar NCT Delhi Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram
Guwahati Srinagar (summer) Ja m m u (winter) Bangalore C oc hi n Jabalpur
Ja m m u & Kashmir High Court Karnataka High Court Kerala High Court Madhya
Jammu & Kashmir Circuit Benches at Hubli-Dharwad and Gulbarga Kerala, Lakshadweep Gwalior, Indore Madhya Pradesh
Pradesh High Court Madras High Court Punjab and Haryana High Court Rajasthan High Court Sikkim High Court
Madras Chandigarh J odhpur Gangtok
Madurai
Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh
Jaipur
Rajasthan Sikkim
keywords: india, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, general studies, indian polity, free PREVIOUS WEEK: THE PARLIAMENT ~~~~~ NEXT WEEK: THE STATE EXECUTIVE 17 December 2009 | Tags: high court, supreme court| No Comments

THE PARLIAMENT OF INDIA Overview The Parliament consists of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the office of the President Any Bill can become an Act only after being passed by both Houses of Parliament The Parliament House was designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker in 1912-1913. It was opened in 1927 to house the Council of States, the Central Legislative Assembly and the Chamber of Princes The minimum age for membership to the Rajya Sabha is 30 years, while for the Lok Sabha it is 25 years It shares legislative powers with the Lok Sabha, except in the case of supply Bills (like Money Bills) where the Lok Sabha has overriding powers In the case of conflicting legislation, a joint sitting of the two Houses is held. However, since the Lok Sabha has more than twice as many members as the Rajya Sabha, it holds de facto veto power in such legislations The Parliament has its own TV broadcasting stations launched in 2004: Doordarshan Rajya Sabha and Doordarshan Lok Sabha (now known as Lok Sabha TV) When the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 Jan 1950, the Constituent Assembly became the Provisional Parliament of India. It remained so until the first elections in 1951 The business of Parliament is transacted in either Hindi or English. However, the Presiding Officers of the two Houses may permit any member to address the House in his mother tongue
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THE RAJYA SABHA (COUNCIL OF STATES)
About the Rajya Sabha The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of Parliament The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is elected from among members. He officiates in the absence of the Chairman The first sitting of the Rajya Sabha was held in May 1952
Membership to the Rajya Sabha The maximum permissible strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250. Of these 238 members are elected indirectly from the states and Union Territories, and 12 are nominated by the President for their expertise in art, literature, science and social services Currently, the strength of the Rajya Sabha is 245. Of these 233 are members elected from states and UTs and 12 are nominated members
Members from state assemblies are elected using the Single Transferable Vote system The provision for nominated members is found in Article 80 of the Constitution
Tenure of the Rajya Sabha The Rajya Sabha is a continuous body and is not subject to dissolution Members enjoy a tenure of six years One-third of the members retire every two years
Functions of the Rajya Sabha
Acts as a non-partisan forum for full and free debates Can originate any Bill, including constitutional amendment Bills, except Money B ills Re-evaluates Bills originating in the Lok Sabha in a non-political manner Relieves the work of the Lok Sabha in considering Private Bills (Bills that apply to specific individuals or organizations) Along with the Lok Sabha, votes on the election of President and Vice-President Along with the Lok Sabha, votes on the removal of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts Along with the Lok Sabha, votes for the continued proclamation of Emergency beyond a period of two months Acts as the sole de facto and de jure Parliament if the Lok Sabha is dissolved during an Emergency
THE LOK SABHA (HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE)
About the Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha is the lower House of Parliament The current Lok Sabha is the 15th Lok Sabha to be constituted The first hour of every sitting of the Lok Sabha is called Question Hour, during which questions posed by members may be assigned to specific ministries Three sessions of the Lok Sabha are held every year: o Budget session: February to May o Monsoon session: July to September o Winter session: November to December
Membership to the Lok Sabha
The maximum permissible strength of the Lok Sabha is 552. Of these, 530 are to be chosen by direct election, 20 are to be representatives of Union Territories, and 2 to be nominated Anglo-Indians Currently, the strength of the Lok Sabha is 545. Of these, 530 are chosen by direct election, 13 are from Union Territories, and 2 are nominated Anglo-Indians
Tenure of the Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha has a tenure of five years, unless dissolved earlier The tenure may be extended by a proclamation of Emergency. The Emergency may extend the term of the Lok Sabha in one year increments
Functions of the Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha controls the functioning of the Executive, by making the Council of Ministers answerable to it The sanctioning of expenditure is the exclusive priviledge of the Lok Sabha Can originate any Bill, including Money Bills Along with the Rajya Sabha, votes on the election of President and Vice-President Along with the Rajya Sabha, votes on the removal of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts Along with the Rajya Sabha, votes for the continued proclamation of Emergency beyond a period of two months
SPEAKER OF THE LOK SABHA
Terms of service
As soon as a new Lok Sabha is constituted, the President appoints a Speaker ProTerm, who is generally the senior-most member of the House. This office is dissolved when the Speaker is elected The Speaker is elected on the first meeting of the Lok Sabha after a General Election He is elected for a term of 5 years The Speaker does not vacate office on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Instead, he continues in office until the next House meets The Speaker vacates his office and ceases to be a member of the House when he resigns or is removed He may be removed by a majority resolution in the Lok Sabha
The Constitution also provides for a Deputy Speaker, to be elected from among the Lok Sabha. He officiates in the absence of the Speaker
Functions of the Speaker The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha. He is expected to be impartial He maintains decorum and conducts the business of the House He decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not He permits the moving of various motions and resolutions such as motion of no confidence, motion of adjournment etc He decides the agenda for discussion during the meeting of the House The Speaker can cast a vote only in the case of a tie
Important Speakers of the Lok Sabha GV Mavlankar was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha (1952 1956) MA Ayyangar was the first Deputy Speaker (1952 1956) Dr. Balram Jhakar was the longest serving Speaker (1980 1989)
FUNCTIONS OF PARLIAMENT
The Parliament legislates on subjects in the Union and Concurrent Lists. It can also legislate on subjects in the State List if
The Rajya Sabha passes a resolution saying it is in the national interest to do so and/or o The legislatures of two or more states recommend to Parliament to so legislate The power to legislate on residuary subjects also vests with the Parliament The Parliament (via the Lok Sabha) exercises control over Union finances The Parliament (via the Lok Sabha) exercises control over the functioning of the Executive The Parliament is responsible for legislating on amendments to the Constitution The Parliament elects the Vice-President and can initiate impeachment proceedings against the President It recommends the creation of All India Services, the removal of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts Parliamentary approval is essential for the continuance of a proclamation of Emergency made by the President
o
LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES IN PARLIAMENT
1. Ordinary Bills: Ordinary Bills can originate in either House of Parliament and have to pass through the following stages before being sent for assent by the President 1. First Reading: a brief description of the Bill is read, and its aims and objectives announced. Opponents can also make a brief speech. After a vote, the Bill is published in the Gazette 2. Second Reading: the general principles of the Bill are discussed, and the Bill is sent to the appropriate committee for its reference. No amendments are possible at this stage 3. Committee Stage: the appropriate committee reviews the Bill and suggests amendments 4. Report Stage: the committee submits its report to the House, where it is thoroughly discussed. Amendments may be proposed. Voting is held on a clause-by-clause basis 5. Third Reading: general discussion of the Bill followed by formal voting for its acceptance or rejection. No amendments possible at this stage. After the Bill has been accepted, it is sent to the other House for a repeat procedure, and thereupon to the President for assent. 2. Money Bills: Money Bills can originate only in the Lok Sabha on the recommendation of the President. Since they deal with public finances, their passage is crucial to the functioning of government 1. After a Money Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha for deliberations 2. The Rajya Sabha is given 14 days to make recommendations 3. If the Rajya Sabha fails to make recommendations within this period, the Bill is considered to have passed both Houses and is sent to the President for assent 4. If the Rajya Sabha does make its recommendations, the Lok Sabha may or may not decide to accept those recommendations 5. Regardless, the Bill is considered to have passed both Houses and is sent to the President
TYPES OF MONEY BILLS
1. Annual Financial Statement: At the beginning of every financial year, the President causes to be laid before both Houses, a statement of estimated receipt and expenditure for the ensuing year. Expenditure is of two types: 1. Expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, which is not subject to vote of Parliament, although it can be discussed by both Houses 2. Expenditure charged outside the Consolidated Fund, which are submitted to the Lok Sabha in the form of grants, which may or may not approve them 2. Appropriation Bill: after the grants are approved by the Lok Sabha, an Appropriation Bill is introduced. 1. Appropriations out of the Consolidated Fund of India can be made only after passage of the Appropriation Bill. 2. This Bill is never opposed in the Lok Sabha. 3. Since the grants have already been approved, the discussion is limited to administrative policy etc 4. No amendments are possible at this stage
IMPORTANT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS
Point of Order o A member may raise a Point of Order if proceedings do not follow normal rules o The Presiding Officer decides whether the Order may be allowed or not Vote on Account o This procedure covers government expenditure between the presentation and the passage of the Budget o The Vote on Account allows the Lok Sabha to make a grant in advance for a part of the financial year o It is usually passed by the Lok Sabha without discussion o It is passed after the general discussion on the Budget is over and before the demand for grants in taken up Guillotine o Certain demands for grants of various Ministries are taken up by the Lok Sabha without discussion. This is called guillotine o Usually done due to lack of time o To avoid this, Parliament in 1993 established 17 Parliamentary Committees to study these demand for grants o The Committees scrutinize the demand for grants and report to the House o The reports are not binding on the House Quorum o It is the minimum number of members required to transact the business of the House o Article 100 of the Constitution specifies that the Quorum of either House shall be 10% of the strength of the House Question Hour o The first hour of every sitting of Parliament is called Question Hour o Questions usually need a 10 day notice before being answered by the concerned Minister o Questions addressed to the Ministers are of three types: Starred questions: to be answered orally on the floor of the House
Zero Hour o Does not formally exist in the Parliamentary procedure o The hour after Question Hour is popularly known as Zero Hour o Members raise matters which they feel is urgent o However, since the questions are raised without prior notice, it results in loss of time
TYPES OF MOTIONS
Unstarred questions: are answered in writing. No supplementary questions may be asked Short notice questions: questions on urgent public importance, do not need 10 day notice
1. Adjournment Motion: 1. Motion to adjourn the proceedings of the House, so as to take up a matter of urgent public importance 2. Can be moved by any member 3. Requires support from at least 50 members 4. Notice for the motion must be given before the commencement of the sitting for the day 2. Calling Attention Motion 1. A member may call the attention of a Minister to an urgent matter and the Minister may make a statement regarding it 3. Priviledge Motion 1. Motion moved by a member if he feels a Minister has committed a breach of priviledge 2. Also moved against members for withholding or distorting facts 4. Censure Motion 1. A motion that censures the government for a specific charge 2. Can be moved against a Minister or against the Council of Ministers 3. Censure Motion is different from No Confidence Motion in that the former requires to cite a specific charge against the government whereas the latter does not 4. If the Motion is passed in the Lok Sabha, the government is expected to resign 5. No Confidence Motion 1. A No Confidence Motion indicates lack of confidence of the Lok Sabha in the Council of Ministers 2. Can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only 3. If the Motion is passed, the government must resign 6. Cut Motion 1. A device through which members draw the attention of Government to a specific grievance 2. It is used to seek reduction in the amount of a demand for grants presented by Government 3. Approved by the Speaker at his discretion 4. There are three types of Cut Motions 1. Policy Cut: implies the mover disapproves of the policy underlying the demand. Asks for a reduction of Re. 1 2. Economy Cut: seeks a specific amount of reduction
3. Token Cut: used to ventilate a particular grievance against the government. The reduction amount is Rs 100
TERMINATION OF A SESSION OF PARLIAMENT
The sessions of Parliament are convened at the discretion of the President. However, there should not be a gap of more than 6 months between sessions. 1. Prorogation 1. Done by President on the advice of the Council of Ministers 2. Brings the session of the House to an end 3. Unlike England, Pending Bills and other business do not lapse, they are taken up when the House meets in the next session 2. Adjournment 1. Short recess within a session of Parliament 2. Called by the Presiding Officer of the House 3. Duration may be from a few minutes to a few days 3. Adjournment Sine Die 1. House is adjourned by the Presiding Officer without fixing a date for the next meeting 4. Dissolution 1. Dissolution ends the life of a House and a new House needs to be reconstituted 2. Only the Lok Sabha can be dissolved, the Rajya Sabha is permanent 3. Dissolution enacted by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister 4. Any Bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses 5. Any Bill pending passed by the Lok Sabha and pending the Rajya Sabha also lapses, unless the President calls a Joint Sitting of the two Houses. However, Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha do not lapse
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PREVIOUS WEEK: COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ~~~~~~~~~~ NEXT WEEK: SUPREME COURT OF INDIA 10 December 2009 | Tags: parliament| 1 Comment
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS Conditions of service It is composed of all Union Ministers the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers The council is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister A Minister must be a member of either House of Parliament, or be elected within 6 months of assuming office Collective Responsibility The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha A vote of no confidence even against a single Minister means the entire Council must resign Each Minister is also responsible for his department and can be removed from office by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister Functions of the Council of Ministers Formulates policies of the country on the basis of which administration is carried out Introduces all important Bills in Parliament and oversees their passage Presents the Budget to the Parliament Determines foreign policy Approves international agreements and treaties Render advice to the President regarding proclamation of war or emergency
CATEGORIES OF MINISTERS
Cabinet Minister o Senior minister in charge of a particular Ministry o May hold additional charges of other Ministries (if no other Cabinet Minister is appointed) o Cabinet Ministers must belong to either House of Parliament o Currently there are 33 Cabinet Ministers Minister of State (Independent Charge) o In charge of a particular portfolio o Is not under the oversight of a Cabinet Minister o Currently there are 7 MoS with independent charge Minister of State o A minister with a specific responsibility in a particular Ministry o Reports to the concerned Cabinet Minister o Currently there are 38 MoS THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA Overview The Prime Minister is the head of government and the head of the Council of Ministers The PM is responsible for the discharge of functions and powers of the President The PM must be a member of either House of Parliament, or be elected within 6 months of taking office
ELECTION TO OFFICE
Appointment The Prime Minister is appointed by the President on the basis of his being the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha If no party gets an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha or a PM resigns or dies, the President can use his own discretion in the choice of a Prime Minister If the person the President so appoints is not a member of the Lok Sabha, he must get himself elected within a period of 6 months Conditions of service The Prime Minister serves in office for 5 years He can be re-appointed When the Lok Sabha is dissolved, he can continue in office upon the request of the President If the government is defeated in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister and entire cabinet must resign However, if defeated in the Rajya Sabha, resignation is not obligatory
FUNCTIONS OF THE PRIME MINISTER
1. Legislative functions 1. He is the leader of the majority in the Lok Sabha
2. The President convenes and prorogues sessions of Parliament in consultation with the PM 3. Can recommend dissolution of the Lok Sabha to the President 4. All members of the Cabinet are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the PM 2. Administrative functions 1. Acts as the chief channel of communication between the President and the Council of Ministers 2. Allocates portfolios among various ministers and shuffles them 3. Presides over meetings of the Council of Ministers 4. Supervises the working of other Ministers 3. Executive functions 1. Represents the country internationally 2. Acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the Planning Commission 3. Has exclusive jurisdiction over the disposal of the PMs National Relief Fund and the PMs National Defence Fund 4. Advisory functions 1. Assists the President in the appointment of all high officials 2. Recommends to the President proclamation of emergency 3. Advices the President on the imposition of Presidents Rule
LIST OF PRIME MINISTERS OF INDIA
No. 1
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
Date 1947 1964 May 1964 Jun 1964 Jun 1964 Jan 1966 Jan 1966 Jan 1966 Jan 1966 Mar 1967 Mar 1977 Jul 1979 Jul 1979 Jan 1980 Jan 1980 Oct 1984 Oct 1984 Dec 1989 Dec 1989 Nov 1990 Nov 1990 Jun 1991 Jun 1991 May
Notes First Prime Minister First to die in office Longest tenure First and only acting PM First PM to die abroad during official tour First woman PM First PM to lose an election Oldest to become PM (81 years) First to resign from office Only PM that did not face Parliament First PM to be assassinated Youngest to become PM (40 years) First PM to resign after vote of no confidence
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Guzari Lal Nanda Lal Bahadur Shastri Guzari Lal Nanda Indira Gandhi Moraji Desai Charan Singh Indira Gandhi Rajiv Gandhi VP Singh Chandra Shekar Narasimha Rao
13 14 15 16 17
AB Vajpayee Deve Gowda IK Gujral AB Vajpayee Manmohan Singh
1996 May 1996 Jun 1996 Jun 1996 Apr 1997 Apr 1997 Mar 1998 Mar 1998 May 2004 May 2004 Present
Shortest tenure (13 days)
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
It is not a constitutional post Does not carry any specific powers Can chair meetings of the Cabinet in the absence of the PM, and take on the responsibility of the PM in case of the latters death India has had 7 Deputy Prime Ministers Sardar Vallabhai Patel was the first Deputy PM. He was also the Home Minister concurrently The current government does not have a Deputy PM Keywords: ias, study material, general studies, indian polity, prime minister
Previous week: The President of India ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Next Week: The Parliament of India
3 December 2009 | Tags: prime minister| No Comments
THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT
Qualifications of the President Must be a citizen of India Must be 35 years or older Must be qualified to be a member of the Lok Sabha, but should not be a member Must not hold an office of profit under the Central or State or local governments The name of the candidate must be proposed and seconded by at least 50 electors Keywords: ias, study material, general studies, Indian polity Conditions of service Holds office for 5 years Is elected indirectly by an electoral college consisting of o Elected members of both Houses of Parliament o Elected members of State Assemblies in accordance with proportional representation o The value of the vote of an MLA differs from state to state in order to give equality of representation Eligible for immediate re-election Resignation must be addressed to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Oath of affirmation is administered by the Chief Justice of India. In the CJIs absence, the senior most available judge of the SC administers the oath.
The President can be impeached for violation of the constitution. Impeachment can be initiated by either House of Parliament. Requires a 2/3rd majority to pass. If the office of the President falls vacant, the Vice President takes over. If the VP is not available, the CJI acts as President. If he is also not available, the senior most available judge of the SC acts as President. The acting President enjoys all powers of a regular President Fresh elections to the office of President must be held within 6 months of vacancy All election disputes are decided by the Supreme Court Keywords: ias, study material, general studies, Indian polity
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT
1. Administrative powers 1. All executive actions of the Union Government are carried out under the name of the President 2. Appoints senior officials like the Prime Minister, CJI, CAG, AG etc 3. Directly controls the administration of the Union Territories 2. Legislative Powers 1. Nominates 12 distinguished public figures to the Rajya Sabha and 2 AngloIndians to the Lok Sabha 2. Can summon and prorogue sessions of both Houses 3. Can dissolve the Lok Sabha (but not the Rajya Sabha) 4. All bills must receive the Presidents assent before they become law 5. Enjoys suspensive veto power that can be applied to non-money bills. No veto power on Constitutional Amendment Bills 6. Can enact ordinances on Union and Concurrent List subjects. Can issue ordinances on State subjects, only if the state is under Presidents Rule 3. Financial Powers 1. All money bills can originate in the Lok Sabha only on the recommendation of the President 2. Controls the Contingency Fund of India 3. Appoints a Finance Commission every 5 years to recommend tax distribution between the Union and states 4. Judicial Powers 1. Can pardon or reprieve the sentence of anyone punished under Union law 2. Appoints the Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts 5. Emergency Powers 1. Can proclaim emergency after getting the recommendation of the Cabinet in writing 6. Military Powers 1. Appoints the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force 2. Enjoys the power to declare war and peace 7. Diplomatic Powers 1. Appoints Ambassadors to foreign countries and receives their diplomats 2. All international treaties are concluded on behalf of the President. However, these are subject to ratification by Parliament 8. Presidents Rule
1. Can declare Presidents Rule either on the advice of the Governor or on self discretion 2. Such a proclamation must be laid down before Parliament within two months 3. Cannot remain in force for more than one year 4. The concerned State Assembly can be dissolved or suspended 9. Discretionary Powers: The President almost always acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers except under the following circumstances 1. Appointment of a Prime Minister from among contenders when no single party has a majority in the Lok Sabha 2. A Council of Ministers is voted out/resigns and recommends dissolution of the Lok Sabha 3. While exercising a pocket veto 4. Disqualifying members of the Legislature 5. Return the advice of the Council of Ministers once for reconsideration 6. Return a Bill passed by the Parliament once for reconsideration Keywords: ias, study material, general studies, Indian polity
PRESIDENTS RULE IN INDIA
First imposed on Kerala, June 1951. In effect till April 1952 Longest duration of Presidents Rule was in Punjab May 1987 Feb 1992 Imposed maximum number of times on Kerala and Punjab (9 times each) Minimum number of times on Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh Shortest duration of imposition was on Karnataka. Imposed for 7 days in Oct 1990 Keywords: ias, study material, general studies, Indian polity
THE PRESIDENTS OF INDIA
President Dr. Rajendra Prasad Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Dr. Zakir Hussian V.V. Giri (Acting) Justice M Hidayatullah V.V. Giri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed B. D. Jatti (acting) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy Giani Zail Singh R. Venkataraman Dr. S.D. Sharma
Tenure Jun 1950 May 1952 May 1962 May 1967 May 1967 May 1969 May 1969 July 1969 July 1969 Aug 1969 Aug 1969 Aug 1974 Aug 1974 Feb 1977 Feb 1977 July 1977 July 1982 July 1987 July 1982 July 1987 July 1987 July 1992 July 1992 July 1997
Notes First President Longest tenure Shortest tenure Died in office First Acting President Second Acting President Died in office Youngest President (64 years) Elected unopposed Oldest President (76 years)
K.R. Narayanan Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Pratibha Patil
July 1997 July 2002 July 2002 July 2007 July 2007 present
First female President
Keywords: ias, study material, general studies, Indian polity THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF INDIA Election of the Vice-President Is elected by all members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with proportional representation The name of the candidate must be proposed and seconded by at least 25 members All election disputes are decided by the Supreme Court Holds office for 5 years. Is eligible for re-election Oath of office administered by the President Keywords: ias, study material, general studies, Indian polity Powers and functions of the Vice-President Is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, but is not a member of the same Has no right to vote except in a tie All bills, resolutions, motions and questions in the Rajya Sabha can be taken up only with the consent of the VP Acts as the chief spokesperson of the Rajya Sabha Functions as Acting President if required. Can do so for a maximum of 6 months, and then a new President must be elected Does not automatically become President in the absence of the President (unlike the USA) Keyword

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Indian Polity #12 | Study Material::General Studies | IAS Help

UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (UPSC)

Indian Polity #11 | Study Material::General Studies | IAS Help

Business Advisory Committee

Lok Sabha 15 (including Speaker)

Committee on Private Members Bills and Resolutions

Lok Sabha 15 (including Dy Speaker)

Lok Sabha (15 including Speaker)

Committee on Papers Laid on the Table

Members are nominated by the Speaker Ministers not eligible

Committee on Subordinate Legislations

Members are nominated by the Speaker Ministers not eligible

Committee on Govt. Assurances

Committee on Absence of Ministers from Sittings of the House

Joint Committee on Offices of Profit

Both Houses 15 10 from LS, 5 from RS

Committee is constituted for the duration of the Lok Sabha

Committee on Welfare of SC/ST

Both Houses 30 20 from LS, 10 from RS

Ministers not eligible Term of the Committee is one year

This was the first Committee to be constituted after Independence (1949)

Railway Convention Committee

Both Houses 18 12 from LS, 6 from RS

Committee on Empowerment of Women

Indian Polity #10 | Study Material::General Studies | IAS Help

The current CAG is Vinod Rai (2008 present)

Indian Polity #9 | Study Material::General Studies | IAS Help

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DOWNLOAD THIS ARTICLE Indian Polity #9 (369.8 KiB, 4,718 hits)

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

T Swaminathan S L Shakdhar R K Trivedi R V S Peri Shastri V S Ramadevi

1973-1977 1977-1982 1982-1985 1986-1990 Nov 1990 Dec 1990

M S Gill J M Lyngdoh TS Krishnamurthy

1996-2001 2001-2004 2004-2005

B B Tandon N Gopalaswami Navin Chawla

2005-2006 2006-2009 2009-present

Indian Polity #8 | Study Material :: General Studies | IAS Help

Committees to study Panchayat system Committee Established Mandate Recommendations

Community development projects

Effective development of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI)

Local self government to be constitutionally recognised Non-involvement of political parties

VILLAGE LEVEL GOVERNMENT

BLOCK LEVEL GOVERNMENT

DISTRICT LEVEL GOVERNMENT

Indian Polity #7 | Study Material :: General Studies | IAS Help

POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR

THE STATE LEGISLATURE

Indian Polity #6 | Study Material :: General Studies | IAS Help

Guwahati Srinagar (summer) Ja m m u (winter) Bangalore C oc hi n Jabalpur

Madras Chandigarh J odhpur Gangtok

Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh

Indian Polity #5 | Study Material :: General Studies | IAS Help

THE RAJYA SABHA (COUNCIL OF STATES)

Functions of the Rajya Sabha

THE LOK SABHA (HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE)

Membership to the Lok Sabha

SPEAKER OF THE LOK SABHA

Indian Polity #4 | Study Material :: General Studies | IAS Help

1. Legislative functions 1. He is the leader of the majority in the Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru

AB Vajpayee Deve Gowda IK Gujral AB Vajpayee Manmohan Singh

Shortest tenure (13 days)

THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER