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General Studies II - 250 Marks (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)

1.  
2. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

• Historical Foundations and Development

• From the Regulating Act of 1773 to the Independence Act of 1947
• Formation of the Constituent Assembly 
• Objective Resolution 
• Creation and Implementation of the Constitution 
• Characteristics

• Documented Constitution 
  • Combination of Flexibility and Rigidity
  •  Dual Nature: Federal and Unitary 
  • Parliamentary System of Government (Comparison of Presidential and Parliamentary Systems)
  • Amendments
• Key Amendments and Their Details – 
  • Amendment Process of the Constitution 
  • Key Features
  • Fundamental Rights 
  • Directive Principles of State Policy
  • Judicial Review
  • Universal Adult Suffrage 
  • Single Citizenship 
  • Division of Powers Core Structure
• Concept of the Basic Structure 
• Relevant Judgments and Cases

2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels – 

• Functions and responsibilities of the Union- 

• 7th Schedule
• Legislative Functions
• Financial Functions
• Administrative & Quasi-Judicial Functions and challenges therein.

• Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure –
• Cooperative & Competitive Federalism
• Relations Between the Centre and States
• Legislative Interactions 
• Administrative Connections
• Financial Dynamics
• Evolving Patterns in Centre-State Interactions
• Relations Among States

• Disputes Over Inter-state- 

• Waters Inter-State Councils 
• Public Acts, Records, and Judicial Proceedings 
• Inter-State Commerce 
• Zonal Councils 

• Provisions for Emergencies
• Function of the Governor
• Findings from Various Commissions
  • Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC),
  • Punchhi Commission, 
  • Sarkaria Commission, and others.
  •  
• Devolution of Powers & Finances to Local Levels & Challenges Therein-

• Function of the State Finance Commission
• 11th and 12th Schedules
• Causes of Poor Performance 
• Panchayat Devolution Index (by NITI Aayog)
• Measures to Enhance Performance
  • Separation of Powers between various organs –
    • Doctrine of Separation of Powers
    • Implementation of Separation of Powers in the Indian Constitution
    • Doctrine of Checks and Balances
    • Mechanisms for Checks and Balances in the Indian Constitution
    • Key Judicial Decisions - Golaknath Case, KesavanandaBharati, 
    • Indira Gandhi vs. Raj Narain, Ram Jawaya vs. Punjab

3. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.-

• Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions- 

• RTI
• PIL
• Tribunals etc

1. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.

1. Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these- 

• Structure, Operation, and Regulation of Business, with Powers and Privileges
• Constitution in Written Form
• Combination of Rigidity and Flexibility
• Federally Structured with a Unitary Tendency
• Parliamentary System of Governance
• Interplay of Parliamentary Sovereignty and Judicial Dominance
• Unified yet Independent Judiciary
• Provisions on Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, and Fundamental Duties
• Secular Framework
• Universal Adult Suffrage
• Uniform Citizenship
• Provisions for Emergency Situations
• Three-level Government Structure
• Comparison of Due Process of Law and Procedure Established by Law
• Process for Presidential Impeachment, among others

1. Structure, Organization & Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary, Ministries and Departments of the Government-

• Union:

• President
• Prime Minister
• Council of Ministers
• Cabinet Secretariat

• State:

• Governor
• Chief Minister
• Council of Ministers
• Secretariat

• Judiciary

• Three-Tier Structure
• Chief Justice of India
• SC & HC Judges
• Jurisdiction

• Ministries and Departments of the Government-

• Cabinet Ministries
• Other Ministries
• Parliamentary Secretaries

• Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.

• Characteristics of Pressure Groups
• Pressure Groups & Political Parties
• Pressure Groups & Interest Groups
• Types of Pressure Groups
• Functions, Role & Importance of Pressure Groups
• Techniques/Methods of Pressure Groups
• Pressure Groups in India
• Shortcomings of Pressure Groups

7. Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.

8. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies: 

• Roles, Authorities, Duties, and Responsibilities of:

• Election Commission
• Union Public Service Commission
• State Public Service Commission
• Finance Commission
• National Commission for Scheduled Castes
• National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
• Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India
• Attorney General of India

1. Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-Judicial bodies-

• NITI Aayog 
• RBI
• National Human Rights Commission
• State Human Rights Commission
• Central Information Commission
• Central Vigilance Commission
• Central Bureau of Investigation
• Lokpal and Lokayuktas
• National Commission for Women
• National Commission for Backward Classes
• National Commission for Minorities
• Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
• Securities and Exchange Board of India
• Competition Commission of India
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
• Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
• Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
• Central Pollution Control Board
• Medical Council of India
• Inland Waterways Authority of India
• Central Ground Water Authority
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation
• Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
• Bar Council of India
• University Grants Commission
• Financial Stability and Development Council
• All India Council for Technical Education
• National Green Tribunal
• Competition Appellate Tribunal
• Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal
• Cyber Appellate Tribunal
• Intellectual Property Appellate Board

1. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation- 

• Government Actions and Initiatives Across Various Domains
• Sectors Covered: Health, Gender, Education, Poverty, Economic, etc.
• Challenges Stemming from Their Planning and Execution
• Concerns and Opportunities
• Proposed Enhancements
• Evaluative Review of Centrally Sponsored Programs
• Streamlining of Centrally Sponsored Schemes

• In-depth Analysis of Key Initiatives:

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
• Smart Cities Initiative
• Swachh Bharat Mission
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
• Digital India
• Make in India
• Skill India
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
• Startup India etc.

1. Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders- 

• Social Capital Organizations in India

• Overview and Classification
• Constitutional Support for the Third Sector
• National Policy on the Voluntary Sector, 2007

• Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
  • Impact and Functions
  • Issues of Accreditation, Legitimacy, and Accountability
  • Challenges with Foreign Funding
• Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

• Rationale for SHGs
• Advantages of SHGs
• Limitations of SHGs
• Challenges Faced by SHGs
• Strategies for Enhancing SHG Effectiveness

• Societies, Trusts, and Cooperatives
• Societies and Their Roles
• Trusts and Religious Endowments

• Cooperatives-
  • Necessity of Cooperatives
  • Constitutional Backing
  • National Policy on Co-operatives, 2002
  • Problems and Challenges in the Cooperatives Sector

1. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections- 

• Welfare Programs for Vulnerable Groups Schemes Targeted at:
• SCs & STs
• Minorities
• Children
• Elderly
• Disabled
• Women
• Transgender
•  
• Legislation and Agencies for Protection and Improvement:
• SCs:

• Protection of Civil Rights Act
• SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
• National Commission for Scheduled Castes
• Scheduled Castes Sub Plan

• Disabled:

• Rehabilitation Council of India Act
• Persons with Disabilities Act
• National Trust Act for certain disabilities

• STs:

• National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
• Tribal Sub Plan
• TRIFED
• Forest Rights Act

• Minorities:

• National Commission for Minorities

• Women & Children:

• Traffic Prevention, Indecent Representation, Dowry Prohibition, Sati Prevention Acts
• Domestic Violence, Child Marriage, Juvenile Justice, Child Sexual Offences Acts
• Gender Budgeting, National Policy for Women, Maternity Benefit Act

• Elderly:

• Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act

1. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources- 

Health in India

• Performance Metrics: Overview of India’s standing on various health indicators.
• System Shortcomings: Weaknesses in the Indian healthcare system.
• Infrastructure: Status of health infrastructure across the nation.
• Universal Health Coverage: Strategy from the 12th Five-Year Plan, health insurance policies.
• Surveys and Policies: Insights from the National Family Health Survey, National Health Policy.
• National Health Mission: Focus on maternal, adolescent, and child health; antimicrobial resistance; disease burden.
• Improvement Measures: Government initiatives for better health outcomes.

• Education in India

• Literacy Levels: Current status and statistics.
• Educational Framework: Overview of the structure in Indian education.
• Sector Challenges: Key challenges faced by the educational system.
• Reform Needs: Required changes highlighted by the ASER report and Subramanian Panel.
• Government Efforts: Initiatives and funding for educational improvement.

• Human Resources and Skill Development

• Necessity for Skills: The pressing need for skill development in the workforce.
• Initiatives: Overview of current skill development programs.
• Challenges: Problems within the existing skilling landscape.
• Program Shortcomings: Critiques of current initiatives.
• Proposed Reforms: Steps and reforms needed to enhance skill development.

1. Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources, issues relating to poverty & hunger with special emphasis on Assam.

1. Important aspects of governance, transparency, and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures with emphasis on Assam.
   • Governance, Transparency, and Accountability:

• Effective management of public resources, ensuring openness and answerability in government actions.
  • E-Governance Applications:
• Use of digital technology to streamline government services and enhance citizen engagement.
  • Models, Successes, and Limitations:
• Models like Government-to-Citizens, Government-to-Buisness, Government-to-Government, successes such as Digital India, and challenges like digital divide and cybersecurity.
  • Citizens Charters and Transparency Measures:
• Charters outline service standards; transparency is supported by RTI Act and regular audits.
  • Focus on Assam:
• Initiatives like ASWAN, challenges in digital connectivity, and potential for tailored local solutions.

1. Role of civil services in a democracy.

• Policy Implementation
• Administrative Continuity
• Advisory Role
• Regulatory Functions
• Public Service Delivery
• Ailment/issues affecting Indian Civil Services
• Reforming bureaucracy to strengthen Democracy

1. India and its neighborhood relations- 

• China
• Pakistan
• Myanmar
• Bhutan
• Bangladesh
• Sri Lanka
• Afghanistan
• Nepal
• Maldives

1. Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests.
   • Key Foreign Policy Doctrines:

• Non-aligned Movement (NAM)
• Nuclear Doctrine
• Gujral Doctrine
• Look East to Act East Policy
• Think West Policy
  • Bilateral Relations:
  • Major Powers: USA, Russia, Japan
  • Regional Focus:
• Central Asian Countries
• West Asian Countries
• African Countries
• Australia & New Zealand
• European Union & European Countries
• Latin American Countries
• Pacific Countries

• Multilateral and Regional Groupings:

• Regional Cooperation: SAARC, BRICS, BBIN, BCIM, BIMSTEC
• Strategic Partnerships: IBSA, ASEAN & RCEP, India-Africa Forum, SCO
• Special Agreements: Ashgabat Agreement, FIPIC, IOR-ARC, Mekong Ganga Cooperation
• International Summits and Dialogues: Raisina Dialogue, Heart of Asia Conference, East Asia Summit, G-20
• Financial and Economic Cooperation: Asian Development Bank, Multilateral Nuclear Export Regimes (Wassenaar Arrangement, MTCR, Australia Group)

1. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora.

• Global Initiatives and Conflicts:

• One Belt One Road (OBOR)
• International North–South Transport Corridor
• South China Sea Conflict

• Economic Dynamics:

• Global Trade War
• Global Currency War
• OPEC Oil Price Manipulation

• Political and Economic Shifts:

• Syrian Crisis
• Brexit
• Deglobalisation& Protectionism: US sanctions on Iran, US withdrawal from Paris Agreement, H-1B visa issues.

• Global Governance Reforms:

• UN Reforms
• WTO Reforms

• Indian Diaspora Overview:

• Spread of Indian Diaspora
• Role Played by Indian Diaspora

• Diaspora Engagement Initiatives:

• India’s Diaspora Policy
• OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India)
• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
• Know India Programme
• LM Singhvi High Level Committee on the Diaspora

• Diaspora Issues:

• Dual Nationality
• Remittances

1. Important international institution, institution and agencies and forums, their structures and their mandate:

• UN & Its Agencies: International cooperation, global governance
• WTO: Trade rules, international trade
• World Bank: Development assistance, financial support
• IMF: Financial stability, monetary cooperation
• World Economic Forum: Global agenda, leadership, policy shaping
• Commonwealth of Nations: Political association, former British territories