Polity

The President acquires the following extraordinary powers when the President’s Rule is imposed in a state: He can take up the functions of the state government and powers vested in the governor or any other executive authority in the state. He can declare that the powers of the state legislature are to be exercised by … Read more

. NITI Aayog has been entrusted with the role to co-ordinate ‘Transforming our world:  the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ (called as SDGs). Moving ahead from  the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), SDGs have been evolved through a long  inclusive process for achievement during 2016-2030. The SDGs cover 17 goals and 169 related targets resolved in … Read more

. The Constitution defines the territorial limits of the legislative powers vested in the Centre and the states in the following way: The Parliament can make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India. The territory of India includes the states, the union territories, and any other area for the time … Read more

The federal features of the Constitution of India are explained below: Dual Political structure The Constitution establishes a dual polity consisting the Union at the Centre and the states at the periphery. Each is endowed with sovereign powers to be exercised in the field assigned to them respectively by the Constitution. Written Constitution The Constitution … Read more

The question whether Fundamental Rights can be amended by the Parliament under Article 368 came for consideration of the Supreme Court within a year of the Constitution coming into force. In the Shankari Prasad case  (1951), the constitutional validity of the First Amendment Act (1951), which curtailed the right to property, was challenged. The Supreme … Read more

Article 368 in Part XX of the Constitution deals with the powers of Parliament to amend the Constitution and its procedure. It states that the Parliament may, in exercise of its constituent power, amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any provision of the Constitution in accordance with the procedure laid down for the … Read more

In spite of criticisms and opposition, the fundamental duties are considered significant from the following viewpoints: They serve as a reminder to the citizens that while enjoying their rights, they should also be conscious of duties they owe to their country, their society and to their fellow citizens. They serve as a warning against the … Read more

The Directives have been criticised mainly because of their non-justiciable character. While K T Shah dubbed them as ‘pious superfluities’ and compared them with ‘a cheque on a bank, payable only when the resources of the bank permit. Critics has contended by saying that principles are ‘no better than the new year’s resolutions, which are … Read more

Article 21 declares that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. This right is available to both citizens and non-citizens. In the famous Gopalan case (1950), the Supreme Court has taken a narrow interpretation of the Article 21. It held that the protection under … Read more

The Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution are characterised by the following: Some of them are available only to the citizens while others are available to all persons whether citizens, foreigners or legal persons like corporations or companies. They are not absolute but qualified. The state can impose reasonable restrictions on them. However, whether such … Read more