Polity Basics

INDIAN POLITY
BOOKLIST
 Polity NCERT Books for UPSCPolity: NCERT
Class IX – Political Science: Democratic Politics
Part – I
 Polity: NCERT Class X – Political Science:

Democratic Politics Part – II
 Polity: NCERT Class XI – Political Science:

Indian Constitution at Work
 Polity: NCERT Class XI – Political Science:
Political Theory
 Polity: NCERT Class XII – Political Science I:

Contemporary World Politics
 Polity: NCERT Class XII – Political Science II:

Politics in India since Independence
 For Polity: Class 9 to 12 NCERT books should be

read in detail, with a focus on 11th and 12th (of
which World Politics, only if time permits).
TOPICS FOR THE DAY
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION
 SALIENT FEATURES OF THE

CONSTITUTION
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 Regulating Act 1773
 First time the British Parliament resorted to

regulate the affairs of the East India Company.
 The Governor of Bengal was made the Governor-
General of Bengal (Warren Hastings).
 An Executive Council of the Governor-General
was created with 4 members.
 Centralised the administration with the
Presidencies of Madras and Bombay being made
subordinate to the Bengal Presidency.
 Supreme Court was established at Calcutta as
the Apex Court in 1774.
 Prohibited company officials from engaging in
private trade and from accepting gifts from
Indians.
PITT’S INDIA ACT 1784
 Commercial and political functions of the

company separated. The Court of Directors
managed the commercial activities while the
Board of Control managed political affairs.
 The company territories in India were called

‘British possession in India’.
 Governor’s Councils were set up in Madras and

Bombay as well.
CHARTER ACT 1813
 This act ended the East India Company’s

monopoly over trade with India. Trade with India
was open to all British subjects.
CHARTER ACT 1833
 Governor-General of Bengal was designated the

Governor-General of India (Lord William
Bentinck).
 The legislative powers of the Bombay and
Madras Presidencies were removed.
 This act ended the commercial activities of the
company and it was transformed into an
administrative body.
CHARTER ACT 1853
 The legislative and executive powers of the

Governor-General’s Council were separated.
 A Central Legislative Council was created of 6

members out of which 4 were appointed by the
provisional governments of Madras, Bombay,
Agra and Bengal.
 The Indian civil service was opened as a means to

recruit officers for administration through open
competition.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1858
 After the 1857 revolt, the rule of the company

was ended and the British possessions in India
came directly under the British Crown.
 The office of the Secretary of State for India was
created. He was assisted by a 15-member Council
of India.
 The Indian administration was under his
authority and the Viceroy was his agent. The
Governor-General was designated the Viceroy as
well (Lord Canning).
 The Court of Directors and the Board of Control
were abolished.
INDIAN COUNCILS ACT 1861
 Indians were given representation in the

Viceroy’s Councils. 3 Indians entered the
Legislative Council.
 Provisions were made for the entry of Indians in
the Viceroy’s Executive council also as non-
official members.
 Portfolio system was recognised.
 Decentralisation initiated with the presidencies
of Madras and Bombay being restored their
legislative powers.
INDIAN COUNCILS ACT 1892
 Indirect elections (nominations) were introduced.

 Legislative Councils expanded. Gave more
functions to the legislative councils such as the
discussion of budget and questioning the
executive.
INDIAN COUNCILS ACT 1909 (MORLEY-
MINTO REFORMS)
 Direct elections to the legislative councils were

introduced for the first time.
 Central Legislative Council became the Imperial
Legislative Council.
 Number of members of the legislative council was
increased from 16 to 60.
 The concept of separate communal electorate was
accepted.
 For the first time, an Indian was made a member
of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. (Satyendra
Prasad Sinha – Law Member).
(MONTAGUE-CHELMSFORD REFORMS)
 Central and provincial subjects were separated.

 Diarchy was introduced in the provincial
governments with executive councillors being in
charge of the reserved list and the ministers in
charge of the transferred list of subjects.
 The ministers were nominated from among the
elected members of the legislative council and
were responsible to the legislature.
 Bicameral legislature was introduced for the first
time at the centre. (Legislative council and
legislative assembly later to become Rajya Sabha
and Lok Sabha respectively).
 It mandated 3 members of the Viceroy’s executive

council to be Indians.
 This act provided for the first time, the
establishment of a public service commission in
India.
 This act extended the right to vote and with this
about 10% of the population acquired voting
rights.
 An all-India Federation was proposed which

would consist of British India and the princely
states. This never materialised though.
 Subjects were divided between the centre and the
provinces. Centre was in charge of the Federal
List, provinces in charge of the Provincial List
and there was a Concurrent List which both
catered to.
 Diarchy was abolished at the provincial level and
introduced at the centre.
 More autonomy was accorded to the provinces
and in 6 out of 11 provinces, bicameral
legislature was introduced.
 A federal court was established and the Indian
Council abolished.
 Burma and Aden was severed off from India.
 This act provided for the establishment of the
RBI.
 This Act continued until it was replaced by the
new Indian Constitution.
INDIAN INDEPENDENCE ACT 1947
 India was declared independent and sovereign.

 The Viceroy and the Governors were made
constitutional (nominal) heads.
 Set up responsible governments at the centre and
the provinces.
 Assigned both legislative and executive powers to
the Constituent Assembly of India.

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INDIAN POLITY

 Polity: NCERT Class X – Political Science:

 Polity: NCERT Class XI – Political Science:

 Polity: NCERT Class XII – Political Science I:

 Polity: NCERT Class XII – Political Science II:

 For Polity: Class 9 to 12 NCERT books should be

 MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION

 SALIENT FEATURES OF THE

 First time the British Parliament resorted to

 Commercial and political functions of the

 The company territories in India were called

 Governor’s Councils were set up in Madras and

 This act ended the East India Company’s

 Governor-General of Bengal was designated the

 The legislative and executive powers of the

 A Central Legislative Council was created of 6

 The Indian civil service was opened as a means to

 After the 1857 revolt, the rule of the company

 Indians were given representation in the

 Indirect elections (nominations) were introduced.

 Direct elections to the legislative councils were

 Central and provincial subjects were separated.

 It mandated 3 members of the Viceroy’s executive

 An all-India Federation was proposed which

 India was declared independent and sovereign.

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