GS-II Governance,
Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations
Indian Constitution
Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, features Laxmikanth + 2 articles on Basic Structure
Amendments, significant provisions
Basic structure
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and
the States
Issues and challenges pertaining to the Federal Laxmikanth +
Structure Sarkaria commission +
MM Punchhi commission
Devolution of powers and finances up to the local 2nd ARC report on Local governance
levels and challenges therein Vision IAS notes
Separation of powers between various organs Laxmikanth + Vision IAS notes
Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions Pdf of redressal mechanism(NIOS) + 2nd ARC report-
7 (ch-2,4,5)
Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme Notes of Vision IAS
with that of other countries New Constitutions/reforms being framed/brought
out in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Pakistan
Indian Polity
Parliament and State Legislature- Structure, Laxmikanth and Our Parliament by S. Kashyap
functioning, conduct of business, powers and
privileges & Issues arriving out of these
Structure, organization and functioning of the Laxmikanth + Public institutions in India by Pratap
Executive Bhanu Mehta (ch- 5)
Structure, organization and functioning of the
Judiciary
Ministries and Departments of the Government Arora & Goyal + Vajiram’s notes (volume-1)
Pressure groups and formal/informal associations Laxmikanth + Vajiram’s notes (volume-2) + NIOS
and their role in the Polity Vision IAS notes
Appointment to various Constitutional posts Laxmikanth + Vision IAS notes
2nd ARC report-13:ch-6
Powers, functions and responsibilities of various Public institutions in India by Pratap Bhanu Mehta
Constitutional Bodies (ch- 4, 10)
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial
bodies
Salient features of the Representation of People’s Vajiram’s notes(volume-1) + Vision IAS notes
Act
Government policies and interventions for the Yojana + [Link] (MPR) + Year Book
development in various sectors and issues arising Vajiram’s notes (volume-1)
out of their design and implementation Focus on the schemes being implemented by the
Ministry of Women and Child welfare, Ministry of
Social Justice, Ministry of Rural Development and
Ministry of Tribal affairs.
GS-II Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations
Governance
Important aspects of governance- transparency Vajiram’s notes (volume-1)
and accountability Vision IAS notes
E-governance applications, models, successes, Vajiram’s notes (volume-1), introductory article on
limitations and potential 2nd ARC site and 2nd ARC report on “Promoting e-
Governance: The SMART Way Forward
Citizen Charters, transparency and Vajiram’s notes (volume-1)
accountability and institutional and other Vision IAS notes
measures
Role of Civil Services in a democracy Vajiram’s notes (volume-1)
Vision IAS notes
Social Justice
Development processes and the development Vajiram’s notes (volume-1)
industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups Vision IAS notes
and associations, donors, charities, institutional Planning commission’s report on SHGs
and other stakeholders Article on NGOs
Welfare Schemes for vulnerable sections of the Vajiram’s notes (volume)
population by the Center and States and the Vision IAS notes
performance of these schemes Economic survey, [Link]
Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies Vajiram’s notes (volume-1)
constituted for the protection and betterment
of these vulnerable sections
Issues relating to development and Vajiram’s notes (volume-1)
management of Social Sector/Services relating
to Health, Education and Human Resources
Issues relating to poverty and hunger Vajiram’s notes (volume-1), Economic survey
Vision IAS notes
International Relations
India and its neighborhood- Relations [Link] – Briefs on Foreign relations
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and News
agreements involving India and/or affecting
India’s interests
Effect of policies and politics of developed and News
developing countries on India’s interests
Indian Diaspora Vision IAS Notes
Important International Institutions, agencies IR by Peu Ghosh
and fora – their structure and mandate
GS-II Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations
Food security bill, PDS reform, Poverty reduction schemes, Poverty-line controversy, Malnutrition
figures, report on malnutrition(remember HungMa report?
Different committees and commissions
1) Committee on Prevention of Corruption (K Santhanam)
2) 1st ARC reports
Problems of Redressal of Citizens’ Grievances (1966)
Administration of Union territories and NEFA (1969)
Centre-State Relations (1969)
Reserve Bank of India (1970)
3) Committee on Panchayati Raj Institutions (Ashok Mehta) (1978)
4) Commission on Centre-State Relations (R.S. Sarkaria) (1983-88)
5) National commission on review of the Working of the Constitution (Venkatachaliah) (2000-02)
Laxmikanth Chapter-71
6) Committee on Civil Services reforms (PC Hota) (2004)
7) 2nd ARC reports (2005-09) -- Gist of reports by upscportal
8) Second Commission on Centre-State Relations (M M Punchhi) (2007-10)
IR- [Link] --- Briefs on foreign relations
[Link] Indira avas yojana
Regulatory bodies – 2nd ARC report -13
2nd ARC report – 7 “Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution
Internal Security
Ch-3 Left Extremism
Ch-9 Religious Conflicts
Ch-11 regional Disparities
Ch-12 Conflicts in North East
Conflict resolution
Ch-2 Conflict resolution- A Conceptual Framework
GS-II Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations
Ch-4 land related issues
Ch-5 Water related issues
SC and ST
Ch-6 Issues Related to SCs
Ch-7 Issues Related to STs
