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

Article 143 of Indian Constitution: Power of President to Consult Supreme Court May 16, 2025Context: President Droupadi Murmu has sought the Supreme Court’s opinion under Article 143(1) of the Constitution regarding the timelines and judicial review of her assent to Bills sent by state Governors. Article 143 of Indian Constitution Article 143 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President of India to seek the opinion of ...Read More
Justice BR Gavai takes Oath as 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) May 15, 2025Context: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has recommended the name of Justice B.R. Gavai to the government for appointment as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. Justice BR Gavai took oath as CJI on May 14, 2025, becoming the 52nd Chief Justice of India. Justice BR Gavai Takes Oath ...Read More
Union Territories of India with Capital, Governance and History May 8, 2025 Union territories of India are areas directly controlled and administered by the Central Government of India, also known as “centrally administered territories.” The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were India’s first union territory after independence. On 31 October 2019, Ladakh was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir, and it was considered ...Read More
Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight in India May 6, 2025Context: The article examines the diminishing role of Parliamentary oversight in India, despite the constitutional emphasis on checks and balances, and suggests targeted reforms to revitalise its effectiveness. Parliamentary Oversight Parliamentary Oversight means the different ways and means by which a parliament (the legislative) exercises oversight over, monitors, and holds the executive ...Read More
Private Member Bill, Key Provisions, Significance and Challenges May 5, 2025Context: The Private Member’s Bill holds immense potential to significantly enrich India’s legislative landscape. About Private Member Bill A Private Member Bill is a legislative proposal introduced in Parliament by a Member of Parliament (MP) who is not a Minister. This includes MPs from both the ruling party (if not a minister) ...Read More
Article 21 of Indian Constitution, Right to Life and Liberty May 3, 2025Context: In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court of India has said that Digital access is an intrinsic part of the Right to Life and Liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. Article 21 of Indian Constitution Justice P. Bhagwati stated that Article 21 “embodies a fundamental value of supreme importance in ...Read More
National Security Advisory Board Revamped after Pahalgam Attack May 3, 2025The National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) has been significantly revamped in the aftermath of the deadly Terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. Alok Joshi (Ex-RAW Chief) has been appointed the chairman of the reconstituted National Security Advisory Board, comprising former military and civil service chiefs. The revamped seven-member ...Read More
Cabinet Committees in India, Structure, Functions, and Significance May 2, 2025Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened key meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) following the recent terror attack in Pulwama. Cabinet Committees in India play a crucial role in governance, aiding policy formulation and decision-making across various sectors. Understanding their structure, ...Read More
Freedom of Press in India, Constitutional Basis and Challenges May 1, 2025Context: In India, more people believe that the media is free than those who consider media freedom to be important. What is Freedom of Press? Freedom of Press is a fundamental right that guarantees the ability of individuals and organisations, including journalists and media outlets, to publish and disseminate information without fear ...Read More
Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, Constitutional Provisions, Powers and Functions May 1, 2025Context: The 18th Lok Sabha has yet to elect a Deputy Speaker. Also, the Deputy Speaker’s office has remained vacant for the entire term of the 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024). Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a key parliamentary position in India. The Lok Sabha ...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