Miscellaneous - Indian Polity & Constitution

Miscellaneous - Indian Polity & Constitution

Important Quotes and Concepts

• Sir William Ivor Jennings said that "The Directive Principles of the state policy are the only pious aspiration of the noble souls".

Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand 2024

Introduction

• On 11th March, 2024, the President gave her assent to the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024 under Article 201 of the Constitution of India.

• With this, Uttarakhand is the first state in the country after Independence to adopt the UCC.

Purpose of UCC

• Uniform Civil Code is a legal framework aimed at replacing personal laws based on religions and traditions with one common law enforced for everyone regardless of religion, caste, or gender.

Constitutional Provision

• Article 44 (l'art IV) of the Constitution of India clearly states that "State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India".

Draft of Uttarakhand UCC

• Uttarakhand government appointed a panel led by former SC Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai to draft recommendations for UCC.

• The Uttarakhand UCC borrows mostly from the Indian Succession Act, 1925, retaining a majority of the provisions.

Important Constitutional Amendments and Provisions

Key Amendments

• In India, the 44th constitutional amendment was widely believed to be enacted to overcome the judicial interpretations of the fundamental rights.

• Inter Inter-State Council is formed by the President.

• Government of India passed the Act to protect human rights in the year 1993.

• At the national level, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

• Hindu Marriage Act was enacted in the year 1955.

• Ammu Swaminathan became a part of the Constituent Assembly from the Madras Constituency in 1946.

• 88th Amendment to the Constitution of India added a new subject in the Union List called 'taxes on services'.

• The salary and allowances of leaders of the opposition in Parliament are governed by the Act passed in 1977.

• An amendment to the Right to Information Act 2005 proposing that the chief information commissioner and information commissioner be appointed 'for such term as may be prescribed by the Central Government' was passed in 2019.

• The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was passed in the year 2005.

• 86th Amendment Act, 2002, added a new fundamental duty under Article 51-A.

• The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 came into force in 2010.

Democracy and Government

Key Political Facts

• Abraham Lincoln described democracy as Government of the People, for the People, and by the People.

• Collegiate Jurisdiction does not fall under the jurisdiction of the apex court of India.

• Chaudhary Charan Singh had the shortest span in office as the Prime Minister of India.

• Liyaquat Ali Khan was the Finance Minister in the Interim Government.

• Ladakh is the Union Territory formed after the division of the Jammu and Kashmir State, which does not have a legislature of its own.

• The purpose of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, is to grant citizenship to persecuted minority groups of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

• In 2006, a  50% reservation for women in Panchayat bodies was provided in Bihar.

• The 'split system' in the Indian administration relates to the distribution of power between the centre and states.

• Committee on Subordinate Legislation is a Parliamentary Committee relating to the delegation of power to make rules and regulations.

• The Vishakha Guidelines are related to Sexual harassment of women in the workplace.

• On 25th August, 1946, the first Interim National Government was announced.

• The right to constitutional remedies is the fundamental right allowing citizens to move to the court if they believe any of their fundamental rights have been violated by the state.

• The Indian Constitution came into force on Magh Ashtami, Samvat 2006 Vikrami.

• The term "Fourth estate" refers to the press.

• India has a "Flexible and Rigid" type of Constitution.

• Among Aristocratic, Autocratic, Democratic, and Monarchic forms of government, the Democratic form enhances the dignity of citizens.

Roles and Responsibilities

President and Parliament

• President of India addresses his resignation letter to the Vice President of India.

• The President appoints and administers the oath to the Speaker pro tem of the Lok Sabha.

• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court administers the oath of office and secrecy to the President of India.

• The supreme law-making institution in India is the Parliament of India.

Judiciary and Key Events

• Justice Ritu Bahri was on February 4, 2024 sworn in as the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court.

• Uttarakhand Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh administered the oath at Raj Bhavan, Dehradun. Justice Bahri, the first woman Chief Justice in Uttarakhand High Court history, had already served as a senior judge in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

• On 28th January, 2024, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Supreme Court of India in Delhi.

• Unveiling the 75th year Supreme Court, he launched Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi SCR), Supreme Court 2.0, and a bilingual website for the Supreme Court.

Articles and Provisions

Key Constitutional Articles

• Article 243ZD deals with the District Planning Committee.

• The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a state shall not exceed 15% of the total members of the Legislative Assembly, provided that the number shall not be less than 12.

• Article 75 states that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the House of the People.

Financial Provisions

• Vote of Credit is a financial grant given to the Executive to meet urgent financial requirements, details of which cannot be shared ordinarily in a budget.

• Vote on Account deals with the short-term expenditure needs of the Central Government from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Final Thoughts

The evolution of India’s constitutional framework shows how the country balances tradition and modernity. From the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand to landmark acts like the Right to Education Act and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, every reform reflects a step toward social justice and equality.

Knowledge of articles, amendments, and key committees helps us understand how governance ensures citizens’ rights and democratic values. The contributions of leaders, jurists, and constitutional bodies highlight the importance of checks, balances, and accountability.

Together, these elements form the backbone of a system aiming for inclusive growth and the rule of law in a diverse society like India.