Indian Government and Politics-I

Paper Code: 
POL 121
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

The focus of this paper is on the political processes and the actual functioning of the political system in India in the framework for a modern, secular and democratic society and simultaneously discussing the working of select political institutions like the Union Executive, the Parliament and the Judiciary.

12.00
Unit I: 
UNIT 1

Composition of the Constituent Assembly, Framing of India’s New Constitution and its Philosophy, Philosophical Foundations of the Constitution

 

12.00
Unit II: 
UNIT 2

Salient features of the Indian Constitution, Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy, and Federalism

12.00
Unit III: 
UNIT 3

The Union Executive- the President (with special reference to his Emergency Powers) Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers;
The Union Legislature- the Parliament, Parliamentary Committees, Law making process, Parliamentary Procedures
 

12.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT 4

State Executive – The Governor, Chief Minister, Legislature, Union-State Relations

12.00
Unit V: 
UNIT 5

The Indian Judiciary- Supreme Court of India; State High Courts; Judicial Review; Public Interest Litigation (PIL), Judicial Activism

Constitutional Amendments                                    

Essential Readings: 
  • JC Johri, Indian Government and Politics (Vol. I& II), Delhi, Vishal Publications
  • BL Fadia, Indian Government and Politics, Agra, Sahitya Bhawan
  • DC Gupta, Indian Government and Politics, Delhi, Vikas Publishing House
  • WH Morris Jones, The Government and Politics of India, New Delhi, Universal Book Stall
  • RC Agarwal, Indian Political System, New Delhi, Sultan Chand & Sons
  • DD Basu, Shorter Constitution of India, Delhi, Prentice Hall of India

 

References: 
  • Granville Austin, The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation, New Delhi, Oxford University Press
  • Granville Austin, Working A Democratic Constitution, New Delhi, Oxford University Press
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India: DD Basu, Delhi, Prentice Hall of India
  • PC Dahl, Democracy in India: Constraints and Opportunities
  • NC Asthana, Terrorism, Insurgency and Counter insurgency Operations, Jaipur, Pointer Publishers, 2001
  • Iqbal Narain, Secularism in India, Jaipur, Classic Publishing House, 1995
  • AK Majumdar and Bhanwar Singh, Regionalism in Indian Politics, New Delhi, Radha Publications
  • Subash Kashyap, Our Parliament, New Delhi, National Book Trust
  • Nani Palkhiwala, Our Constitution: Defaced and Defiled, Macmilan
Academic Year: 
2016-17
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