Indian Polity & Constitution
🔒 Log in to trackThe Constitution — its making, Preamble, Parts and Schedules, Rights, the three organs of government, amendments and constitutional bodies. CGL consistently asks 3-4 factual one-liners here, the single most predictable GA block.
One page per subtopic: detailed notes, every question type, formulas, tricks and practice sets.
Every formula on one printable page, grouped by subtopic.
4 exam-level questions worked step by step.
105 questions — untimed practice or a timed test with analysis.
Track record in the exam
Questions per shift in recent SSC CGL papers.
Test difficulty mix (105 questions)
Question patterns exams keep repeating
Taken from previous-year papers. If a pattern is marked "very common", expect to see it in your exam.
Match articles, schedules and amendments
very commonFour pairs are given, and the fully correct set is picked.
Learn the Schedules: 8th = languages, 9th = protected laws, 10th = anti-defection, 11th = panchayats, 12th = municipalities.
Test each pair; one wrong pair removes options.
Which pair is correct? (a) Tenth Schedule – Municipal subjects (b) Eleventh Schedule – Panchayat subjects (c) Ninth Schedule – Languages (d) Eighth Schedule – Anti-defection
(a) Tenth Schedule is anti-defection, so wrong
(b) Eleventh Schedule has the panchayat subjects, so right
(c) Ninth is protected laws, (d) Eighth is languages, so both wrong
Answer (b)
Constitutional posts: tenure and removal
very common"Who appoints X?", "how is X removed?" or "what is X's tenure?"
CEC and CAG hold office for 6 years or till age 65, whichever comes first.
The CEC and the CAG are removed like a Supreme Court judge.
For how long does the Comptroller and Auditor-General hold office?
The term is 6 years from joining
Or until age 65
Whichever comes first
6 years or age 65
Features borrowed from other countries
very commonA feature (DPSP, joint sitting, residuary powers) is named, and the source country is asked.
USA = fundamental rights, judicial review, impeachment. Ireland = DPSP. Britain = parliamentary system.
Canada = strong Centre, residuary powers. Australia = concurrent list, joint sitting.
From which country did India borrow the idea of residuary powers with the Union?
Residuary powers cover subjects not listed anywhere
In India they go to the Union
This idea came from Canada
Canada
Which is NOT a Fundamental Right
very commonOptions mix real Fundamental Rights with a legal right like property.
Fundamental Rights are in Articles 14 to 32.
Property is not one; it is a legal right under Article 300A (44th Amendment).
Which is NOT a Fundamental Right? (a) Right against exploitation (b) Right to property (c) Right to constitutional remedies (d) Right to freedom of religion
(a), (c) and (d) are all Fundamental Rights
Property was removed from that list by the 44th Amendment (1978)
It is now a legal right under Article 300A
Answer (b)
Amendment and what it did
very commonAn amendment number is given, and the change is asked (or the reverse).
42nd = Mini-Constitution, 44th = property right removed, 52nd = anti-defection, 61st = vote at 18.
73rd = panchayats, 74th = municipalities, 86th = Article 21A, 101st = GST.
Which amendment reduced the voting age from 21 to 18?
The old voting age was 21
It was cut to 18 in 1989
This changed Article 326
61st Amendment
Committee and its recommendation
common"Which committee recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj?"
Balwant Rai Mehta (1957) = three tiers. Ashok Mehta (1977) = two tiers.
L.M. Singhvi (1986) = constitutional status for panchayats.
Which committee first recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj system?
The three tiers are village, block and district
The report came in 1957
The committee head was Balwant Rai Mehta
Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
Polity statements: pick the correct ones
very commonTwo or three numbered statements about an institution or procedure are given.
Look for one clearly wrong statement first.
Known false lines: "nominated MPs vote for the President", "joint sitting for Money Bills".
- A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. 2. The Rajya Sabha can amend a Money Bill. Which are correct?
1: Money Bills start only in the Lok Sabha, so true
2: The Rajya Sabha can only suggest changes, not amend, so false
Only the first is true, so Statement 1 only
Writs and ordinances
commonA situation (illegal detention, stalled duty) asks for the writ, or an ordinance rule is asked.
Habeas corpus = illegal detention, mandamus = duty not done, quo warranto = right to an office, certiorari = quash a lower court order.
Ordinance: Article 123 (President), Article 213 (Governor).
When does an ordinance issued by the President stop working if not approved?
Article 123 lets the President issue it when Parliament is not sitting
Parliament must approve it after it meets
If not approved, it ends 6 weeks after Parliament meets again
Six weeks after Parliament reassembles