Tables and Terms

Indian Polity NCERT

Tables and Terms

Important Tables

Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on July 24, 1947, the ratio between length and breadth is 3 : 2, consists of strips of three colours – Saffron, White and Green in descending order ; it has a circle of Blue colour in the middle, which has 24 spokes.

National Emblem

Adopted by the Govt. of India on Jan, 1950; taken from Ashoka's Pillar located in Sarnath (Varanasi). The Words ' Satyamev Jayate' from the Mundkopnishad written at th base in Devnagari script.

National Anthem

Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on Jan 24, 1950, recited, for the first time, at the Calcutta Session of the Congress on Dec. 27, 1911, Fifty-two seconds are prescribed for recitation. It is written by Rabindranath Tagore.

National Song

'Bande-matram' taken from 'Anandmath, the famous creations of Aurbindo Ghosh, sung for the first time at the Congress Session in 1896.

National Calendar

Adopted by the Govt. of India on March 22, 1957, based on the Saka era with Chaitra its first month and a normal year of 365 days along with the Gregorian Calendar.

National Animal

The Majestic Tiger (Panthera Tigris) is the National Animal of India. Out of the eight races of species known in the world, the Indian race is Royal Bengal Tiger.

National Bird

Indian Peacock (Pavo Cristatus). It Is Widely Found In South And East Of Indus, J & K, East , Assam, South Of Mizoram And The Whole Of Indian Peninsula. It Is Fully Protected Under The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

National Fruit

Mango, A fleshy fruit, eaten ripe or used green for pickles etc., of the tree Mangifera indica, the mango is one of the most important and widely cultivated fruits of the tropical world, especially in India and hence it is its national fruit. Its juicy pulp is a rich source of Vitamins A, C and D. In India there are over100 varieties of mangoes, in different sizes, shapes and colours. Akbar planted 100,000 mango trees in Darbhanga, known as Lakhi Bagh

National Tree

Banyan Indian national tree is the fig tree, Ficus bengalensis, whose branches root themselves like new trees over a large area. Even today, the banyan tree is the focal point of village life and the village council in most areas meets under the shade of this tree.

National Flower

The Lotus or water lily is an aquatic plant of Nymphaea with broad floating leaves and bright fragrant flowers that grow only in shallow waters.

National Game

Hockey , virtuosity brought India a string of Olympic gold medals. The Golden Era of hockey in India was the period from 1928 - 1956 when India won 6 consecutive gold medals in the Olympics. During the Golden Era, India played 24 Olympic matches, won all 24, scored 178 goals (at an average of 7.43 goals per match) and conceeded only 7 goals. The two other gold medals for India came in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1980 Moscow Olympics

Parts of constitution

Part i

The union and its territory...

Art.( 1-4 )

Part ii

Citizenship...

Art.( 5-11 )

Part iii

Fundamental rights...

Art.(12-35 )

Part iv

Directive principles of state policy...

Art.(36-51 )

Part iva

Fundamental duties...

Art.( 51a )

Part v

The union...

Art.(52-151 )

Part vi

The states...

Art.(152-237 )

Part vii

The states in part b of the first schedule...

Art.( 238 )

Part viii

The union territories...

Art.(239-243 )

Part ix

Panchayats...

Art.(243-243zg )

Part ixa

Municipalities...

Art.(243-243zg )

Part x

The scheduled and tribal areas...

Art.(244-244a)

Part xi

Relations between union and the states...

Art.(245-263 )

Part xii

Finance, property, contracts and suits...

Art.(264-300a )

Part xiii

Trade, commerce and intercourse within the territory of india...

Art.(301-307 )

Part xiv

Services under the union and the states...

Art.(308-323 )

Part xiva

Tribunals...

Art.(323a-323b )

Part xv

Elections...

Art.(324-329a )

Part xvi

Special provisions relating to certain classes...

Art.(330-342

Part xvii

Official language...

Art.(343-351 )

Part xviii

Emergency provisions...

Art.(352-360 )

Part xix

Miscellaneous...

Art.(361-367 )

Part xx

Amendment of the constitution...

Art.( 368 )

Part xxi

Temporary, provisions...transitional and special

Art.( 369-392 )

Part xxii

Text in hindi and repeals...

Art.( 393-395 )

Schedules

First schedule

Articles 1 and 4

I. THE STATES II. THE UNION TERRITORIES

Second schedule

Articles 59(3), 65(3), 75(6), 97, 125, 148(3), 158(3), 164(5), 186and 221

PART A — Provisions as to the President and the Governors of States

PART B — [Repealed.]

PART C — Provisions as to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of a State

PART D — Provisions as to the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts

PART E — Provisions as to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India

Third schedule

Articles 75(4), 99, 124(6), 148(2), 164(3), 188 and 219

Forms of Oaths or Affirmations

Fourth schedule

Articles 4(1) and 80(2)

Allocation of seats in the Council of States

Fifth schedule

Article 244(1)

Provisions as to the Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes

Part A — General

Part B — Administrative and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes

Part C — Scheduled Areas

Part D — Amendment of the Schedule

Sixth schedule

Articles 244(2) and 275(1)

Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in [the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram]

Seventh schedule

Article 246)

List I-Union List (97)

List II-State List (66)

List III- Concurrent List (47)

Eighth schedule

Articles 344(1) and 351

Languages ( 22)

Ninth schedule

Article 31B)

Validation of certain Acts and Regulations

Tenth schedule

Articles 102(2) and 191(2)

Provisions as to disqualification on ground of defection

Eleventh schedule

Article 243G

29 entries , Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats

Twelfth schedule

Article 243W

18 entries , Powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities, etc.

Commissions/ committees constituted for administrative reforms

Chairman

Year

Report

1. N. Gopal Swamy Lyenger

1949

Reorganization plan for Head Offices.

2. A.D. Gorwala

1950-51

Examination of public administration for the implementation of development programmes.

3. A.D. Gorwala

1950-51

Review of administration of public undertakings.

4. Paul H. Appleby

1952

Survey of Indian Administration.

5. Paul H. Appleby

1956

Review of functional Autonomy and policy making in industrial and commercial undertakings.

6. J.B. Kriplani

1955-57

Review of corruption in Railways.

7. Aama Swamy Maddaliar

1956

Merit and recruitment of public services.

8. Morarjee Dasai and

H. Hanumantiah

1966-67

1967-70

Administrative Reforms Commission, It reported Comprehensively on all aspects of Administration.

9. K. Santhanam

1964

Indian and State Public Services and problems of District Administration.

10. D.S. Kothari

1976

Method and procedure of recruitment with respect to higher civil services in India. This Commission recommended the Preliminary Exams in civil services.

11. Dharamvir

1979

National Police Commission.

12. Satish Chandra

1989

Review of examination pattern of civil services. Recommended Eassy paper in the main examination and inclusion of some more subjects in the optional category.

13. Raja J. Chelliah

1991

The Taxation Reforms Committee

14. Ratnavel Pandian

1997

The Fifth Central Pay Commission

15. P.C. Jain

1998

The Commission on Review of Administrative Laws

16. K.P. Geetha Krishnan

2000-01

The Expenditure Reforms Commission

17. M.N. Venkatachaliah

2000-02

The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution

18. P.C. Hota

2004

Committee on Civil Service Reforms

19. Y.K. Alagh

2001

Report of the Civil Service Examination Review Committee

20. Veerappa Molly

2005

Second Administrative Reforms Commission

21. M.M. Punchhi

2007

Second Commission on Centre-State Relations

22. B.N. Srikrishna

2006-08

Sixth Central Pay Commission

23 Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur

2013

Seventh pay commission

Order of precedence

President of India

Vice-President of India

Prime Minister of India

Governors of states (within their respective states)

Former Presidents of India, Deputy Prime Minister

Chief Justice of India, Speaker of Lok Sabha

Former Prime Ministers of India, Cabinet Ministers of the Union, Leaders of Chief Opposition, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission of India, Chief Ministers of States, Holders of the Bharat Ratna decoration

Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and High Commissioners of the Commonwealth of Nations accredited to India, Governors of states (outside their respective states), Chief Ministers of states (outside their respective states)

Judges of the Supreme Court of India, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Chief Election Commissioner of India, Chairman of Union Public Service Commission

Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, Members of the Planning Commission, Deputy Chief Ministers of States, Ministers of State of the Union (and any other Minister in the Ministry of Defence for defence matters)

Attorney General of India, Cabinet Secretary, Lieutenant Governors(within their respective Union Territories)

Chiefs of staff holding the rank of full General or equivalent rank

Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary accredited to India

Chairman and Speakers of State Legislatures within their respective States, Chief Justices of High Courts within their respective jurisdictions

Cabinet Ministers in States within their respective States, Chief Ministers of Union Territories and Chief Executive Councillor of Delhi, within their respective Union Territories, Deputy Ministers of the Union

Officiating Chiefs of Staff holding the rank of Lieutenant General or equivalent rank

Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal, Chairman of Minorities Commission, Chairman of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, Chief Justice of High Courts outside their respective jurisdictions, Puisne Judges of High Courts within their respective jurisdictions

Cabinet Ministers in States outside their respective States, Chairmen and Speakers of State Legislatures outside their respective States, Chairmen of Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, Deputy Chairmen and Deputy Speakers of State Legislatures within their respective States,

Ministers of State in States within their respective States, Ministers of Union Territories and Executive Councillors of Delhi within their respective Union Territories, Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and Chairman of Delhi Metropolitan Council within their respective Union Territories

Chief Commissioners of Union Territories not having Councils of Ministers, within their respective Union Territories, Deputy Ministers in States within their respective States, Deputy Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and Deputy Chairman of Metropolitan Council Delhi within their respective Union Territories

Deputy Chairman & Deputy Speakers of State Legislatures, outside their respective States, Ministers of State in States outside their respective States, Puisne Judges of High Courts outside their respective jurisdiction

Members of Parliament

Deputy Ministers in States outside their respective States

Army Commanders/Vice Chief of the Army Staff or equivalent in other Services, Chief Secretaries to State Governments within their respective States, Coissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Members of Minorities Commission, Members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, Officers of the rank of full General or equivalent rank, Secretaries to the Government of India (including officers holding this office ex-officio), Secretary of Minorities Commission, Secretary of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, Secretary to the President, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary to Rajya Sabha/Lok Sabha, Solicitor General of India, Vice-Chairman, Central Administrative Tribunal

Officers of the rank of Lieutenant General or equivalent rank

Additional Secretaries to the Government of India, Additional Solicitor General, Advocate Generals of States, Chairman of Tariff Commission, Charge Affairs and Acting High Commissioners a pied and adinterim, Chief Ministers of Union Territories and Chief executive Councillor of Delhi outside their respective Union Territories, Chief Secretaries of State Governments outside their respective States, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General, Deputy Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and Deputy Chairman of Delhi Metropolitan Council outside their respective Union Territories, Director of CBI, Director General of BSF, Director General of CRPF, Director of Intelligence Bureau, Lieutenant Governors outside their respective Union Territories, Members of Central Administrative Tribunal, Members of Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, Members of Union Public Service Commission, Ministers of Union Territories and Executives Councillors of Delhi outside their respective rank, Principal Staff Officers of the Armed Forces of the rank of Major General or equivalent rank, Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and Chairman of Delhi Metropolitan Council outside their respective Union Territories

Joint Secretaries to the Government of India and Officers of equivalent rank, Officers of the rank of Major-General or equivalent rank

Salaries and allowances of constitutional dignitaries

Position

Salary/PM

President

Rs. 1,50,000

Vice President/ Chairman of Rajya Sabha

Rs. 1,25,000

Speaker of Lok Sabha

Rs. 1,25,000

Governor

Rs. 1,10,000

Chief Justice of India

Rs. 1,00,000

Judge of SC

Rs. 90,000

Attorney General of India

Rs. 90,000

CAG

Rs. 90,000

Chief Justice of HC

Rs. 90,000

Other Judge of HC

Rs. 80,000

Polity terms

Ad sine die

It is adjournment of the house without fixing its date, day or time of the next meeting.

Administrative law

That part of the law, which is administered not by the ordinary courts but by special tribunals known as administrative courts. These courts only handle those cases in which state is the party. The system is not favoured by some because it makes the state a judge giving verdict in its own case.

Adult suffrage

means that any person who is of certain legally determined age is qualified to be a voter unless he is disqualified under a law made by appropriate legislature (Art 324).

Ambassador and High Commissioner

Envoys to and from commonwealth countries are known as high commissioner while those posted to and from other countries are designated as Ambassadors.

Annual financial statement

A statement made by ministry of finance in the legislature containing the probable income and expenditure of the govt. for any year.

Bill

It is a draft legislative proposal, which on enactment becomes an act and assumes the legal binding.

Breach of Privilege and Contempt of House

The difference lies in the body of persons or the person, which infringes the privileges. When the house collectively or a member individually is prohibited to realize its/his privileges from within it is called breach of privilege (Art 105) and when the same is done by a person outside the house it is called contempt of the house (Art 194).

Call attention motion

By this motion, a member can ask for explanation from the minister on the matters of urgent public importance at short notice. The speaker is free to allow or disallow such a request.

Censure motion

A motion, which may be moved against the individual minister or group of ministers for their failure. It may express regret, indignation of house at such failures.

Charged expenditure

The expenditure from the consolidated fund of India, which is not subject to the approval of the parliament. It includes the salary of the President, speaker, chairman, judges of SC/HC, CAG, etc.

Consolidated fund of india (art 266)

It is the fund, which includes all the revenues, loans and the income received by the govt.

Contingency fund

Constituted in 1950 by an act of parliament. This fund is placed at the disposal of President to make advances to meet the unforeseen expenditure. (Art 267)

Checks and Balances

It is a constitutional arrangement under which the three organs of the state-legislature, executive and the judiciary acts as a check on and thereby keep each other in balance.

Confederation

It is system in which several independent states establish a common govt. for certain purposes, retaining a large degree of autonomy with them. Sometimes the term is also used for organisations from by various pressure groups or interests e.g. Confederation of Indian industries.

Customary law

A custom has the force of law if it is long established and clearly recognized and is not against any statutory law or public policy.

Cut motions

A motion that seeks reduction in the amount of a demand presented by the govt. There are three types of cut motions

1. Disapproval of policy cut: used to express the disapproval of the policy underlying the demand.

2. Economy cut: asks for reduction on the amount of demand by a specific amount.

3. Token cut: is a device to ventilate specific grievances within the sphere of government responsibility.

Delegated legislation

Refers to laws or rules enacted by the executive departments under authority delegated to them by parliament.

Détente

A French term, which means reduction of tension. The term gained currency in the 1960s with regards to the foreign policy processes followed by USA and USSR to ease tension.

Electoral collage

is an intermediary body chosen by the electors to choose their representative in an indirect election.

Excess Demand for Grants

The demands for excess grants are made after the expenditure has been incurred and after the financial year to which it relates has expired. (Art115)

Exceptional grant

is made for a particular or special purpose, which does not form the part of the ordinary expenditure of the financial year. No such demands have yet been presented to the parliament. (Art116)

Federalism

is the device by which the force or authority of the state is divided among a number of coordinate bodies each originating in and controlled by constitution.

Full faith and credit clause

(Art261) states that the judgment and orders of the civil courts which are of final situated in one state can be capable of enforcement in the other state as well. It is not for the criminal judgments.

Guillotine

There are occasions when the time set for a particular measure is already over Inspite of the fact that the discussion on it has not been completed then a vote is taken on the motion before the house to put to vote the rest of measure without discussion. The procedure is called Guillotine.

Human rights

These refer to those inborn rights and privileges, which belong to a person, regardless of constitutional or legal provisions and are available to a person of being a human being.

Judicial review

It is a method by which the superior judicial body can determine whether a legislative measure on the executive action is constitutional or not.

Lame duck session

Refers to the sitting of the elected assembly, which continues in the office during the period between the election and the inauguration of the successor.

Law in Force and Existing Laws

Existing laws include which are actually in force or potentially in operation. The first includes the law actually in force and not those whose operation has been suspended or which have not been extended to certain territories.

National development council

It is an extra constitutional and extra legal body formed in 1952 as an adjunct to the planning commission mainly to associate the states in the planning process.

Natural justice

It implies that an individual has the right to claim certain basic protections in the legal system regardless of the fact whether the statute specifically provides those protections or not.

Natural rights

Those rights, which are considered to be essential for a man to lead a dignified human existence in the society. These rights convert a man into human being. Important rules of natural justice

1. None can be judge in one’s own cause.

2. Both ends must be heard.

3. There should be no bias.

4. The authority must be honest and impartial.

Obiter dictum

It is an observation made by SC/HC judge on legal question suggested by a case before the court and not arising in such a manner as to require decision.

Ombudsman

An officer of the state who protects the rights of the citizens against the state.

Plebiscite

A plebiscite is a direct vote the whole nation or has the people of a region when the entire electorate is given an opportunity to express its opinion on some specific issue. Generally it involves the issue of govt. desired by electorate or transfer of sovereignty.

Point of order

Interruption of debate etc. in the legislature with inquiry whether something being said or done is according to the rules or not. The presiding officer decides whether the point of order raised by member should be allowed.

Primus inter pares

It means first among the equals. Prime minister is described as the first among the equals.

Public account

Money received from any other source (other than deposited in CFI) by the govt. comes under this account. Examples are pension amounts. Provident funds. Govt. can only take a loan from this account.

Referendum

is the practice of submitting a question directly to the vote of entire electorate. Issue involved may be form of govt., on legislative proposal or on policy issue.

Reasonable restriction

A restriction is reasonable only when there is proper balance between the rights of the individual and that of the society.

Rule of law

Absolute supremacy of the regular law as opposed to the influence of power.

Shadow cabinet

It is the body of opposition leaders meeting from time to time and ready to take up office at short notice. It came into existence in 1876 in British parliament and has not yet found roots in Indian polity.

Single transferable vote

This is i form of proportional representation which seeks to ensure representations to various political parties in proportion to their voting strength.

Special mention

It is device to bring to the attention of house and the govt. a matter of urgent public importance that calls for immediate action.

Starred and unstarred questions

A starred question is one to which an oral answer is sought while a written answer is sought for the other.

Statute

Law passed by legislative body and set forth in a formal document. It refers to written as opposed to unwritten law.

Supplementary demand for grants

If the amount sanctioned for a particular service is insufficient during the year, additional amount is sanctioned through this statement. (Art115)

Vote of Credit

In the case of national emergency, house might grant a lump sum without details through vote of credit.

Zero hour

It is the period which follows the question hour when the members raise any issue of public importance on very short notice or without notice. Not recognized under the rules and procedures of the house of parliament.

[1] A national symbol is a symbol of any entity considering itself and manifesting itself to the world as a national community – namely sovereign states, but also nations and countries in a state of colonial or other dependence, (con)federal integration, or even an ethno cultural community considered a 'nationality' despite the absence of political autonomy. National symbols intend to unite people by creating visual, verbal, or iconic representations of the national people, values, goals, or history. These symbols are often rallied around as part of celebrations of patriotism or aspiring nationalism (such as independence, autonomy or separation movements) and are designed to be inclusive and representative of all the peoples of the national community.