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M.S.Shashank
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Dear Aspirants,
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This Exclusive book has been prepared and compiled keeping in mind the needs of those, who are looking
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competitive examinations.
AKS IAS Academy's - committed team has prepared this book following certain norms to ensure non-partisan
treatment of the subject, a dedicated effort to help you prepare best to crack the Examinations. Explaining
each and every detail required. This all-inclusive volume will facilitate the aspirants to amass a complete and
detailed understanding of the concerned subject.
M.S.Shashank
Founder & CEO
AKS IAS Academy
ENGLISH MEDIUM
• Federal scheme
• Office of Governor
• Judiciary
• Public service commission
• Emergency provisions
• Administrative details
Ideals are the means to achieve goals. Following are A Democratic polity is based on the principle that the
the ideals of the Preamble: possession of supreme power is vested with the
people.
1. Sovereignty
Democracy
It means supreme political power of the state which is
unlimited and uncontrolled. India is neither a It is the government of the people, for the people and
dependency nor a dominion of any other nation and it by the people. It is a political democracy, i.c.
is free to conduct its own affairs (both internal and democratic government based on one-man-one vote
external), type of universal adult franchise (Article 326).
The ownership control of resources is with the society This implies equal opportunity to men and women
and Indian socialism is 'democratic socialism and not a irrespective of their caste.
communistic socialism'. As the Supreme Court says,
Economic Democracy
'Democratic socialism aims to end poverty, ignorance,
disease and inequality of opportunity. Indian This implies equitable distribution of resources.
socialising is a blend of Marxism and Gandhism, leaning
heavily towards Gandhian socialism'. 5. Republic
The socialist goals are found in the Directive Principles In a Republic, the Head of the State is elected by the
and State Policy of the constitution. (a) Article 39B state directly or indirectly. It is not based on heredity.
A Republic also means two more things:
The government shall take steps to provide equitable
distribution of resources. • First, vesting of political sovereignty in the people
and not in a single individual like a king:
(b) Article 39C : Prevention of concentration of wealth • Second, the absence of any privileged class and
to common deterrents (in few hands). hence all public offices being opened to every
citizen without any discrimination.
3. Secularism
6. Justice
Indian secularism is based on Salary Dharma Sambhav',
The term "justice in the Preamble embraces three
i.e. all religions are equal. The Indian Constitution
distinct forms - social, economic and political – secured
embodies the positive concept of secularism, i.e. all
through various provisions of Fundamental Rights and
religions in our country (irrespective of their strength)
Directive Principles.
have the same status and support from the state and
accordingly Articles 25 to 28 (guaranteeing the Social Justice
fundamental right to freedom of religion) have been
included in the constitution
©AKS IAS www.aksias.com 7
M.S.Shashank
This implies that there is no discrimination of the Article 1
citizens on the basis of artificial classification like
untouchability, abolition of titles, etc. Name and territory of the Union
7. Liberty Article 3
It means opportunities for the development of the 1. form a new state by separation of a territory
individual without any restraints on his or her activity. from any state or by uniting two or more states
For example, or parts of state or by uniting any territory to a
part of any state;
(1) Freedom of thought and expression (Article 2. Increase the area of any state;
191(a)). 3. Diminish the area of any state;
(2) Freedom of belief, faith and worship, and 4. Alter the boundaries of any state; or
5. alter the name of any state
(3) Right to freedom to religion Article (25–20).
Given that no Bill for the purpose shall be
(a) Freedom from undue or arbitrary restraint introduced in either House of Parliament except
especially by the government. on the recommendation of the President and
unless, where the proposal contained in the Bill
(b) Freedom of individual to do what he or she
affects the area, boundaries or the name of any of
considers best for himself for herself provided he or
she does not violate the rights of other individuals.
the state for expressing its vices within such
further period as the President may allow and the
8. Equality period so specified or allowed has expired.
It means absence of special privileges to any section of Reorganisation of States
the society, and the provision of adequate
opportunities for all individuals without any • At the time of Independence, India was divided
discrimination. into British India provinces and Indian princely
states.
9. Fraternity • Of the 552 princely states situated within the
geographical boundaries of India, 549 joined
It means promotion of brotherhood among people.
India and the remaining 3 (Hyderabıd,
Fraternity also ensures dignity of individual and unity
and integrity of the nation.
Junagarh and Kashmir) joined India later
• Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Home Minister in
the National Provisional Government, and V.K.
Menon (Home Secretary) through their
THE UNION AND ITS TERRITORY persuasive and punitive measures, integrated
a large number of states with the Indian Union.
Articles
Article 4
Articles 1 - 4 of the Constitution of India deal with
the union and its territories: Provides that any law referred in Article 2 of Article
3 should contain provisions for amendment of first
©AKS IAS www.aksias.com 8
M.S.Shashank
and fourth schedule of the Constitution without 9. In the Hindi speaking areas of Punjab, demand
going through procedure as prescribed by Article was raised for the setting up of Hindi speaking
368, states out of Punjab. It resulted in the division
of the State of Punjab into the Punjabi
State Reorganisation Commissions
speaking area of Punjab, the Hindi speaking
1. Dhar Commission, under Justice S.K. Dhar was area of the State of Haryana and setting up of
appointed in 1948 by the Government of India Chandigarh, a union territory in 1966 by the
to look into the question of linguistic 18th Constitutional Amendment.
reorganisation of India. In its report, the Dhar 10. In 1975, Sikkim was made an associate state by
Commission rejected the idea of linguistic 35th Constitutional Amendment, which later
reorganisation of the states. on by 36th Constitutional Amendment Act in
2. In December 1948, J.V.P. The Commission 1975 was made a fully fledged state
(Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Pattaabhi 11. Mizoram was made a state of the Union of
Sitaramayya) was appointed by the India in 1986. by the 53rd Constitution
government to look into the question of states Amendment.
reorganisation on the basis of languages. It did 12. In 1987, the State of Arunachal Pradesh was
not favour the idea of the linguistic added by the 55th Constitution Amendment.
reorganisation of states. 13. The State of Jharkhand was made out of Bihar
3. In 1954, the Government of India appointed a in 2000.
commission to look into the question of staté 14. The eastern region of Madhya Pradesh was
ré-organisation. A three-member commission popularly known as Chhattisgarh. Finally,
was headed by Justice Fazal All Pandit Madhya Pradesh was bifurcated and the State
Hidayanath Kunzru and Sardar K.M. Pannikar of Chhattisgarh was formed in 2000.
were its other members. In September 1955, 15. In the hilly area of the erstwhile State of Uttar
the commission submitted its report in which Pradesh, Uttaranchal was formed in 2000. On
it recommended the formation of 16 states 11 October 2006 the name of the state was
and 3 centrally administered areas for the changed to Uttarakhand.
Indian Union. Based on the recommendation 16. In February 2014, Andhra Pradesh
of the States Reorganisation Commission. Reorganisation Act 2014 bill was passed by the
Union parliament passed the States Parliament of India for the formation of
Reorganisation Act, 1956, which provided for Telangana state comprising ten districts from
the setting up of 14 states and 6 union north-western Andhra Pradesh. The bill
territories. received the assent of the President and
4. In 1953, Andhra Pradesh was created by taking published in the Gazette on 1 March 2014.
the Telugu-language-speaking region of
Madras province, Bombay province and the
Central Province.
5. In 1954 Pondicherry was handed over by the
French to India and was included in Indian
Union as a union territory.
6. Demand for the State of Gujarat out of
Bombay province was raised in the decade of
the sixties. This resulted into the bifurcation of
Bombay province and the State of CITIZENSHIP
Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1961.
7. On 11 December 1961. Goa was freed from Part II of the Constitution from Article 5 to Article
Portuguese occupation through an army 11 deals with citizenship.
operation, and was made a state in 1987, by Citizenship Act, 1955
the 56th Constitution Amendment Indian Citizenship Act, 1995 prescribes the modes
8. In 1962, the State of Nagaland was created. of acquisition of citizenship:
Citizenship by Birth
©AKS IAS www.aksias.com 9
M.S.Shashank
• Every person born in India on or after 26 •Increasing demand and expectations for
January 1950 shall be a citizen of India by birth. dual citizenship for people of Indian origin
• Citizenship by Descent in North America, Europe, Australia, New
• A person born outside India on or after 26 Zealand, Singapore and few other
January 1950 shall be a citizen of India by countries have been seen.
dissent if his or her father is a citizen of • On the occasion of the first Pravasi
India at the time of his or her birth. Bharatiya Diwas on 9 January 2003.
• Citizenship by Registration Honourable Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari
• A non-citizen can apply for citizenship of Vajpayee made an announcement to grant
India and can be registered by the dual citizenship to PIOs. This was passed by
prescribed authority by the following the Indian Parliament unanimously in
conditions: December 2003.
o Should be a person of Indian origin • The concept of dual citizenship, now
and have spent five years in India; phrased as Overseas Citizenship, will grant
o Foreign women married to an overseas citizenship to the people of Indian
Indian citizen; or origin belonging to certain countries as
o Minor children of Indian parents. well as Indian citizens who may take up the
Citizenship by Naturalisation citizenship of these countries in future.
• A foreigner can acquire Indian citizenship • At present this facility is being extended to
on application for naturalisation to the PIOs of sixteen specified countries, namely,
Government of India shall specify persons Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the
of the territory who shall be the citizens of Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal.
India. Republic of Cyprus, Sweden, Switzerland,
United Kingdom, United States of America,
Citizenship by Incorporation of Territory Canada, Finland, France and Greece.
• When any foreign territory is added to Singhvi Committee
Indian Union people of that territory • A high-level committee on Indian diaspora
automatically become Indian citizens. under the chairmanship of L.M. Singhvi.
Loss of Citizenship • This committee recommended In its report
A person can lose citizenship under the to grant overseas Indian citizenship to the
Constitution (by the Citizenship Act 1955) in three people of Indian origin.
ways: • Based on its recommendations, provisions
(i) Renunciation, (ii) Termination and (iii) have been made for Overseas Citizenship
Deprivation of India (OCI) commonly known as dual
People of Indian Origin (PIO) citizenship to the people of Indian origin
According to a comprehensive scheme launched
by the Government of India, the following people,
settled anywhere throughout the world, are
eligible to have PIO card and therefore:
• Card holders can visit India without any
visa.
• The card is to be valid for fifteen years.
• They will enjoy similar benefits as NRIs
(Non-Resident Indian) in economic,
financial and educational matters but are Schedules of Indian Constitution
not allowed to have political rights, Schedules to the Constitution of India can be
• People of Indian origin from Pakistan and added through the amendments to it. There are
Bangladesh are not entitled to it. twelve schedules to the Constitution of India,
Dual Citizenship which are effective at present:
By Other Amendments
Article 31 C
• For the selection of people as state chief • If the request made by any person for information
information commissioner and state information has been turned down by public authority
commissioners, the criteria is the same as that for • If the information seeker could not get the
the selection of the CIC and ICs, which requires the information within the time limit specified under
candidates to be persons of eminence in public life RTI.
with wide knowledge and experience in law, • If the demanded fee by the public authority for
science and technology, social service, providing the information is unreasonably high.
management, journalism, mass media or • If the information seeker thinks that he or she has
administration and governance. been provided incomplete, misleading or false
• The restrictions on people to be selected as state information.
chief information commissioner or a state • In respect of any other matter relating to
information commissioner are also the same, and requesting or obtaining access to records under
they require the candidates to not be members of this Act.
parliament or members of state legislative • The central public information officer or the state
assembly of any state or UT, and cannot hold any public information officer has to be granted a
other office of profit or be affiliated to any political reasonable opportunity of putting forth his or her
party or be a part of any business or profession. case before any penalty is imposed on him or her.
• The state chief information commissioner and The responsibility of proving the allegations will be
information commissioner are to hold office for upon the Information officers.
five years or up to an age of sixty-five years. • No suit is to be laid against any person for anything
• The state chief information commissioner and done in good faith.
state information commissioner are required to • The provisions of this Act are to have effect not
take oath before the governor. with-standing anything inconsistent therewith
• The terms and conditions of services, and the pays contained in Official Secrets Act, 1923.
and allowances, which apply to the state chief • The Right to Information Act has been continuously
information commissioner, are to be same as that used by the active and aware members of the civil
of an Election Commissioner. The terms of service society to expose corrupt practices in the
and the pays and allowances of the State administration and misappropriations of the funds
Information Commissioner are to be same as that sanctioned for the execution of public welfare
of the chief secretary of the state government. schemes.
• The state chief information commissioner of a • Mrs Aruna Roy, a social activist and winner of
state information commissioner ain resign by Magsaysay Award, is actively associated with the
writing to the President, in a manner similar to that task of popularising Right to Information Act
of the CIC and ICs. They can be removed from their among the common masses of the country.
office by the order of the governor on the ground, • Arvind Kejriwal won the Magsaysay Award for
in cases where misbehaviour is proved, or where popularising Right to Information Act among the
the said person is incapable to hold office. They can people
States Seats
Andhra Pradesh 11
Assam 7
Bihar 15
Chhattisgarh 5
Goa 1
Gujarat 11
Haryana 5
Himachal Pradesh 3
Jammu and Kashmir 4
Tharkhand 6
Karanataka 12
Kerala 9
Madhya Pradesh 11
Maharashtra 19
Manipur 1
Meghalaya 1
Nagaland 1
Odisha 10
Punjab 7
Rajasthan 10
Sikkim 1
Tamil Naidu 18
Telengana 7
Tripura 1
Urtara Pradesh 31
Uttarakhand 3
West Bengal 16
Delhi 3
Puducherry 1
Arunachal Pradesh 1
Mizoram 1
Total 233
Union Territories
47th Chief Justice of India • Among the union territories, Delhi alone has a high
court of its own.
Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde, has been appointed as
• The other six Union territories come under
the 47th Chief Justice of India (CJI). by the President of
jurisdiction of different state high courts.
India. As per convention, outgoing CJI Ranjan Gogoi
• The chief justice of a high court is appointed by the
recommended the name of Justice Bobde, the most
President in consultation with the chief justice of
senior judge of the Supreme Court as his successor. The
India and the governor of the state.
Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme
• All the high courts have the power of
Court are appointed by the President under clause(2)of
superintendence over all courts within its
Article 124 of the Constitution.
jurisdiction.
High Court • A judge in the high court retires at the age of sixty-
• There are 24 high courts in the country, four having two.
jurisdiction over more than one state. • The jurisdiction as well as the laws administered by
• Bombay High Court has the jurisdiction over a high court can be altered both by the union and
Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and state legislature.
Daman and Diu. • The high court’s like those are Bombay, Calcutta
• Guwahati High Court which was earlier known as and Madras have original and appellate
Assam High Court has the jurisdiction over Assam, jurisdictions. Under the original jurisdiction suits
Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. where the subject matter is valued at Rs. 25,000 or
• Punjab and Haryana High Court has the jurisdiction more can be filed directly in the high court.
over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. • Most high courts have only appellate jurisdiction.
• Hyderabad High Court has jurisdiction over Andhra • Working under the guidance of the Supreme Court,
Pradesh and Telangana. the high courts are generally the last court of
regular appeal.
©AKS IAS www.aksias.com 30
M.S.Shashank
• The high courts of Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and
Delhi enjoy original jurisdictions beyond a certain
financial limit (For instance Rs. 20 lakh and above
in case of Delhi).
Jurisdiction and Seat of the High Court • Established at Agra. Shifted to Allahabad in 1875
• Lahore High Court established in 21 March 1919.
• Originally it was known as the Assam High Court,
The jurisdiction covered undivided Punjab and
later renamed as Guwahati High Court in 1971.
Delhi. On 11 August 1947 a separate high court of
• Originally known as the Mysore High Court, later
Punjab was created having its seat at Shimla under
renamed as Karnataka High Court in 1973.
the Indian Independence Act 1947 which had
• Originally known as Punjab High Court, later
jurisdiction over Haryana. In 1966 after the re-
renamed as Punjab and Haryana High Court in
organisation of the Punjab High Court was
1966.
©AKS IAS www.aksias.com 31
M.S.Shashank
designated as the High Court of Punjab and was facing impeachment proceeding for his tenure as
Haryana. The Delhi High Court was established on Chief Justice of Karnataka.
31 October 1966 with its seat at Shimla.
Saumitra Sen: Calcutta High Court judge Saumitra Sen
• Originally known as the High Court of Assam and
resigned from his post before his impeachment motion
Nagaland, renamed as Guwahati High Court in
was expected to be taken up by the Lok Sabha on 5
1971 by the North East Areas (Reorganisation) Act,
September 2011, after the Rajya Sabha voted in favour
1971.
of it two weeks ago.
• Srinagar is the summer capital; Jammu is the
winter capital. The Subordinate Courts
• The High Court of Travancore-Cochin was
inaugurated at Ernakulam on 7 July 1949. The state This segment of the Indian judicial system comprises:
of Kerala was formed by the State Reorganisation District Court
Act, 1956. That Act abolished the Travancore-
Cochin High Court and created the Kerala High 1. It is empowered to hear the appeals from courts
Court. Moreover, the Act also extended the of original civil jurisdiction besides having original
jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court to civil jurisdiction under many enactments.
Lakshadweep. Composition of District Court
• Under the Government of India Act, 1935 by letters
patent dated 2 January 1936, a high court was The highest court in each district is that of the district
established at Nagpur for the central provinces. and sessions judge. The district court is the principal
After the re-organisation of the states, this high courr of civil jurisdiction, this is also a court of sessions
court was shifted to Jabalpur in 1956. - triable cases are tried by the sessions court, it has the
power to impose any sentence including Capital
New High Court of Andhra Pradesh punishment.
• President of India issued orders for the creation of • There are many other courts subordinate to the
a separate high court for Andhra Pradesh, which court of district and sessions judge.
will start functioning from 1 January 2019 from • There is a three-tier system of courts:
Amravati.
• After the creation of Telangana, the high court of (1) On the civil side, at the lowest level is the court of
the two states was functioning from Hyderabad. . civil judge (junior division).
With the creation of the new high court, the
(2) On criminal side the lowest court is that of the
country will have 25 high courts.
judicial magistrate.
• According to the notification issued by the Law
Ministry, Justice Ramesh Ranganathan, who is at (3) Civil judge (junior division) decides the civil cases of
present the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand high small pecuniary stake.
court, will head the new high court.
(4) Judicial magistrate decides the criminal cases that
• It will have 15 other judges besides the chief
are punishable with an imprisonment of up to five
justice.
years.
Impeachment Against Judge
• At the middle of the hierarchal there is the court of
V. Ramswami: Impeachment proceedings were started civil judge senior division) on the civil side and the
in the Lok Sabha in 1990 against the Chief Justice of court of the chief judicial magistrate on the
Punjab and Haryana Court, Justice V. Ramswami for criminal side. Civil judge senior division) con decide
misconduct (financial). In voting on 10, 11 May 1993, civil cases of any valuation,
the impeachment resolution could not be passed. • There are many additional courts of additional civil
judge (senior division). The jurisdiction of these
P.D. Dinakaran: Chief Justice of Sikkim PD. Dinakaran
addition courts is the same as that of the principal
resigned from his post on 29 July 2011, ahead of the
courts of civil judge (senior division)
commencement of the removal proceedings in Rajya
• The chief judicial magistrate can try cases which
Sabha by the three-member panel. Justice Dinakaran
are punishable with imprisonment for a term up to
Quasi-Judicial System
Comptroller and Auditor-General of
• This appendage to the Indian judicial system is a
recent attempt on the part of the government to
India
expedite the judicial process by diluting • Mr. Shashikant Sharma took over as the
procedural formalities and avoidance of litigation. Comptroller and the Auditor-General of India on
• Tribunals from an indispensable part of this May 2013. He is the 12th CAG of India.
system that are appointed by the government and • Article148 provides for an independent office of
comprise of judge and expert on the particular the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. He is
field for which the tribunal has been constituted. the head of the Indian audit and accounts
Industrial tribunals pertaining primarily to labour department.
disputes may be taken as an instance. • He is appointed by the President of India for a term
of six years or up to an age of sixty-five years,
Alternative Dispute Resolution whichever is earlier
The advent of Alternative Dispute Resolution system in • The CAG, before taking over his office, makes and
India, which comprises the methods such as subscribes before the President an oath or
arbitration, conciliation and negotiation, has simplified affirmation to carry out the duties of his office
the concept and the procedure of justice delivery fuithfully, and to uphold the Constitution and the
system in India. law.
• He can be removed by the President on the basis
• In consonance of the UNCITRAL agreement of a resolution passed to that effect by both the
parliament came out with a Central Act houses of the parliament with special majority,
(Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996) to either on the ground of proved misbehaviour or
consolidate the law relating to domestic that of incapacity:
arbitration, international commercial arbitration
and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards as also Duties and Powers of the Comptroller and Auditor
to define the law relating to conciliation & matters General of India
connected therewith. • Article 149, the Constitution of India. Authorises
• Arbitration may be defined as a private the parliament to prescribe the union and of the
determination of controversial issues by a third states and of any other authority or body.
neutral party (arbitral tribunal), who is employed • Accordingly, the Parliament of India enacts the
to create a binding award. audit in the central government.
©AKS IAS www.aksias.com 33
M.S.Shashank
• The CAG audits the accounts related to all • About 1200 public commercial enterprises
expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India controlled by the union and the state
and the public account of India in both central and governments, i.e. government companies and
the state level. corporations.
• He or she audits the receipt and expenditure of all • Around 400 non-commercial autonomous bodies
the bodies and authorities substantially financed and authorities owned or controlled by the union
from the central or state revenues, government or the states.
companies and other corporation and bodies when • Over 4400 authorities and bodies are substantially
so required by related laws. financed from union or suite revenues.
• He or she advices the President with regard to the
Promulgation of Ordinance (Article 123)
prescription of the form in which the accounts of
the centre and the states shall be kept. According to the Constitution of India the President
• He or she submits his or her audit report relating to promulgates the ordinance when one or both the
the accounts of the centre to President and relating houses of the parliament are not in session and he is
to the accounts of a state to the governor." satisfied that there exists a situation that demands
• He or she compiles and maintains the accounts of immediate legislation. An ordinance promulgated
state government as the separation of central seizes to be in operation at expiry of six weeks after the
government accounts took places. parliament approves the ordinance. If the houses
• He or she audits all transactions of the central and reassemble on different days then the six-week period
state government related to debt, sinking funds, is calculated from the date on which the second house
deposits, advances, suspense accounts and reassembled.
remittance in business,
• He or she audits the accounts of any other STATE LEGISLATURE
authority also on a request of President or the
• Part VI of the Constitution from Article 168 to
governor
Article 212 deals with the functions, the
• He or she thus acts as a guide, friend and a
composition and the organisation of state
philosopher to the public accounts committee of
legislature.
the Parliament.
• In every state there is a legislature, which consists
Independence of CAG of governor and one or two houses as the case may
be.
• CAG is appointed by the President but he or she
• Two houses, namely, the legislative council and
does for hold office in accordance with the
legislative assembly, are in existence in the states
procedure mentioned in the parliament.
of Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka.
• He or she is not eligible for further office, either
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
under the Government of India or of any of the
• In the remaining states, there is only one house
states, after he or she cases to hold his or her
known as the legislative assembly.
office.
• Parliament may, by law. provide for the abolition
• The Parliament determines his or her salary and
of an existing legislative council.
other service conditions.
• The administrative expenses of the office of CAG Governor
are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India. • The state executive consists of the governor and
• No minister can be called upon to take any the council of ministers with the chief minister as
responsibility for any action done by the CAG. The its head. The governor is the chief executive of the
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India is not state.
represented by any minister of the parliament. • Like the President he or she is the nominal
The organisation subjects to the audit of the executive head. He or she also acts as an agent of
Comptroller and Auditor General of India are: the central government.
• Article 153 says that there should be a governor for
• All the union and state government departments each state.
and offices including Indian railways and posts and • According to the Constitution (Seventh
telecommunications Amendment) Act of 1956, the same person may
©AKS IAS www.aksias.com 34
M.S.Shashank
sometimes be appointed as governor of two or • He or she advices the President on the issue of the
more states. failure of the constitutional machinery, and
• According to Article 155, the governor is appointed recommends for the imposition of the President's
by the President by warrant under his or her hand rule in the state concerned.
and seal. His or her usual term of office is five years • He or she can use his or her discretion while
but he or she holds office during the pleasure of exercising the functions as the administrator of an
the President. adjoining union territory (in case of an additional
• The Constitution lays down the two qualifications charge).
for the appointment of a person as the governor. • He or she seeks the information from the chief
• According to the Article 157, the person opting for minister with regard to ad ministrative and
the governorship should be a citizen of India and legislative matters of the state.
should have completed 35 years of age. • Some of the governors may have to discharge
• The governor cannot be the member of either certain special responsibilities also under Articles
house of the parliament or any of the state 371(A) to 3710).
legislatures. • Under Article 371 A of the Constitution, the
• The governor cannot hold any office of profit. Governor has special responsibility in the case of
• The chief justice of the concerned high court Nagaland, with respect to the law-and-order
administers the oath of office to the governor of situation in the state. While it is required of him or
that state. her to discuss matters with and consult the council
• The governor can be transferred from one state to of ministers regarding matters of law and order, at
another by the President. the same time, the Governor has the discretion to
• He or she can resign at any time by addressing his exercise individual judgement on the action to be
or her resignation to the President, taken.
• The legislature of a state does not have any role in • Similarly, in respect to Arunachal Pradesh, the
removing the governor from his post. governor has a special responsibility under the
• In case, the same person is appointed as the Article 371H of the Constitution with respect to law
governor of two or more states, the President of and order and in discharging of his or her functions
India determines the emoluments and the in relation there to. These are, however, temporary
allowances payable to him or her in proportion to provisions.
the States concerned. • Similarly in the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya,
Tripura and Mizoram, where the Sixth Schedule is
Constitutional Position
applicable, as it is noted in paragraph 20 of that
• As the President in the central level, the governor schedule, the governor is granted discretionary
in the state level exercises his or her powers and powers in matters regarding the sharing of
functions with the aid and the advice of the council royalties between the district council and the state
of ministers headed by the chief ministers government. Additional discretionary powers are
• However, the governor can act on his or her also wested in the gove Mizorain and Tripura,
wisdom and discretion in certain case as are courtesy the Sixth Schedule, in almost all their
mentioned below: functions save for approving regulations for levying
• The governor can appoint a new chief minister in a taxes and lending money to the non-tribals by the
situation where no single party or leader district councils. since December 1998.
commands majority support. • In Sikkim, the governor has been given a special
• He or she can dissolve the assembly on the advice responsibility for the peace, social and the
of the chief minister who has lost majority support. economic advancement of the different sections of
• He or she can dismiss 1 ministry where the ministry population.
refuses to resign even after losing majority • In Maharashtra, establishment of separate
support. development boards for Vidarbha and
• The governor can act in his or her discretion in the Marathwada
case of reservation of a bill for the consideration of • In Gujarat, establishment of separate development
the President and he or she can give or withhold boards for Saurashtra and Kutch.
assent to the bills, return a bill for reconsideration.
©AKS IAS www.aksias.com 35
M.S.Shashank
Table 3.9 Parliamentary Committees
• Pardons, reprieves, respire and remissions of a • Exclusive powers over subjects which are
punishment can be granted by the governor. He enumerated in List II of the seventh schedule of the
can also suspend, remit and commute the Constitution are maintained by the State
sentence of any person convicted of any given Legislature along with concurrent powers over
offence against any law, which pertains to a matter those enumerated in the list III
to which the executive power of the state extends. • Financial powers of the legislature include
• He or she is consulted by the President while authorisation of all expenditure, taxation and
appointing the judges of the concerned State high borrowing by the state government.
courts. • The power to originate money bills rests solely with
• He or she makes appointments, postings and the Legislative Assembly. Recommendations can
promotions of the district judges in consultation be made by the Legislative Council in respect of the
with the state high court. changes which it considers as required within a
• He or she also appoints persons to the judicial time limit of fourteen days of the receipt of money
service of the state (other than the district judges) bills from the assembly. The Legislative Council's
in consultation with the state high court and the recommendations can be cither accepted or
service commission. rejected by the Legislative Assembly.
Term Definition
Committee Means a committee constituted under
Article 243S
District Means a district in a state
Metropolitan Area This refers to an area which consists of a
population of ten lakh or more people, which
comes under one or more districts. It also has
at least two or more municipalities or
panchayats or other contiguous areas, which
are specified by the governor, or through
public notification, to be a metropolitan area
for the purposes of this part.
Municipal Area Means the territorial area of a municipality
as notified by the governor
Municipality Means an institution of self-government
constituted under Article 243Q
Panchayat Means a panchayat constituted under Article
243B
Population Means the population as ascertained at the
last preceding census of which the relevant
figures have been published.
ARTICLE 243ZC: PART NOT TO APPLY TO CERTAIN ARTICLE 243ZE: COMMITTEE FOR METROPOLITAN
AREAS PLANNING
• Nothing in this part shall apply to the scheduled • There shall be constituted in every metropolitan
areas referred to in clause (1), and the tribal areas area a metropolitan planning committee to
referred to in clause (2), of the Article 244 prepare a draft development plan for the
• Nothing in this part shall be construed to affect the metropolitan area on a whole.
functions and powers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill • The legislature of a state may, by law, make
Council constituted under any law for the cime provision with respect to:
being in force for the hill areas of the district of o The composition of the metropolitan
Darjeeling in West Bengal. planning committees
• Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the o The manner in which the seats in such
parliament may, by law, extend the provisions of committees shall be filled provided that
this part of the scheduled arcus and the tribal areas not less than two-thirds of the members of
referred to in clause (1) subject to such exceptions such Committed shall elected by, and from
and modifications as may be specified in such law, amongst the cleared members of the
and no such law shall be deemed to be an municipalities and chairpersons of the
amendment of the constitution for the purposes of panchayats in the metropolitan are in
Article 368. proportion to the ratio between the
population of the municipalities and that
ARTICLE 243ZD: COMMITTEE FOR DISTRICT PLANNING of the panchayats in that area.
• There shall be constituted, in every stare at the o The representation in such committees of
district level a district planning committed to the Government of India and the state
consolidate the plans prepared by the panchayats government and of such organisations and
and the municipalities in the district and to prepare institutions as may be deemed necessary
a draft development plan for the district on a for Carrying out the functions assigned to
whole. such committees.
• The legislature of a state may, by law, make • The chairperson of every metropolitan planning
provision with respect to committee shall forward the development plan, as
o The composition of the district planning recommended by such committee, to the
committees government of the stare.
Term Definition
District Means a district in the state
Gram Sabha A Gram Sabha refers to a body which consists of people who are
registered in the electoral rolls pertaining to a village, which comes
under the area of the panchayat at the village level
Intermediate Level Means a level between the village and district specified by the
governor of a state by public notification to be the intermediate level
for the purposes of this part
Panchayat Means an institution (by whatever name called) of self-government
constituted under Article 243B, for rural areas
Panchayat Area Means the territorial area of a panchayat
Population Means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of
which the relevant figures have been published
Village This refers to a village which is specified by the governor of the state
through public notification to be a village for the purposes of this part
and a group of villages so specified also come under it.
Distribution of Legislative Subjects Taxes Levied by the Centre but Collected and
Appropriated by the States (Article 268)
Union List
• Stamp duties on bills of exchange. cheques,
• The Parliament has exclusive powers to make
promissory notes, policies of insurance,
laws with respect to any of the matters
transfer of shares and others,
enumerated in the Union List.
• Excise duties on medicinal and toilet
• This list has at present 100 subjects (originally
preparations containing alcohol and narcotics.
97 subjects) like defence, banking, foreign
• Service Tax Levied by the Centre and Collected
affairs, currency, atomic energy, insurance,
and Appropriated by the Centre and the States
communication, inter-state trade and
(Article 268A)
commerce and so on. Service Tax is the latest
• This category includes taxes levied on the
addition (2003).
services.
State List • These are levied by the Centre and principles
of their collection and appropriation are
• Scare legislature has 'in normal circumstances
formulated by the Parliament
exclusive powers to make laws with respect to
any of the matters enumerated in the State Taxes Levied and Collected by the Centre but
List. Assigned to the States (Article 269)
• This list has at present 61 subjects (originally
• Taxes on the sale or purchase of goods (other
66 subjects) like public order and police, public
than newspapers) in the course of inter-state
health and sanitation, agriculture, prisons,
trade or commerce.
local government, fisheries
• Taxes on the consignment of goods in the
Concurrent List course of inter-stare trade or commerce.
• Both the Parliament and state legislature can Taxes Levied and Collected by the Centre but
make laws with respect to any of the matters Distributed between the Centre and the States
enumerated in the Concurrent List. (Article 270)
• However, in case of a conflict between the
• Duties and taxes referred to in Articles 268,
Central law and the law on a subject
268-A and 269.
enumerated in this list, the Central law prevails
• Surcharge on taxes and duties referred to in
over the state law.
Article 271 and any cess levied for specific
• This list has at present 52 subjects (originally
purposes.
47 subjects) like criminal law and procedure,
civil procedure, marriage and divorce, forests, Surcharge on Taxes and Duties for Purposes of
education, economic and social planning, the Centre (Article 271)
drugs, newspapers, books and printing press
• The Parliament can, at any time, levy the
and others.
surcharges on taxes and duties referred to in
• The 42nd amendment Act of 1976 transferred
Articles 269 and 270.
five subjects to concurrent list from State list,
• The proceeds of such surcharges go to the
i.e. (a) education, (b) forests, (c) weights and
Centre exclusively. In other words, the states
measures, (d) protection of wild animals and
have no share in these surcharges.
birds and (e) administration of justice,
constitution and organisation of all courts
except the Supreme Court and the High Court.
Composition
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES