General Studies-II

• 23 Jul 2018

(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

• Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.
• 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 and Challenges Therein.
• Separation of Powers between various organs Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries.
• Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.
• Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; Pressure Groups and Formal/Informal Associations and their Role in the Polity.
• Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.
• Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
  Development Processes and the Development Industry — the Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• 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.
• Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger.
• Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability, E-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; Citizens Charters, Transparency & Accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of Civil Services in a Democracy.
• India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
• Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
• Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.
• Important International Institutions, agencies and fora - their Structure, Mandate.

Polity

Indian Constitution

Historical Underpinning & Evolution Regulating Act (1773) to Independence Act (1947) Constituent Assembly Objective Resolution Enactment & Enforcement of Constitution Features Written Flexible & Rigid Federal & Unitary Parliamentary Form of Government (Presidential vs. Parliamentary Type of Government) Amendments List of Significant Amendments & Their Provisions Procedure for Amending Constitution

Significant Provisions Fundamental Rights Directive Principles of State Policy Judicial Review Universal Adult Franchise Single Citizenship Separation of Powers Basic Structure The Doctrine Judgments & Cases

Functions & Responsibilities of the Union and the States
7th Schedule Legislative Functions	Financial Functions Administrative & Quasi-Judicial Functions

Issues & Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure
Federal Structure in India - Is India truly Federal? Cooperative & Competitive Federalism Centre-State Relations Legislative Relations Administrative Relations Financial Relations Trends in Centre-State Relations Inter-State Relations Inter-state Water Disputes	Inter-State Councils Public Acts, Records and Judicial Proceedings Inter-State Trade and Commerce Zonal Councils Emergency Provisions Role of Governor Reports of Various Commissions 2nd ARC, Punchhi, Sarkaria, etc.

Devolution of Powers & Finances to Local Levels & Challenges Therein
Role of State Government Role of State Finance Commission 11th & 12th Schedule	Reasons for Ineffective Performance Panchayat Devolution Index ( NITI Aayog) Steps That Can Be Taken to Improve Their Performance

Separation of Powers Between Various Organs
Doctrine of Separation of Power Separation of Power in Indian Constitution Doctrine of Checks & Balances	Provisions for Checks & Balances in Indian Constitution Related Judgments - Golaknath case, Kesavananda Bharati, Indira Gandhi Vs Raj Narain, Ram Jawaya vs Punjab

Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions
RTI PIL	Tribunals, etc.

Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme With That of Other Countries Parliament & State Legislatures
Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges Written Constitution Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility Federal System with Unitary Bias Parliamentary Form of Government Synthesis of Parliamentary Sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy Integrated and Independent Judiciary Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Duties	Secular State Universal Adult Franchise Single Citizenship Emergency Provisions Three-tier Government Due Process of Law vs. Procedure Established by Law Impeachment of President, etc.

Structure, Organization & Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
Executive 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 & Formal/informal Associations & Their Role in 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

Salient Features of Representation of People's Act

Appointment to Various Constitutional Posts
Appointment, Powers, Functions & Responsibilities of: Election Commission Union Public Service Commission State Public Service Commission Finance Commission National Commission for SCs	National Commission for STs Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities Comptroller and Auditor General of India Attorney General of India Advocate General of the State

Statutory, Regulatory & 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

Governance

Government Policies & Interventions for Development
Government Policies & Interventions in Various Sectors Health, Gender, Education, Poverty, Economic etc Issues Arising Out of Their Design & Implementation Concerns/Issues Suggestions for Improvement Critical Assessment of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) Rationalisation of CSS	Analysis of Main Schemes: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Smart City Swachh Bharat Abhiyan MGNERGA Digital India Make in India Skill India PM Jan Dhan Yojana Start-up India etc.

Development Processes & the Development Industry

Role of Social Capital Organisations Indian Context Classification Provisions for the Third Sector in the Indian Constitution National Policy on the Voluntary Sector 2007 Non-Governmental Organisations Role and Impact of Non-governmental Organizations Issue Areas: Accreditation, Legitimacy & Accountability, Foreign Funding etc. Self Help Groups (SHGs) Need for SHGs Benefits of SHGs Weaknesses of SHGs

Challenges Measures to Make SHGs Effective Case Studies: Kudumbashree (Kerala), Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (Maharashtra) Societies, Trusts and Cooperatives Societies Trust Religious Endowments Cooperatives – Need for Cooperatives Constitutional Provisions National Policy on Co-operatives, 2002 Issues and Challenges in the Cooperatives Sector

Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency & Accountability
Governance Dimensions of Governance Good Governance (GG) Aspects of GG Barriers to GG Necessary Pre-conditions for GG How to Ensure GG E-Governance Applications Models Successes Limitations Potential Recent e-governance Initiatives by Government Citizens Charters (CC) Components of CC	Features of CC Six Principles of CC Shortcomings of CC Measures to Make CC Effective Sevottam Model Aspects of Transparency Elements & Types of Accountability Means to ensure Transparency & Accountability RTI Social Audit Whistleblower Protection Bill Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act

Role of Civil Services in a Democracy

Relationship Between Civil Service And Democracy Role Played By Civil Services Advisory Role in Policy Making Institutionalise Socio-economic change Discharge Delegated Functions Administer Law of the Land Watchdogs Continuity in times of Political Instability Record-Keeping Channel of Communication Ailments/Issues Afflicting Indian Civil Services Lack of Professionalism & Poor Capacity Building Inefficient Incentive Systems Outdated Rules & Procedures Systemic Inconsistencies in Promotion Lack of Adequate Transparency & Accountability Procedures

Arbitrary & Whimsical Transfers Political Interference & Administrative Acquiescence Gradual Erosion in Values & Ethics Redtapism Elitist in Nature Poor Pay Tendency to Capture Power Reforming Bureaucracy to Strengthen Democracy Setting Right the Asymmetry of Power Insulating Civil Servants from Undue Political Interference Professionalisation with Stability of Tenure & Competition Citizen-Centric Administration Accountability Outcome Orientation Promoting Public Service Values & Ethics

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections

Schemes for the Following Vulnerable Sections SCs & STs Minorities Children Elderly Disabled Women Transgender Performance of These Schemes Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions & Bodies Constituted for Protection & Betterment of These Vulnerable Sections SCs: The Protection of Civil Rights Act The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act National Commission for Scheduled Castes Scheduled Castes Sub Plan Disabled: The Rehabilitation Council of India Act The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act

STs: National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Tribal Sub Plan TRIFED Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act Minorities: National Commission for Minorities National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities Women & Children The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act The Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act The Dowry Prohibition Act The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Pre-Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act Gender Budgeting National Policy for Women Domestic Violence Act Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act Elderly Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act

Issues Relating to Development & Management of Social Sector/Services

Health India’s Performance on Various Health Indicators Weaknesses of Indian Healthcare System Health Infrastructure in India Universal Health Coverage 12th FYP Strategy Universal Health Coverage Health Insurance National Family Health Survey National Health Policy National Health Mission Maternal & Adolescent Health Child Health Antimicrobial Resistance Disease Burden in India Measures to Ensure Good Health Outcomes Government Initiatives

Education Status of Literacy in India Education Structure in India Challenges Faced by Education Sector in India Reforms Required Government Initiatives ASER Report Financing Education Subramanian Panel Report Human Resource Need For Skill Development Skill Development Initiatives Challenges in Skilling Landscape in India Shortcomings of Current Skill Development Initiatives Reforms Required Steps that can Be Taken

Issues Relating to Poverty & Hunger
Relation between Poverty & Hunger Distribution of Poverty & Hunger Magnitude & Trends of Poverty & Hunger Causes of Poverty & Hunger Cost/Impact of Poverty & Malnutrition	MDGs & SDGs Food and nutrition insecurity - a consequence of structural inequities Constraints in Reducing Poverty & Hunger Measure to Reduce Poverty & Hunger – National Food Security Act, Mid-day Meal Scheme, MGNREGA etc.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India and its Neighborhood – Relations
India’s Relations With China Pakistan Myanmar Bhutan	Bangladesh Sri Lanka Afghanistan Nepal Maldives

Bilateral, Regional & Global Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests

India’s Major Foreign Policy Doctrines Since 1947 Non-aligned Movement (NAM) Nuclear Doctrine Gujral Doctrine Look East to Act East Think West, etc. Bilateral Relations With Major Powers Like – USA, Russia, Japan Central Asian Countries West Asian Countries African Countries Australia & New Zealand EU & European Countries Latin American Countries Pacific Countries Regional & Global Groupings SAARC BRICS

BBIN & BCIM BIMSTEC IBSA ASEAN & RCEP India-Africa Forum SCO Ashgabat Agreement FIPIC IOR-ARC Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Raisina Dialogue Heart of Asia Conference East Asia Summit G-20 Asian Development Bank National Security Summit Multilateral Nuclear Export Regulatory Regimes: Wassenar, MTCR, Australia Group Asian Development Bank APEC, etc

Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed & Developing Countries on India's Interests
One Belt One Road International North–South Transport Corridor Global Trade War Global Currency War Syrian Crisis UN Reforms	WTO Reforms South China Sea Conflict Brexit Deglobalisation & Protectionism – US Sanctions on Iran, US Pullout from Paris Agreement, H-1B Visa Issue etc. OPEC Oil Prices Manipulation, etc.

Indian Diaspora
Spread of Indian Diaspora India’s Diaspora Policy & Engagement Initiatives OCI Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Know India Programme, etc.	LM Singhvi High Level Committee on the Diaspora Role played by Indian Diaspora Issues Concerning the Diaspora: Dual Nationality Remittances, etc.

Important International Institutions
UN & its Agencies WTO World Bank	IMF World Economic Forum Commonwealth of Nations, etc.