UPSC Mains Preparation: How to Study Polity - Testbook

When it comes to UPSC examination preparation , Polity is a subject that holds an essential place. It may have seemed like a dry and theoretical subject during your school days, but in reality, it's quite the opposite. Polity is an intriguing subject that plays a critical role in your IAS exam preparation. Let's dive deeper into how to tackle polity for your UPSC exam preparation.

Let's start with the basics. All textbooks will provide you with accurate definitions of government and constitution. This is something you can learn easily. But before that, it's important to grasp a broader definition of politics. In essence, politics is about –

What do you receive?
How do you receive it?
When do you receive it?

But politics is not just limited to these factors. It's also about –

Development: Why are the most resource-rich regions in India also the most impoverished?
Displacement: Why do some people get displaced when a dam is constructed, while others benefit from it?
Unemployment: Why is there persistent unemployment in the country?

Politics even influences your daily life choices such as what you eat, what you wear, etc.

Politics is deeply ingrained in everything. A profound understanding of all these factors will assist you in crafting superior answers in the mains exam.

This article will prove to be extremely beneficial for aspirants preparing for the UPSC 2021 examination.

Candidates can enhance their UPSC exam preparation by attempting UPSC Previous Years Question Papers now!!

To complement your preparation for the upcoming exam, check the following links:

Strategies to Prepare Polity for IAS Exam

The UPSC perspective:

Here are some key areas of Polity to focus on:

Understanding the concept of India:

The Preamble plays a crucial role here. It outlines the kind of nation India is and aims to be.

Comprehending the form of government in India:

The key question here is whether India is a centralised democracy (like the UK) or a decentralised democracy (like the USA). This section involves understanding the dynamics of Centre-state relations.

Understanding the functioning of the government:

This aspect is vital from a UPSC perspective. The three core areas of the government include:

The Executive, The Legislative, and The Judiciary

It's also essential to understand the relationship between all three.

Understanding how the government interacts with its citizens:

In this section, you study how the citizens can keep the government in check.

Understanding the role of civil society in relation to the government.
Understanding the role of NGOs.
Understanding the role of Fundamental Rights (a critical area for the IAS exam).

Understanding how the government is elected:

As India is a democratic country, the process of elections is significant. This section focuses on the Election Commission, its concept, powers, functions, and challenges. Key issues here include:

The phenomenon of Paid News.
The issue of criminalisation in politics.
The funding of political parties.

Understanding the concept of smart governments:

Also, check out –

UPSC Mains Syllabus

Polity Syllabus and Strategy for UPSC Prelims

GS 2 Paper Broad Strategy – INDIAN POLITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND GOVERNANCE

In this section, the focus is on administrative reforms. SMART is an acronym for:

Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive, Transparent

Key issues in this section include:

Right to Information (RTI)
Citizen Charter
Grievance Redressal
E-Governance
Citizen-centric administration

Understanding International Politics:

Apart from internal politics, international politics is also important. This section involves studying India's bilateral relations, stance on various global issues, relations with major powers, immediate neighbours, etc. It also includes how India conducts itself at various global organisations and events.

A look at India's foreign policies over the years:

1961 – Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
1985 – South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
1991 – Look East Policy
2005 – Look West Policy
2012 – Central Asian Policy

Polity should not be studied as a dry theoretical subject but as a practical one. You should try to correlate it with current events and news. For instance, ponder over why certain government schemes are successful while others fail. UPSC asks application-based questions. You should focus on the CONTEXT and not just the TEXT. This approach will help you write superior answers for the mains exam.

Related Links: