How can I study Indian polity?

The major tip is to focus on how to prepare polity for UPSC including reading NCERT books from IX to XII to have better insights into the topics as the NCERT books are more lucid and comprehensive.

Is polity easy for UPSC?

It depends on the understanding of the candidates, although it is a static subject with some technical aspects.

What do you mean by the term polity?

Polity refers to a political group of any size or shape — it can be a government, a state, a country, or even a social group.

Is Laxmikant enough for UPSC?

Laxmikant is essential for UPSC Mains preparation, but it is not sufficient.

What is difference between polity and constitution?

Constitution is a formal legal document defining the basic structure of the system/organisation/country. Polity is the constitution in run, i.e actual functioning of the constitution.

Which website is best for polity for UPSC?

Study IQ is without a doubt the best site for preparing Polity and other subjects as asked in UPSC.

Can a very weak student crack UPSC?

Yes there are several aspirants who were “average” students and yet cleared the exam proving that you need not be a topper to crack the IAS Exam.

How many questions come from Indian polity in UPSC?

On an average 18 to 20 questions are asked in UPSC from Polity

How much time is required to prepare Polity for UPSC?

At maximum 1 to 2 months are required to cover the entire syllabus of Polity

Is NCERT needed for UPSC polity?

Yes NCERT strengthened the foundation of Polity as a subject.

Which subjects are included in the UPSC General Studies Paper 2?

The GS Paper 2 includes Polity and Governance, International Relations and Social Justice.

How to start preparing for Indian polity?

One should first go through the Previous Year Questions for understanding the demand of Polity as a subject in UPSC Exam.

Indian Polity Notes for UPSC Prelims 2024, Check in Detail

One of the key topics for the UPSC Civil Services Exam is Indian politics. All three levels of the Civil Services exam have included questions that directly relate to the constitutional framework. This article contains a topic-by-topic table of the curriculum for Indian politics for the UPSC, which may greatly assist you in covering Indian polity. You can also download our micro themes syllabus PDF of Indian polity to keep your UPSC preparation syllabus focused.

Indian Polity Notes for UPSC Prelims and Mains

UPSC Indian Polity: The entire constitutional framework and the operation of our political system are encapsulated in Indian politics. To make your preparation easier, we have divided the Indian Polity themes included in the UPSC notification into smaller subtopics. To prepare for the UPSC exam, go over each of these topics in depth. Indian Polity is a vast and complex subject, but there are a few key concepts that are essential for understanding the Indian political system. Here is a brief overview of some of the most important Indian polity notes:

Constitutional Framework Indian Polity Notes

Evolution of the Constitution

Making of Constitution

Features of the Indian Constitution

Indian Union and its Territory

Citizenship

Fundamental Rights

Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)

Fundamental Duties

Amendment of Constitution

System of Government

Executive Bodies

Union Legislature

Parliamentary Devices, Procedures and Working

Parliamentary Groups and Committees

Emergency Provisions In Indian Constitution

State Government and its Machineries

Central State Relations

Union Territories and Special Areas

Local Government

Supreme Court

High Court and Subordinate Court

Other Judicial Bodies and Services

Constitutional Bodies

Non-Constitutional Bodies

Political Dynamics

Important Bills, Laws, and Acts

Governance

International Relations

Indian Polity Current Affairs for UPSC & PSC

Places of Worship Act 1991, Key Provisions and Challenges December 23, 2024Context Typically, excavations at historic sites are conducted by archaeologists or historians to uncover evidence of lost civilizations, ancient cities, or mythological events. In India, excavations have been conducted under places of worship of one religion to seek evidence of another religion’s historical presence. Such actions have raised questions about secularism and legality, ...Read More
Should Legislatures in India have Fixed Tenures? December 21, 2024The debate surrounding the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes fixed five-year terms for the Lok Sabha and aligns State Legislature elections with this cycle, presents various arguments both in favor of and against fixed legislative tenures in India Arguments in Favor of Fixed Legislative Tenures Reduced Electoral ...Read More
Hindu Marriage Act 1955, Salient Features, Important Sections December 21, 2024The Hindu Marriage Act governs marriages among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs in India. It establishes legal procedures for solemnizing and registering marriages while defining the rights, duties, and grounds for divorce. This legislation plays a significant role in the Polity section of the UPSC IAS Exam, covering both the ...Read More
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Functions, Chairman December 20, 2024Recently a high-power committee led by the Prime Minister met to select the next Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The post of Chairperson has been vacant since Justice (Retd) Arun Kumar Mishra completed his tenure in June 2024. About National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) It is a statutory body ...Read More
Section 6A of the Citizenship Act December 20, 2024The Supreme Court of India’s ruling on October 17, 2024, upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, by a 4:1 majority. The judgment has raised significant concerns regarding constitutional violations and potential negative implications for Assam’s cultural and demographic landscape. Section 6A of the Citizenship Act Section ...Read More
BR Ambedkar Death Anniversary, Biography, Legacy, Contribution December 19, 2024Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, fondly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was one of the most influential leaders in Indian history. Known for his relentless fight against social discrimination and his role as the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. Ambedkar passed away on 6th December 1956. This day is observed ...Read More
One Nation One Election, Advantages and Disadvantages, Highlights December 18, 2024The concept of One Nation, One Election has been a long-standing proposal, championed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a means to streamline the electoral process in India. On December 17, 2024, the government took a significant step towards implementing this vision by introducing two Bills in the Lok ...Read More
MP moves breach of privilege against Union Minister Kiren Rijiju December 14, 2024About Parliamentary Privilege As elected representatives, the members of the House enjoy certain rights and immunities to effectively discharge their functions. Currently India lacks a law that defines what is a parliamentary privilege. Article 105 explicitly mentions only two kinds of privileges, Freedom of speech in the Parliament Right to publish the house proceedings. The Code ...Read More
Cut Motions, Meaning, Types and Admissibility December 14, 2024In parliamentary procedures, a cut motion is a key legislative tool used by members of parliament to express discontent with the budgetary proposals presented by the government. Understanding cut motions is crucial for UPSC aspirants, as it is an important concept in Indian polity and governance, particularly for those preparing ...Read More
Section 69 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) December 14, 2024Section 69 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) refers to the Indian Penal Code, 2023, which has replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The specific provisions under Section 69 of the BNS will depend on the section’s subject matter as codified in this updated law. Section 69 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita ...Read More

UPSC Syllabus For Indian Polity

The Civil Services Exam includes a section on politeness. Both the Prelims and Mains exams cover Indian politics. 16 questions from the UPSC Polity curriculum were directly asked in the 2020 Prelims. All three Civil Services Examination phases included questions on Polity.

Indian Polity for UPSC Prelims 2024

The UPSC Prelims Syllabus includes information on Indian politics, and we have included the UPSC Polity Syllabus 2024 for the IAS Prelims Exam below. Indian polity is an important subject for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, both Prelims and Mains. It is a vast and complex subject, but there are a few key topics that are particularly important for the UPSC Prelims syllabus 2024.

Polity and Governance in India
Government of India
Constitution of India
Indian Political System
Local Government
Indian Parliament
Indian Judiciary
Fundamental Rights and Duties
Centre-State Relations

Indian Polity Syllabus for UPSC Mains

The Indian Polity component is part of the General Studies Paper-II of the UPSC Mains Syllabus. The UPSC Polity Syllabus 2024 for the IAS Mains Exam must be read by candidates before they begin the course of study.

Constitution of India
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States
Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
Parliament and State Legislatures
Appointment to various Constitutional posts
Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive
Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
Government policies and interventions
Health, Education, and Human Resources
Development Processes and the development industry
Issues relating to Poverty and hunger
Role of civil services in a Democracy
Important aspects of governance.

Indian Polity Syllabus for UPSC Topic-Wise

Here you can check the Indian Polity Syllabus 2024 in detail:

Topic Wise UPSC Polity Syllabus 2024
Important Polity Topics	Polity Sub-topic
Constitutional Framework	Historical Background Fundamental Duties Amendment of the Constitution Basic Structure Constitutional Development Making of the Constitution Features of the Constitution Preamble of India The Union & Its Territories Citizenship Fundamental Rights Directive Principles of State Policy
System of Government	Parliamentary System Inter-state Relations Federal System Centre-state Relations
State Government	Governor of India State Council of Ministers State Legislature Chief Minister High Courts Subordinate Courts Special Provisions for Some States
Central Government	President of India Vice-President Parliament Central Council of Ministers Cabinet Committee Parliamentary Committee & Forums Supreme Court Prime Minister
Constitutional Bodies	Election Commission Comptroller & Auditor General of India National Commission for SCs National Commission for STs Attorney General of India Advocate General of State Union Public Service Commission State PCS Finance Commission
Union Territories & Local Government	Union Territories Scheduled & Tribal Areas Panchayati Raj System Municipalities
Non-Constitutional Bodies	Planning Commission National Development Council Lokpal & Lokayukta NITI Aayog Central Information Commission Central Vigilance Commission National Human Rights Commission State Human Rights Commission Central Bureau of Investigation
Emergency Provisions	National Emergency Role of President in the Time of Emergency Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Financial Emergency 44th Amendment Act Effects and Implications of Emergency Revoking Emergency President’s Rule or State Emergency
Miscellaneous	Cooperative Societies Official Language Tribunals
Current Affairs	Important Schemes (both Central and State)

Indian Polity Books For UPSC Preparation

You can refer this book for this for the UPSC Preparation :-

UPSC Books for Indian Polity
Indian Polity	Democratic Politics – I and II – NCERT class 9th and 10th respectively (only cursory reading needed) Indian Constitution at Work – NCERT class 11th Indian Constitution by M Laxmikanth