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Indian Polity and Governance Notes with PDF

By October 4, 2025 Educational Resources 0 Comments

These notes are your ultimate revision weapon to revise Indian Polity and Governance. We’ve distilled years of previous exam questions (PYQs) into one powerful, concise resource. Everything you need to know, nothing you don’t.

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  • Free PDF to download.

United Nations (UN)

Foundation and Commemoration

  • The United Nations Organization (U.N.O.) was founded in 1945.
  • United Nations Day is observed on October 24.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

  • The number of permanent members in the UNSC is 5.
  • The five permanent members (P5) are: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • Germany is not a permanent member.
  • The word ‘Veto’ is used under Article 27 of the UN Charter.
  • A permanent member can use its Veto Power to stop a resolution from being passed, even if it has majority support.
  • For a decision on procedural matters, 9 affirmative votes are required. The votes of permanent members are not counted differently for procedural votes.

Leadership and Officials

  • The first African UN Secretary-General was Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
  • The UN Secretary-General who served for the longest period was U Thant.
  • As of the data’s context (2019), the Secretary-General was António Guterres.

Official Languages and Representation

  • The official languages of the UN are: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
  • Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first person to deliver a speech in Hindi at the UN.
  • Before Syed Akbaruddin, Asoke Kumar Mukerji was the Permanent Representative of India to the UN.

UN Conventions and Declarations

  • The ‘Right to the City’ is a human right monitored by UN-Habitat. It includes the right to reclaim public spaces and public participation.
  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights contains 30 articles.
  • The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.
  • The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) assists in implementing both UNCAC and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).
  • A key feature of the UNTOC is a chapter on returning illicitly taken assets to their rightful owners.
  • The ‘Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air’ is associated with the UNTOC, not the UNCAC.

Related Bodies

  • The headquarters of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is in The Hague.
  • Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization (NGO) and is not related to the UN.
  • Prior to Judge R. N. Pathak, the two Indian judges elected to the ICJ were B. N. Rau and Nagendra Singh.

Human Rights

Indian Legislation

  • The Protection of Human Rights Act came into force on September 28, 1993.
  • The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 has a section (15A) that provides for the ‘protection of action taken in good faith’.
  • The concept of Human Rights in India emphasizes the Dignity of Man as a Human Being.
  • The principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are reflected in the Preamble, Directive Principles of State Policy, and Fundamental Duties of the Indian Constitution.
  • The concept of ‘Right to Service’ originated in the United States of America.

Important Days

  • Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10.
  • International Day of Non-Violence is observed on October 2.

Countries and Their Systems

United States of America

  • The Presidential form of Government was first formed in the USA.
  • The concept of a written Constitution was born in the USA.
  • The Electoral College for the U.S. Presidential Election is not comprised of members of the U.S. Congress.
  • “Pivot to Asia” is a strategy of U.S. foreign policy.
  • The intelligence agency of the USA is the C.I.A. (Central Intelligence Agency).
  • Wall Street is a key financial center, but it is not the centre of British newspapers.

United Kingdom

  • The Parliamentary form of Government first developed in Britain.
  • The head of state of the United Kingdom (as per the data) is Queen Elizabeth II.
  • Fleet Street is the traditional centre of British newspapers.

Russia

  • The Parliament of Russia is called the Federal Assembly.
    • The Upper House is the Council of the Federation.
    • The Lower House is the State Duma.
  • The official news agency of Russia is TASS.

China

  • The Chinese Parliament is known as the National People’s Congress.
  • The political leadership in China is known as ‘Princeling’.
  • China’s official news agency is the New China News Agency (Xinhua).

Other Countries & Regions

  • Algeria is home to a prominent Berber-speaking community.
  • Afghanistan was the first country visited by an Indian Prime Minister (Jawaharlal Nehru).
  • The Parliament of Japan is known as the Diet.
  • The government report of France is known as the Yellow Book.

Indian Polity & Governance

Constitutional Provisions

  • Oaths or Affirmations:
    • The President of India swears faith and allegiance to the Constitution.
    • Judges of the Supreme Court swear to uphold the Constitution and the law.
    • Union Ministers swear to secrecy of information and faithful discharge of duties.
  • An Extra-Constitutional Right is a power not in accordance with the Constitution.

Government Bodies & Policies

  • The Planning Commission was called the “Economic Cabinet of India” by Ashok Chandra.
  • Panchsheel (Five Principles) includes:
    1. Mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.
    2. Mutual non-interference in internal affairs.
    3. Peaceful co-existence.
    • Non-alignment is not one of the original Panchsheel principles.
  • A basic element of a citizen charter is NOT “To expect any public record” (this is covered under separate transparency laws).

Aadhaar Scheme

  • Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship or domicile.
  • The Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated by the issuing authority once issued.
  • Aadhaar is mandatory for receiving benefits from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Judiciary

  • The first Indian transgender judge is Joyita Mondal from West Bengal.

Ministries and Awards

  • The independent Ministry for ‘Women and Child Development’ was established in 2006.
  • India’s Foreign Trade Policy falls under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • Chronological order of sports awards inception:
    1. Arjuna Award (1961)
    2. Dronacharya Award (1985)
    3. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (1991-92)
    4. Dhyanchand Award (2002)

International Affairs & Organizations

Agreements and Relations

  • NAFTA is associated with Canada and Mexico. Great Britain is not associated with it.
  • The Pressler Amendment is a US law linking assistance to a country’s nuclear development.
  • Chakma refugees are associated with Bangladesh.
  • An agreement was signed between Israel and the PLO on September 13, 1993.
  • The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been banned by India, Sri Lanka, and the USA.

Intelligence Agencies

  • C.I.A.: United States of America.
  • ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence): Pakistan.
  • Mossad: Israel.

Media by Country

  • Dawn: Pakistan.
  • Fleet Street: United Kingdom.

The Commonwealth

  • The Commonwealth of Nations has no charter, treaty, or constitution.
  • Not all former British territories automatically join; membership is voluntary.

General Knowledge

Terminology

  • The “Fourth Estate” refers to the Press.
  • A Pressure Group is an organized group that seeks to influence government policy (e.g., Trade Union members). Members of the Lok Sabha are part of the government, not a pressure group.
  • A crime where the culprit cannot be punished after the act is committed is Suicide.

Calendars & Days

  • India’s National Calendar is based on the Saka Era (not Vikram Era).
  • It was adopted on Chaitra 1, 1879 Saka Era (March 22, 1950), not January 26, 1950.
  • Kisan Divas (Farmers’ Day) in India is celebrated on December 23.

Agriculture in India

  • The first Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) was established in 1974.

History & Publications

  • The book ‘Gandhian Constitution for Free India’ was authored by Shriman Narayan Agarwal.
  • As of 2016, 22 countries had adopted a Compulsory Voting System.
  • As of 1996, Switzerland was not a member of the UN (it joined in 2002).
  • Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) is a non-governmental international organization, not a UN or WHO agency.

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