Constitution of India and Indian Polity

0.0

There are many authoritative books on India's Constitution, but this book presents the essentials of that huge document in a concise and easy-to-understand language. Cross-references are explained within the text instead of just referring to them briefly in footnotes. Additionally, there are over 20 essays on current political issues ranging from the state of Indian democracy, the judiciary and its activism, corruption, and electoral reforms, to the pros and cons of switching over to a presidential form of governance. Again, this book will meet the needs of many students seeking contemporary critiques of the political system as well those appearing for the Mains in the civil services examination. Table of Contents PART I : A REVIEW OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION The Constitution of India at a Glance     1. Historical Perspective     2. Framing the Constitution     3. Features and Philosophy of the Constitution     4. Territory of the Union and Reorganisation of the States     5. Citizenship     6. Fundamental Rights     7. Directive Principles of State Policy     8. Fundamental Duties     9. The Union Executive     10. The Union Legislature     11. Comptroller and Auditor-General     12. The State Executive     13. The State Legislature     14. The State of Jammu and Kashmir     15. Local Government     16. Union Territories and Special Areas     17. The Judiciary     18. Indian Federalism     19. Emergency Provisions     20. Civil Services and Public Service Commissions     21. Elections     22. Official Language     23. Provisions Relating to Special Classes     24. Amendment of the Constitution     25. Schedules of the Constitution PART II : INDIAN POLITY: TOPICAL ISSUES     1. Reviewing the Constitution     2. Does India Need to Switch Over to the Presidential System of Government?     3. Problems of Governability     4. Role of Neo-Governments in Governance     5. Problems of Nation-Building in India     6. Civil Society: Meaning and Nature     7. Article 356: Scope and Effect     8. Strong Union and Strong States     9. A New Look at the Centre-State Relations     10. Cooperative Trends in Indian Federalism     11. Role of Governors     12. Coalition Government     13. The President and Caretaker Governments     14. Electoral Systems     15. On Communal Electorates     16. Money Power and Elections     17. India’s Electoral System: Maladies and Remedies     18. Issue of Right to Recall Elected Representatives     19. Controversy Over Publication of the Results of Exit Polls     20. On Corruption in Public Life     21. Criminalisation of Politics     22. What Ails Bureaucracy in India?     23. Pressure Groups in India     24. Public Opinion     25. The Issue of Regionalism vis-a-vis Nationalism     26. Do Regional Groupings Threaten Stability?     27. Regional Chauvinism versus Democratic Space     28. Identity Politics in India     29. Changing Trends in Political Parties     30. Regional Parties in India     31. Dynastic Politics: How Democratic?     32. New and Smaller States—How Viable?     33. Expanding Scope of Legislative Power     34. Legislative Privileges and Press Freedom     35. The Status of the Indian Parliament     36. Relevance of The Rajya Sabha     37. Degeneration of Parliament and Need for Code of Conduct     38. Anti-Defection Law: A Remedy or A Malady?     39. The Judiciary: A Review     40. Judicial Activism     41. Judicial Reforms : An Urgent Need     42. The Issue of Delayed Justice     43. The Issue of Judicial Overreach     44. Issue of Judicial Accountability     45. Public Interest Litigation: How Useful     46. The Issue of Reservation     47. Uniform Civil Code     48. Caste and Politics in India     49. The Issue of Good Governance     50. e-Governance     51. Panchayati Raj: A Mid-Term Review     52. Office of Profit Issue     53. Parliament and Judiciary: Issue of Jurisdiction     54. Media and Democracy     55. The Emergency: Test of Indian Democracy     56. Democracy and Social Transformation in India     57. Popular Movements: Emergence and Implications     58. Mob Violence and the Rule of Law     59. Terrorism and Insurgency: Threat to Democracy     60. The Menace of Naxalism     61. Police Reforms: Need of the Hour     62. Prison System and Reforms     63. Should Military Service be made Compulsory?     64. India’s Foreign Policy PART III : GENERAL INFORMATION     1. Jurisdiction and Seats of High Courts     2. Thirteen Lok Sabhas: Polls and Term     3. Officers of the Indian Government     4. Table of Precedence     5. National Insignia     6. Political Parties of India     7. Important Commissions     8. Recent Legislations of Importance     9. Some Important Supreme Court Judgements     10. Political Terminology