Indian Polity for SSC CGL

The Exam and Where Polity Fits

The Staff Selection Commission conducts the Combined Graduate Level examination in two computer-based stages. Tier 1 is a screening test and Tier 2 decides the final merit. General Awareness, which contains polity, appears in both, and because polity facts do not change from year to year, they are among the safest marks in the paper.

Always confirm the exact scheme in the current notice on the Commission's website, since the number of papers in Tier 2 varies by the post applied for.

• Tier 1: 100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes, four sections of 25 questions each: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension.
• Each Tier 1 question carries 2 marks and there is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for a wrong answer.
• General Awareness in Tier 1 is 25 questions and 50 marks, covering polity, history, geography, economy, general science and current affairs. Polity is one of the larger shares.
• Tier 2 Paper 1 includes a General Awareness module in which polity again appears, with a heavier negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer in the main sections.
• Because of the negative marking, attempt a polity question only when you can eliminate at least two options; the facts here are precise enough that confident recall is the goal.
• The source material is the standard account of the Constitution; the NCERT political science textbooks of classes 9 to 12 and Laxmikanth's Indian Polity cover everything the exam asks.

The Constitution and Its Framework

Questions on the making and structure of the Constitution are almost guaranteed. Fix the dates, the numbers and the borrowed features.

• The Constituent Assembly was constituted under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946. Dr Rajendra Prasad was its permanent chairman and Dr B. R. Ambedkar chaired the drafting committee, which is why Ambedkar is called the chief architect of the Constitution.
• The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950. 26 November is observed as Constitution Day and 26 January as Republic Day.
• It took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to frame. The original Constitution had 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules; it now has more than 448 articles and 12 schedules after amendments.
• The Preamble declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic; the words socialist and secular were added by the 42nd Amendment of 1976.
• Borrowed features: the parliamentary system and rule of law from Britain; fundamental rights and judicial review from the United States; directive principles from Ireland; the concurrent list and trade provisions from Australia; emergency provisions from the Weimar Constitution of Germany; and the idea of a federation with a strong centre from Canada.
• The 42nd Amendment of 1976 is called the mini-Constitution because of the scale of its changes.
• Schedules to know: the First lists the states and union territories; the Seventh contains the Union, State and Concurrent lists; the Eighth lists the recognised languages; the Tenth is the anti-defection law added in 1985.

Rights, Duties and Directive Principles

This is the single most heavily tested part of the syllabus. Learn which article covers which right.

• The six fundamental rights are the right to equality (Articles 14 to 18), the right to freedom (19 to 22), the right against exploitation (23 to 24), the right to freedom of religion (25 to 28), cultural and educational rights (29 to 30), and the right to constitutional remedies (32).
• The right to property was removed as a fundamental right by the 44th Amendment of 1978 and made a legal right under Article 300A.
• Dr Ambedkar called Article 32, the right to constitutional remedies, the heart and soul of the Constitution. Under it the Supreme Court can issue the writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari and quo warranto.
• The right to education was added as Article 21A by the 86th Amendment of 2002, making free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 a fundamental right.
• The Directive Principles of State Policy are in Part 4, Articles 36 to 51. They are not enforceable in a court but are fundamental in the governance of the country, and are borrowed from the Irish Constitution.
• The Fundamental Duties are in Part 4A, Article 51A. They were added by the 42nd Amendment of 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee; there were originally 10, and an eleventh was added by the 86th Amendment.
• Article 21, the right to life and personal liberty, has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the rights to privacy, a clean environment, livelihood and a fair trial.

The Three Organs of Government

Questions on the executive, legislature and judiciary turn on offices, terms, and the articles that create them.

• The President is the constitutional head of the union executive, elected indirectly by an electoral college for a five-year term under Article 52 onwards. The Vice President is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• The real executive power rests with the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, which under Article 74 aids and advises the President. The council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• Parliament consists of the President, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States, the upper house, with a maximum of 250 members) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People, the lower house, with a maximum of 552 members). The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body, one third of whose members retire every two years.
• A money bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and only on the President's recommendation; the Rajya Sabha can delay it by only 14 days. The Speaker certifies whether a bill is a money bill.
• The Supreme Court, established under Article 124, is the highest court and the guardian of the Constitution. High Courts are established under Article 214. Judges of the Supreme Court retire at 65 and of the High Courts at 62.
• Judicial review, the power of the courts to strike down laws that violate the Constitution, and the basic structure doctrine, laid down in the Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973, limit Parliament's power to amend the Constitution.
• At the state level the Governor is the constitutional head, appointed by the President, and the Chief Minister heads the real executive.

Constitutional Bodies and Amendments

The independent constitutional bodies and the amendment procedure round out the syllabus and are frequently set.

• The Election Commission (Article 324) conducts elections to Parliament, the state legislatures and the offices of President and Vice President. It is a multi-member body headed by the Chief Election Commissioner.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General (Article 148) audits the accounts of the union and the states and is called the guardian of the public purse.
• The Union Public Service Commission (Article 315) conducts the central civil services examinations. The Finance Commission (Article 280) is constituted every five years to recommend the sharing of taxes between the centre and the states.
• The Attorney General of India (Article 76) is the highest law officer of the union.
• The Constitution is amended under Article 368. Some provisions need a simple majority, most need a special majority of each house, and provisions affecting the federal structure need a special majority plus ratification by half the state legislatures.
• Important amendments: the 42nd (1976), the mini-Constitution; the 44th (1978), which removed the right to property from the fundamental rights; the 61st (1988), which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18; the 73rd and 74th (1992), which gave constitutional status to panchayats and municipalities; and the 101st (2016), which introduced the Goods and Services Tax.
• The three-tier panchayati raj system of village, block and district was recommended by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee and given constitutional status by the 73rd Amendment.

Key Terms

Writ

A formal order issued by the Supreme Court under Article 32 or a High Court under Article 226 to enforce fundamental rights. The five writs are habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari and quo warranto.

Basic structure doctrine

The principle, laid down in the Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973, that Parliament may amend the Constitution under Article 368 but cannot alter its basic structure, such as the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, and judicial review.

Money bill

A bill dealing solely with taxation or government spending as defined in Article 110. It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, the Speaker certifies it, and the Rajya Sabha can delay it by at most 14 days.

Directive Principles of State Policy

Guidelines to the state for making laws and policies, contained in Part 4 (Articles 36 to 51). Borrowed from Ireland, they are not enforceable in court but are fundamental to governance.

Practice Quiz — 20 Questions

1. The Indian Constitution came into force on:

   • A.26 November 1949
   • B.15 August 1947
   • C.26 January 1950
   • D.26 January 1949
   C. 26 January 1950 — It was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950, celebrated as Republic Day.

2. Who is regarded as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution?

   • A.Rajendra Prasad
   • B.B. R. Ambedkar
   • C.Jawaharlal Nehru
   • D.Sardar Patel
   B. B. R. Ambedkar — Dr B. R. Ambedkar chaired the drafting committee and is called the chief architect of the Constitution.

3. The words socialist and secular were added to the Preamble by which amendment?

   • A.The 42nd Amendment
   • B.The 44th Amendment
   • C.The 1st Amendment
   • D.The 73rd Amendment
   A. The 42nd Amendment — The 42nd Amendment of 1976 added socialist, secular and integrity to the Preamble.

4. The idea of Directive Principles of State Policy was borrowed from the constitution of:

   • A.The United States
   • B.Ireland
   • C.Britain
   • D.Canada
   B. Ireland — The Directive Principles were borrowed from the Irish Constitution.

5. Which article is described by Dr Ambedkar as the heart and soul of the Constitution?

   • A.Article 14
   • B.Article 19
   • C.Article 21
   • D.Article 32
   D. Article 32 — Article 32, the right to constitutional remedies, was called the heart and soul of the Constitution.

6. The right to property was removed from the list of fundamental rights by the:

   • A.42nd Amendment
   • B.44th Amendment
   • C.24th Amendment
   • D.86th Amendment
   B. 44th Amendment — The 44th Amendment of 1978 made the right to property a legal right under Article 300A.

7. The right to education was made a fundamental right by inserting which article?

   • A.Article 21A
   • B.Article 15A
   • C.Article 19A
   • D.Article 45A
   A. Article 21A — The 86th Amendment of 2002 inserted Article 21A guaranteeing free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14.

8. The Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution on the recommendation of the:

   • A.Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
   • B.Sarkaria Commission
   • C.Swaran Singh Committee
   • D.Ashok Mehta Committee
   C. Swaran Singh Committee — The Swaran Singh Committee recommended the Fundamental Duties, added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.

9. A money bill can be introduced only in the:

   • A.Rajya Sabha
   • B.Lok Sabha
   • C.Either house
   • D.Joint sitting
   B. Lok Sabha — A money bill originates only in the Lok Sabha, on the President's recommendation; the Rajya Sabha can delay it by 14 days.

10. The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is:

    • A.245
    • B.250
    • C.552
    • D.270
    B. 250 — The Constitution fixes the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha at 250 members.

11. Judges of the Supreme Court of India hold office until the age of:

    • A.60 years
    • B.62 years
    • C.65 years
    • D.70 years
    C. 65 years — Supreme Court judges retire at 65; High Court judges retire at 62.

12. The basic structure doctrine was propounded in which case?

    • A.Golaknath case
    • B.Kesavananda Bharati case
    • C.Minerva Mills case
    • D.Maneka Gandhi case
    B. Kesavananda Bharati case — The Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973 established that Parliament cannot alter the basic structure of the Constitution.

13. The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution contains:

    • A.The list of languages
    • B.The Union, State and Concurrent lists
    • C.The anti-defection provisions
    • D.The list of states and union territories
    B. The Union, State and Concurrent lists — The Seventh Schedule divides powers between the centre and the states through the Union, State and Concurrent lists.

14. The voting age in India was lowered from 21 to 18 years by the:

    • A.61st Amendment
    • B.42nd Amendment
    • C.44th Amendment
    • D.52nd Amendment
    A. 61st Amendment — The 61st Amendment of 1988 lowered the voting age to 18.

15. Which body is known as the guardian of the public purse?

    • A.The Finance Commission
    • B.The Union Public Service Commission
    • C.The Comptroller and Auditor General
    • D.The Reserve Bank of India
    C. The Comptroller and Auditor General — The Comptroller and Auditor General, under Article 148, audits government accounts and guards the public purse.

16. Panchayati raj institutions were given constitutional status by the:

    • A.73rd Amendment
    • B.74th Amendment
    • C.42nd Amendment
    • D.44th Amendment
    A. 73rd Amendment — The 73rd Amendment of 1992 gave constitutional status to panchayats; the 74th did the same for municipalities.

17. The anti-defection law is contained in which schedule?

    • A.Eighth Schedule
    • B.Ninth Schedule
    • C.Tenth Schedule
    • D.Twelfth Schedule
    C. Tenth Schedule — The Tenth Schedule, added by the 52nd Amendment in 1985, contains the anti-defection provisions.

18. Elections in India are conducted by the Election Commission under which article?

    • A.Article 324
    • B.Article 280
    • C.Article 315
    • D.Article 148
    A. Article 324 — Article 324 vests the superintendence of elections in the Election Commission of India.

19. The emergency provisions of the Indian Constitution were borrowed from:

    • A.The United States
    • B.The Weimar Constitution of Germany
    • C.Ireland
    • D.Australia
    B. The Weimar Constitution of Germany — The emergency provisions were inspired by the Weimar Constitution of Germany.

20. Which amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax?

    • A.The 100th Amendment
    • B.The 101st Amendment
    • C.The 99th Amendment
    • D.The 97th Amendment
    B. The 101st Amendment — The 101st Amendment of 2016 introduced the Goods and Services Tax.

References

• Staff Selection Commission, official website — https://ssc.gov.in/
• SSC CGL 2026 exam pattern for Tier 1 and Tier 2 — https://www.pw.live/ssc/exams/ssc-cgl-exam-pattern
• M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, McGraw Hill — https://www.mheducation.co.in/
• NCERT political science textbooks, classes 9 to 12 — https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php
• National Portal of India, the Constitution — https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india