MPPSC MAINS 2017 Paper-II

Points to Remember: The Central Information Commission (CIC) and its role in upholding the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Effectiveness of the CIC in addressing citizen grievances and promoting transparency. Challenges faced by the CIC in its functioning and suggestions for improvement. The impact of CIC’s decisions on governance and accountability. Introduction: The Central Information … Read more

Points to Remember: Parliamentary scrutiny of government expenditure. Examination of Demands for Grants. Power to send for persons, papers, and records. Recommendations to improve public expenditure management. Role in promoting financial accountability. Introduction: The Estimates Committee is a crucial parliamentary committee in many countries with Westminster-style parliamentary systems, including India. Its primary function is to … Read more

Points to Remember: Transparency fosters accountability. Transparency builds public trust. Transparency improves efficiency and effectiveness. Transparency combats corruption. Transparency promotes good governance. Introduction: Transparency in administration refers to the open and accessible nature of government operations and decision-making processes. It involves making information readily available to the public, allowing citizens to scrutinize government actions and … Read more

Points to Remember: Impeachment is a process, not a punishment. It requires a majority vote in the House of Representatives and a two-thirds vote in the Senate. Grounds for impeachment are high crimes and misdemeanors. The process involves investigations, hearings, and a trial. There are checks and balances to prevent abuse of the process. Introduction: … Read more

Points to Remember: Article 14: Equality before law Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth Article 16: Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment Exceptions and limitations to the right Judicial interpretations and landmark cases Introduction: The Right to Equality forms a cornerstone of the … Read more

Points to Remember: Lack of independence and autonomy. Inadequate powers and resources. Political interference and bureaucratic hurdles. Lack of public awareness and participation. Delays and backlog of cases. Weak enforcement mechanisms. Introduction: The Lokayukta, meaning “the person who investigates,” is an institution established in many Indian states to investigate allegations of corruption and misconduct against … Read more

Points to Remember: Vertical imbalance of power in resource allocation. Devolution of financial resources and its impact on states’ autonomy. Issues related to tax assignment, sharing, and grants-in-aid. Fiscal federalism and its effectiveness in India. Role of the Finance Commission in mediating disputes. Introduction: Union-State financial relations in India are a complex interplay of constitutional … Read more

Points to Remember: The Governor’s legislative powers are largely formal, not substantive. These powers are exercised in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers. There are specific exceptions where the Governor can exercise independent judgment. The Governor’s role is crucial for maintaining the constitutional balance of power. Introduction: The Governor of a state … Read more

Points to Remember: Unitary Features: Focus on aspects of the Indian Constitution that centralize power. Federal Features: Acknowledge the federal nature of the Indian Constitution to provide context and contrast. Balance of Power: Analyze how unitary elements interact with federal elements to maintain a balance. Evolution: Consider how the unitary aspects have evolved over time. … Read more

Points to Remember: Original Jurisdiction: Cases directly filed in High Court. Appellate Jurisdiction: Appeals from lower courts. Writ Jurisdiction: Issuing writs to protect fundamental rights. Supervisory Jurisdiction: Overseeing lower courts. Introduction: The High Courts in India are the apex courts within their respective states or union territories. They form a crucial part of the Indian … Read more