SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies

Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

Program: B.A., LL. B. (Hons.)- 8101 Semester: I

Module: Political Science I Module Code:
Teaching Scheme Evaluation Scheme
Practical Tutorial Term End
Lecture Internal Continuous
(Hours (Hours Examinations (TEE)
(Hours per Credit Assessment (ICA)
per per week) (Marks- 50
week) (Marks - 50)
week) in Question Paper)
4 0 0 4 Marks Scaled to 50 Marks Scaled to 50
Pre-requisite: Basic understanding of Indian governance and political systems; Basic
understanding of Indian Constitution.
Introduction: The study of the Indian political system is a precursor to understand the socio-
cultural ethos of India and, in continuum, try to bring about a pragmatic knowledge of politico-
legal system that tries to protect and encourage the ethos. The course involves the theoretical and
functional understanding of various major institution of Indian governance system. It is about
how institutions are shaped through interaction with actual politics. The course introduces the
understanding of the relationship(s) between citizen and state, role and objective of separation of
power and checks and balances theory in the conduct of Indian Political System, political behavior,
conduct of political parties in Indian democracy and an assessment of its working.
Course Objectives: After attending this course, the students would be able to;
1: Understand the institutional design and functional dynamics of Indian Political System.
2: Analyze the relationship of different aspects of Indian Political System, structural, formal and
informal.
3: Reflect over various aspects of Indian Political System.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs): After attending this course, students would;
1: Understand various aspects, institutional and functional, of Indian Political System and,
therefore, unable them to analyze the contemporary Indian political system in general and the
process of law-making in India in particular, better. (PLOs 1b & 2b).
2: Demonstrate the ability to analyze the socio-economic conditions of society from the politico-
legal perspective and come out with potential solutions in terms of interdisciplinary research
conducted. (PLOs 2b & 4a).
3: Application of the understanding of political processes and political institutions in bringing
about political approaches to the legislation in India, and also to apply legal approach in bringing
about desirable socio-economic changes in society. (PLOs 2a, 3a & 4b).
Detailed Syllabus and Session Plan
Module Description: Duration
1. Indian Constitution: Features 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Salient Features of Indian Constitution, The Founding
Challenges, The Preamble and Fundamental Rights.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 1 of the Text Book, pp.1-13.
Reading (Advance): Lal Bahadur Shastri, “Reflections on Indian Politics”,
The Indian Journal of Political Science, January—December, 1962, Vol. 23,
No. 1/4 (January—December, 1962), pp. 1-7.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources and Documentary, Socratic
Method, Discussion.
2. Other Important Features of Indian Constitution
Topic Details: Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of 3 Hrs.
State Policy & Federalism.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 1 of the Text Book, pp. 14-21.
Reading (Advance): Mehta, Pratap Bhanu, ‘Who Do You Think You
Are?’, The Indian Express, April 11, 2018. p. 10.
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
3. Form of Government
Topic Details: Parliamentary System (Westminster System) & 3 Hrs.
Amendment Procedure
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 1 of the Text Book, pp. 22-33.
Reading (Advance): Debroy, Bibek, ‘The Anatomy of Equity’, The Indian
Express, April 11, 2018. p. 11.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
4. Indian Constitution and Federalism 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Constitution of India and Federalism & Regionalism vs.
Federalism.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 2 of the Text Book, pp. 35-41.
Reading (Advance): EPW-Engage: ‘India’s Charade of Cooperative
Federalism and State Debt Trap’, 2020.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
5. Indian Federalism 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: The Working of Federalism in India- An Analysis.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 2 of the Text Book, pp. 42-50.
Reading (Advance): M.P. Singh and Douglas V. Verney, ‘Challenges to
India’s Centralized Parliamentary Federalism’, The Journal of Federalism,
33.4 (Fall 2003), pp. 1-20.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
6. Indian Parliament 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Parliament of India, Its composition and its changing
socio-economic profile.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 4 of the Text Book, pp. 82-93.
Reading (Advance): Maansi Verma, ‘Parliaments in the Times of
Pendemic’, EPW, Vol. 55, Issue No. 24, 13 June, 2020. Available at:
https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/24/commentary/parliaments-time-
pandemic.html. As accessed on April 13, 2021.
Kaleeswaram Raj, ‘Politics of Legislation- Undoing Electoral Democracy:
False Claims and Oblique Motives’, Frontline,
https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/when-laws-subvert-the-
constitution-need-for-movement-against-anti-constitutional-
laws/article34244247.ece as accessed on April 11, 2021.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
7. Parliamentary Committees 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Parliamentary Committees & The Working of the
Parliament- An Analysis.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 4 of the Text Book, pp. 94-103.
Reading (Advance): Subhash C. Kashyap. ‘A New Parliamentary
Initiative- Subject-Based Standing Committees of Parliament, Engage-
EPW, https://www.epw.in/journal/1990/40/special-articles/new-
parliamentary-initiative-subject-based-standing-committees as accessed
on April 13, 2021.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
Discussion.
8. Executive 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: The President of India, The Prime Minister of India & The
Council of Ministers.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 3 of the Text Book, pp. 57-66.
Reading (Advance): G. Mohan Gopal, ‘Battles to Control the
Constitution’, EPW, Vol. 54, Issue No. 5, 02 Feb., 2019. Available at
https://www.epw.in/journal/2019/5/book-reviews/battles-control-
constitution.html as accessed on April 12, 2021.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
9. Bureaucracy in India 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Bureaucracy & The Working of the Executive- An
Analysis.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 3 of the Text Book, pp. 67-76.
Reading (Advance): Ashwin, ‘Beech Ka Rasta: Practices in the Indian
Primary Bureaucracy’, EPW, Vol. 51, Issue No. 42, 15 Oct. 2016.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
10. Indian Judiciary 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: The Indian Judiciary, Perspectives of the Constituent
Assembly & Supreme Court of India.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 6 of the Text Book, pp. 129-137
Reading (Advance): Pratap Bhanu Mehta, ‘Judicial Quicksand’, The
Indian Express, April 25, 2018. p. 10.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
11. High Courts and Judicial Review & Judicial Activism 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: High Courts & Judicial Review & Judicial Activism.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 6 of the Text Book, pp. 138-147.
Reading (Advance): A.G. Noorani, ‘The Gag Order’, Frontline, June 09,
2017. Pp. 15-24.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
12. Public Interest Litigation and Appointment of Judges 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Public Interest Litigation, NJAC Debate- The Basic
Structure Doctrine and the Independence of Indian Judiciary.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 6 of the Text Book, pp. 148-162.
Reading (Advance): Baljeet Kaur, ‘Prisoners’ Rights and Values of Indian
Democracy: An Introduction, Engage, Vol. 54, Issue No. 30, 27 July 2019.
https://www.epw.in/engage/article/prisoners%E2%80%99-rights-and-
values-indian-democracy as accessed on April 12, 2021.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method, Discussion
and Guest Lecture.
13. Local Self Governance in India 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Local Self Governance in India, Structure of Panchayati
Raj & Powers and Functions of Panchayats.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 11 of the Text Book, pp. 269-282.
Reading (Advance): Mani Shankar Aiyer, ‘Panchayati Raj at 25’, The
Indian Express, April25, 2018. p. 11.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method, Discussion
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
and Guest Lecture.
14. Women, Marginalized Sections of Society and Rural Governance 3 Hrs.
in India
Topic Details: Role of Women and other Marginalized Section of Society,
Rural Development, Panchayats and the Bureaucracy & Panchayats in
the Era of Globalization.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 11 of the Text Book, pp. 283-291.
Reading (Advance): Engage, ‘India’s Social Justice is Unfulfilled as the
Labour Market remains Gendered, Classist and Casteist’
https://www.epw.in/engage/article/indias-social-justice-agenda-
unfulfilled-labour as accessed on April 10, 2021.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Documentary, Socratic
Method, Discussion.
15. Party System in India 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Indian Party System and its evolution & Coalition Politics
and Pressure Groups.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 9 of the Text Book, pp. 212-217.
Reading (Advance): Pradeep Kaushal, ’Why politicians contest 2 seats,
why EC wants to limit them to 1’, The Indian Express, April 9, 2018. p.9.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
16. Contemporary Trends in Indian Politics 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Elites in Indian Politics, Contemporary Trends in Indian
Party System & Critical Analysis of Electoral Politics in India.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 9 of the Text Book, pp. 218-232.
Reading (Advance): Akshay Deshmane, ‘Mood Swing’, Frontline, April
13, 2018. Pp. 32-34.
V. Sridhar, ‘Viable Bullet Train is an Oxymoron’, Frontline, October 13,
2018. Pp.9-14.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
17. Caste and Indian Politics: 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Caste and Politics in India, Dalit Politics and Reservations
& Social Justice- An Indian Context.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 12 of the Text Book, pp. 294-299.
Reading (Advance): D.L. Seth. 2018. At Home with Democracy. N. Delhi:
Palgrave MacMillan. Pp. 149-168.
Badri Narayan, A Larger Dalit Public Sphere, The Indian Express, April 19,
2018. p. 11.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
18. Religion, Constitution and Indian Politics 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Religion in Indian Politics, Secularism and Indian Politics
&
Constitution of India and Religion/Secularism.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 12 of the Text Book, pp.303-306.
Reading (Advance): D.L. Seth. 2018. At Home with Democracy. N. Delhi:
Palgrave MacMillan. Pp. 217-226.
Hamid Ansari, ‘Making of A Composite Culture’, The Indian Express,
May 4, 2018. p. 11.
Faizan Mustafa, ‘Undo the Wrong’, The Indian Express, April 19, 2018.
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
p.10.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
19. Naxalism in India 3 Hrs.
Topic Details: Naxalism in India, Salva Judum and the political-economy
of Naxalism in India- An Assessment.
Reading (Basic): Chapter- 12 of the Text Book, pp.311-315.
Reading (Advance): D.L. Seth. 2018. At Home with Democracy. N. Delhi:
Palgrave MacMillan. Pp. 87-108.
Amartya Sen, ‘Karl Marx 2:00’, The Indian Express, May 5, 2018. p. 11.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
20. Insurgency and Politics in Jammu and Kashmir & North-Eastern 3 Hrs.
States Topic Details: Insurgency- Article 370/ Abrogation of Article 370
and 35 A & Kashmir, Politics in North Eastern India & The Politics around
AFSPA and The Inner Line Permit.
Reading (Basic). D.L. Seth. 2018. At Home with Democracy. N. Delhi:
Palgrave MacMillan. Pp. 109-120, 255-264.
Reading (Advance): Ghose, Sagarika, ‘The Kathua Mindset’, The Times of
India, April 25, 2018. p. 18.
Sujaat Bukhari, ‘Wrath of Kashmir’, Frontline, August 19, 2016. Pp.4-12.
Pedagogy: ICT Based Knowledge Resources, Socratic Method,
Discussion.
Total Hours 60 Hrs.
Text Book:
Chakravarty, Bidyut & Rajendra Kumar Pandey. 2014. Indian Government and Politics. N. Delhi:
Sage. Revised in 2018.
Reference Books:
Classical:
1- Austin, Granville. 1999. Working of A Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience. N.
Delhi: OUP. (Classical commentary on the evolution of Constitutionalism in India).
2-----------------------.2000 Indian Constitution Cornerstone of a Nation. NY: OUP. First published
in 1999. (Classical commentary on the evolution of Constitutionalism in India).
3- Rudolf & Rudolf. 1987. In Pursuit of Laxmi: The Political Economy of the Indian State.
Hyderabad: Orient BlackSwan. (Classical Reading, relates to the political history of early
fifty years of Indian Politics).
Contemporary:
4- Kohli, Atul & Prerna Singh (Eds.). 2015. Routledge Handbook of Indian Politics. N. Delhi:
Routledge. Latest edition, 2019.
5- Nunes, William, Aruna Kumar Malik and Ravi Saxena. 2015. Political Science-I. N. Delhi:
LexisNexis. Revised in 2018.
6- Singh, M.P. & Rekha Saxena. 2011. Indian Politics: Constitutional Foundations and
Institutional Functioning. N. Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Revised edition, 2018.
7- Sheth, D.L. (Ed.). 2018. At Home with Democracy: A Theory of Indian Politics. N. Delhi:
Palgrave Macmillan.
Useful Internet Sources:
● Economic and Political Weekly:- http://www.epw.in/
● Frontline Magazine:- http://www.frontline.in/
● Seminar:- http://www.india-seminar.com/
● Mainstream Weekly:- http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/
Political Science Quarterly:- https://www.psqonline.org/
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

Any other information:

Details of Internal Continuous Assessment (ICA): 50 Marks

Research Paper: 20 Marks

Seminar: 10 Marks
Viva: 10 Marks
Class Participation: 10 Marks

Signature Signature
(Prepared by Mr. Ravi Saxena) (Approved by Dean)