TNPSC Master

List of National and Regional Political Parties in India: 

             This listing is according to the Indian general election, 2014 and Legislative Assembly elections and any party aspiring to state or national party status must fulfil at least one of the concerned criteria. In addition, national and state parties have to fulfill these conditions for all subsequent Lok Sabha or State elections, or else they lose their status. As per latest publication from Election Commission(13th Dec 2016 and 5 May 2017), the total number of parties registered was 1841, with 7 national, 49 state and 1785 unrecognized parties

In India, only 6 parties were recognized as national parties by 2016, but this number has now become 7 due to the recognition of Mamta Banerjee's party 'All India Trinamool Congress' as a national party in 2016.

List of National and Regional Political Parties in India: Download PDF: 

TNPSC: Commission and Functionaries (Short Notes for all competitive Exams)
1. The Election Commission
2. Comptroller and Auditor General of India
3. Finance Commission
4. Union Public Service Commision

1. The Election Commission

The Election commission as an autonomous, Quasi-junidicial and a constitutional body, was established for purposes of fair and free elections set up on January 2, 1950 under article 324 of the Constitution.

2. Comptroller and Auditor General of India 

3. Finance Commission

4. Union Public Service Commision.

India - Democracy

Meaning of Democracy: The term democracy was first used by Herodutus nearly 2500 years ago

Democracy is term derived from two the Greek words "Demos" and "Cratia"

Demos - The People

Cratia - The Power or Rule

Abraham Lincoin: According to Abraham Lincoin, ' Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people'. 

Prof. Seeley: According to Prof. Seeley, ' Democracy is a government in which everyone has a share'

How many Types of Democracy

1. Direct Democracy: People directly participate in the functioning of the government. In ancient India, Village panchayat system was functioning based on Direct Democratic norms.

2. Indirect Democracy: The representatives are duly elected by the people. Most of the countries in the world follow indirect democracy.

Importance of Democracy

Democracy assures people certain fundamental rights as it is a government chosen by the majority of the people.

Political Parties: Classfication of the Party System

1. Single Party System: Example - China and Cuba

2. Two-party of Bi- Party System: Example - USA (The Rupublic Party and the Democratic Party) and England (The Labour Party and the Conservative Party

3. Multi- Party System: Example - France and India

Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties: Download as PDF Click Here

The Constitution of India aims to establish not only political democracy but also socio-economic justice to the people to establish a welfare state. With this purpose in mind, our Constitution lays down desirable principle and guidelines in Part IV. These provisions are known as the Directive Principle of State Policy

Therefore, the Fundamental Duties were inserted in Article 51A of our Constitution in 1976 by 42nd Amendment Act. In the original Constitution in 1950, there was no mention of these duties. It was expected that the citizens would fulfill their duties willingly. 

Directive Principles of State Policy Directive Principles of State Policy are in the form of instructions/guidelines to the governments at the center as well as states. Though these principles are non-justiciable, they are fundamental in the governance of the country. The idea of Directive Principles of State Policy has been taken from the Irish Republic. 

Classification Of The Directive Principles

Directive Principles of State Policy have been grouped into four categories. These are: 

(i) The economic and social principles, 

(ii) The Gandhian principles, 

(iii) Principles and Policies relating to international peace and security and 

(iv) miscellaneous

i. The economic and social Principles

The state shall endeavour to achieve Social and Economic welfare of the people by:

(1) providing adequate means of livelihood for both men and women.

(2) reorganizing the economic system in a way to avoid concentration of wealth in few hands.

(3) securing equal pay for equal work for both men and women.

(4) securing suitable employment and healthy working conditions for men, women and children.

(5) guarding the children against exploitation and moral degradation.

(6) making effective provisions for securing the right to work, education and public assistance in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement.

(7) making provisions for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.

(8) taking steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of undertakings etc.

(9) promoting education and economic interests of working sections of the people especially the SCs and STs.

(10) securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities.

(11) making efforts to raise the standard of living and public health.

(12) providing early childhood care and education to all children until they complete the age of 6 years.

ii. The Gandhian Principles

There are certain principles, based on the ideals advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. These

Principles are as follows : -

(1) To organize village Panchayats.

(2) To promote cottage industries in rural areas.

(3) To prohibit intoxicating drinks and drugs that are injurious to health.

(4) To preserve and improve the breeds of the cattle and prohibit slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and drought animals.

iii. Directive Principles of State Policy Relating To International Peace And Security :

India should render active cooperation for world peace and security and for that the state shall endeavour to : -

(1) promote international peace and security.

(2) maintain just and honourable relations between nations.

(3) foster respect for international laws and treaty obligations.

(4) encourage settlements of international disputes by mutual agreement.

iv. Miscellaneous

The Directive Principles in this category call upon the state : -

(1) To secure for all Indians a uniform civil code.

(2) To protect historical monuments.

(3) To save environment from pollution and protect wild life.

(4) To make arrangements for disbursement of free legal justice through suitable legislation.

Directive Principles : Universalisation of Education, Child Labour and Status of Women

Universalisation of Education

The percentage of literate people at the time of independence was only 14%. Our government realized the  importance of education and laid stress on the spread of literacy among the masses. Due to increased number

of drop outs at the primary stage, the number of illiterates between 15 to 35 years of age

has constantly increased.

According to National Policy on Education, 1986, the government has launched NationalLiteracy Mission, and ‘Operation Blackboard’ for the spread of mass literacy at primary stage. 

The Directive Principles providing free and compulsory education for children up to the age of 14 years has been included through the 86th Amendment Act, 2002 in the list of Fundamental Rights under Article 21A

Child Labour

Status of Women

Fundamental Duties

Duties Enlisted

(i) To abide by the Constitution and respect our National Flag and National Anthem.

(ii) To follow the noble ideals that inspired our national freedom movement.

(iii) To protect the unity and integrity of India.

(iv) To defend the country when the need arises.

(v) To promote harmony and brotherhood among all sections of the people and to respect the dignity of women.

(vi) To preserve our rich heritage and composite culture.

(vii) To protect and improve our natural environment including forests, rivers, lakes and wildlife.

(viii) To develop scientific outlook and humanism.

(ix) To protect public property and not to use violence.

(x) To strive for excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity. New Addition

(xi) Clasue (K) Art 51A Amendment Act 86th 2002.

(K) “a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education of his child or as the case

may be ward between the age of six and fourteen years.

Fundamental Rights

Fundamental Rights have been incorporated in part III of our Constitution from article 14- 32. These rights protect and safeguard the dignity and status of the citizens. These rights are justiciable i.e. are enforceable by the court of law.

1. The rights, which are enshrined in the Constitution, are called ‘Fundamental Rights’.  Fundamental Rights as one of the salient features of the Constitution. In this lesson, we will discuss in detail various Fundamental Rights which are incorporated in chapler III of the Constitution.

2. In our Constitution, Fundamental Rights are enumerated in Part III from Article 14 to 32. These rights are justiciable.

3. Seven Fundamental Rights were enshrined in the Constitution of India. However the Right to Property was removed from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment Act of the Constitution in the year 1976. Since then, it has been made a legal right. There are now six Fundamental Rights.

The Fundamental Rights are: -

1. Right to Equality

2. Right to Freedom

3. Right against Exploitation

4. Right to Freedom of Religion

5. Cultural and Educational Rights, and

6. Right to Constitutional Remedies.

4. Recently by the 86th Amendment Act, the Right to Education has been included in the list of Fundamental Rights as part of the Right to Freedom by adding Article 21(A).

Right To Equality

Right to Equality means that all citizens enjoy equal privileges and  opportunities. It protectthe citizens against any discrimination by the State on the basis of religion, caste, race, sex, or place of birth. Right to Equality includes five types of equalities.

a. Equality Before Law

b. No Discrimnation on Grounds of Religion, Race, Caste, Sex, Place of Birth or any of them

c. Equality Of Opportunity In Matters Of Public Employment

d. Abolition of Untouchability

e. Abolition of Titles

Right To Freedom

a. Six Fundamental Freedoms: The Constitution guarantees the following six Fundamental Freedoms:

(i) Freedom of speech and expression.

(ii) Freedom to assemble peacefully without arms.

(iii) Freedom to form associations or unions.

(iv) Freedom to move freely throughout the territory of India.

(v) Freedom to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India.

(vi) Freedom to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.

{Note: These freedoms can be suspended during the State of National Emergency. As soon as the State of National Emergency is declared under Article 352, the above-mentioned freedoms except the right to life and liberty, automatically remain suspended as long as the State of National Emergency continues.}

b. Protection in Respect of Conviction for An Offence

c. Protection of Life and Personal Liberty

e. Prevention against Arbitrary Arrest and Detention

{Note: Preventive Detention: When the State feels that a person is likely to commit crime or is a threat to the security of the State, he/she may be detained without trial for a limited period. However, no person can be kept under detention for more than three months until permitted by an Advisory Board consisting of persons who are qualified to be appointed as judges of the High Courts. Such a board is presided over by a sitting judge of a High Court}

f. Right to Education: By the 86th Amendment Act of the Constitution a new article 21-A has been added after Article 21. By this Amendment Act, Right to Education has been made a Fundamental Right and has been deleted from the list of Directive Principles of State Policy.

Right against Explotation

The people of India were exploited not only by the British but also by the money lenders and zamindars. This system was called forced labour. Right against exploitation prohibits all forms of forced labour as well as traffic in human beings . The violation of this provision is an offence punishable under law. 

Right to Freedom of Religion

India is a multireligious state. Besides Hindus, there are Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and many others residing in our country. The Constitution guarantees to every person freedom of conscience and the right to practice and propagate any religion

Cultural and Educational Rights

India is a vast country with diversity of culture, Script and languages. People take pride in their own language and culture. Our constitution provides necessary guarantees to preserve maintain and promote their culture and language. The Constitution allows minorities to establish and maintains educational  institutions of their own. It also provides that the state shall not discriminate against any educational institution while granting financial aid on the grounds that it is being run by a minority community.

Right To Constitutional Remedies

Part III of our Constitution provides for legal remedies for the protection of these rights against their violation by the State or other institutions/individuals. It entitles the citizens of India to move the Supreme Court or High Courts for the enforcement of these rights. The State is forbidden from making any law that may be in conflict with the Fundamentals Rights.

The Constitution empowers the Supreme Court and High Courts to issue orders or writs as mentioned in the box given below

HABEAS CORPUS; (Latin term) It is an order by the court to the state to produce the person physically before it justify the confinement or release of the person. 

MANDAMUS: (Latin term) It is a command or an order from a superior court to a subordinate court or tribunal or public authority to perform its duty in case it is not doing it.

PROHIBITION: It is an order issued by the Superior Court to forbid a subordinate court or tribunal from proceeding with a case which is beyond its jurisdiction.

QUO WARRANTO: This writ is issued to restrain a person from acting in a public office to which he /she is not entitled.

CERTIORARI : The term certiorari means “to be informed of what is going”. It is an order to a lower court from a superior court to transfer the matter to it or to any other court for deciding the matter.