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

Election Symbols of Political Parties in India, Types, Allocation, Criteria November 21, 2024Context: The Election Commission of India refused to allocate the ‘Top’ symbol to the MDMK party in the current Lok Sabha elections. The Naam Tamilar Katchi has been allotted a new common symbol and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi has been denied a common symbol, raising questions on the allotment of symbols ...Read More
Appointment Procedure of CAG November 19, 2024About Appointment Procedure Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Article-148: CAG is appointed by the President of India. The procedure starts with the cabinet secretary preparing a shortlist of names, which is approved by the finance minister. It is then placed before the PM, who then recommends a name to the President. There ...Read More
Appointment of High Court Judges, Procedure and Articles November 19, 2024The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Madras High Court judge Justice D. Krishnakumar as the Manipur High Court Chief Justice. Appointment of High Court Judges Article 217: Every Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. This is done after ...Read More
Election Commission of India, Articles, Functions, Powers, Provisions November 19, 2024Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were recently appointed as Election Commissioners in India on 14th March 2024. Both were chosen by a high-powered Selection Panel which is chaired by Prime Minister Modi, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury submitted a dissent note, saying shortlisted names were shared ...Read More
Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) November 18, 2024About the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 It is an act of the Parliament that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”. The main aim of the act is to tackle the secessionist activities in the north-eastern states. Origin: The Act in its ...Read More
Lokpal, Meaning, Power, Features, Functions and Limitations November 9, 2024The Lokpal is conducting an inquiry into the SEBI chief over allegations of a conflict of interest in the Hindenburg case. About Lokpal It is a statutory body established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 to inquire and investigate allegations of corruption against public functionaries. Composition: Chairperson (Retd./Serving Chief Justice of India/ ...Read More
List of Prime Ministers of India 1947 to 2024, Current PM of India November 9, 2024The Prime Minister of India is the head of government and holds significant power in India’s parliamentary system. India has had a total of 15 individuals serving as the Prime Minister from 1947 to 2024, each contributing to shaping the nation’s political and economic landscape. The Prime Minister is responsible ...Read More
Foundation Day of Indian States and UTs, Details and Celebration November 9, 2024Uttarakhand Foundation Day 2024, celebrated on November 9, marks the formation of the state in 2000. Initially known as Uttaranchal, it became Uttarakhand in 2007. The day honors the struggles, resilience, and cultural heritage of the people who fought for a separate state. Known as the “Land of the Gods,” ...Read More
Supreme Court Judgement on Private Property November 6, 2024Context: The Supreme Court reinforced the protection of private property from arbitrary state acquisition by ruling that compulsory acquisition without following mandatory procedures is unconstitutional, even if compensation is provided. Supreme Court Limits State’s Power to Seize Private Property, Overturns 1978 Ruling In a landmark judgment on November 5, 2024, the Supreme Court ...Read More
Article 370 Restoration Resolution in J&K Assembly November 4, 2024Article 370 was a provision in the Indian Constitution granting special autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Drafted in 1949, it was added to accommodate the unique circumstances of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India. It allowed the state to have its own constitution, autonomy over internal ...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