‭UPSC Prelims Polity Syllabus 2025 Topic Wise‬

‭ olity is a crucial subject in the UPSC Prelims. Candidates should have a clear understanding‬
P
‭of the topics outlined in the syllabus to score well in this section. The following table lists the‬
‭topics and subtopics for the UPSC Prelims Polity Syllabus 2025:‬

‭Topic‬ ‭Subtopics‬

‭1. Indian Constitution‬

‭‬
● ‭ istorical Background‬
H
‭●‬ ‭Making of the Constitution‬
‭●‬ ‭Salient Features‬
‭●‬ ‭Preamble‬
‭●‬ ‭Parts, Articles, and Schedules‬
‭●‬ ‭Amendments‬
‭●‬ ‭Basic Structure Doctrine‬
‭●‬ ‭Evolution and Significance‬

‭2. Fundamental Rights‬

‭‬
● ‭ ature‬
N
‭●‬ ‭Enforceability‬
‭●‬ ‭Fundamental Rights vs. Directive Principles‬
‭●‬ ‭Amendments and Judicial Interpretations‬
‭●‬ ‭Issues and Challenges‬
‭●‬ ‭Important Articles‬
‭●‬ ‭All terminologies, such as Liberty, Equality,‬
‭Privacy, etc.‬

‭ . Directive Principles of State‬

3
‭Policy‬ ‭‬
● ‭ ature and Scope‬
N
‭●‬ ‭Relationship with Fundamental Rights‬
‭●‬ ‭Significance in Policy Formulation‬
‭●‬ ‭Implementing Mechanisms‬
‭●‬ ‭Classification of DPSP‬
‭●‬ ‭New DPSP’s‬
‭4. Fundamental Duties‬
‭‬
● ‭ onstitutional Provisions‬
C
‭●‬ ‭Significance‬
‭●‬ ‭Criticisms and Recommendations‬
‭●‬ ‭Swaran Singh Committee and Verma Committee‬
‭recommendations‬

‭5. Union Government‬

‭‬
● ‭ resident‬
P
‭●‬ ‭Vice President‬
‭●‬ ‭Prime Minister‬
‭●‬ ‭Council of Ministers‬
‭●‬ ‭Parliament‬
‭●‬ ‭Lok Sabha‬
‭●‬ ‭Rajya Sabha‬
‭●‬ ‭Parliamentary Committees‬
‭●‬ ‭Speaker and Deputy Speaker‬
‭●‬ ‭Parliamentary Procedures‬
‭●‬ ‭Powers and Functions‬

‭6. State Government‬

‭‬
● ‭ overnor‬
G
‭●‬ ‭Chief Minister‬
‭●‬ ‭Council of Ministers‬
‭●‬ ‭State Legislature‬
‭●‬ ‭Legislative Assembly‬
‭●‬ ‭Legislative Council (where applicable)‬
‭●‬ ‭Speaker and Deputy Speaker‬
‭●‬ ‭State Council of Ministers‬
‭●‬ ‭State Executive‬
‭●‬ ‭Powers and Functions‬
‭7. Local Government‬
‭‬
● ‭ anchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)‬
P
‭●‬ ‭Municipalities‬
‭●‬ ‭73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments‬
‭●‬ ‭Decentralisation of Power‬
‭●‬ ‭Rural and Urban Governance‬
‭●‬ ‭PESA‬

‭8. Constitutional Bodies‬

‭‬
● ‭ lection Commission‬
E
‭●‬ ‭Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)‬
‭●‬ ‭State Public Service Commissions‬
‭●‬ ‭Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)‬
‭●‬ ‭Attorney General of India‬
‭●‬ ‭Advocate General of the State‬
‭●‬ ‭Appointment, Removal, Powers and Function,‬
‭and Other Important Provisions of these bodies.‬

‭9. Non-Constitutional Bodies‬

‭‬ N
● ‭ ational Human Rights Commission (NHRC)‬
‭●‬ ‭National Commission for Women (NCW)‬
‭●‬ ‭National Commission for Scheduled Castes‬
‭(NCSC)‬
‭●‬ ‭National Commission for Scheduled Tribes‬
‭(NCST)‬
‭●‬ ‭National Commission for Backward Classes‬
‭(NCBC)‬
‭●‬ ‭CBI, CVC, CIC, Lokpal, ED, NHRC, NDC, NITI‬
‭Ayog, etc.‬

‭ 0. Special Provisions for SC,‬

1
‭ST, OBC‬ ‭‬
● ‭ onstitutional Safeguards‬
C
‭●‬ ‭Reservation Policies‬
‭●‬ ‭Implementation and Challenges‬
‭●‬ ‭Important Articles‬
‭11. Constitutional Amendments‬
‭●‬ K ‭ ey Amendments Such As 1, 7 , 24, 38, 42, 44,‬
‭69, 86, Etc.‬
‭●‬ ‭Challenges and Debates‬
‭●‬ ‭Recent Amendments and their Implications‬

‭12. Judiciary‬
‭‬
● ‭ tructure of the Judiciary‬
S
‭●‬ ‭Supreme Court and Its Power‬
‭●‬ ‭High Courts and Its Powers‬
‭●‬ ‭Subordinate Courts and Its Powers‬
‭●‬ ‭Judicial Review and Judicial Activism‬
‭●‬ ‭Public Interest Litigation (PIL)‬
‭●‬ ‭Judicial Independence‬
‭●‬ ‭Appointment, Removal, Transfer, and‬
‭Qualification of Judges.‬

‭13. Federalism‬
‭‬ N
● ‭ ature and Evolution of Indian Federalism‬
‭●‬ ‭Distribution of Powers‬
‭●‬ ‭Center-State Relations ( Administrative,‬
‭Legislative and Financial)‬
‭●‬ ‭Interstate Relations‬
‭●‬ ‭Role of Finance Commission‬

‭14. Emergency Provisions‬

‭‬ T
● ‭ ypes of Emergencies‬
‭●‬ ‭Effects on Fundamental Rights and Federal‬
‭Structure‬
‭●‬ ‭Proclamation, Duration, and Revocation‬
‭●‬ ‭Important Articles and Key Amendments.‬
‭15. Administrative Tribunals‬
‭‬
● ‭ ole and Functioning‬
R
‭●‬ ‭Significance in Administrative Justice‬
‭●‬ ‭42 Constitutional Amendment Act and Tribunals.‬
‭●‬ ‭Hierarchy of Tribunals.‬
‭●‬ ‭CAT and SAT‬

‭ 6. Public Policy and‬

1
‭Governance‬ ‭‬
● ‭ olicy Formulation and Implementation‬
P
‭●‬ ‭Good Governance‬
‭●‬ ‭Citizen Charters‬
‭●‬ ‭Right to Information (RTI) Act‬
‭●‬ ‭Government Schemes and Programs‬

‭17. Electoral Reforms‬

‭‬
● ‭ lectoral System in India‬
E
‭●‬ ‭Electoral Laws and Reforms‬
‭●‬ ‭Election Commission and its Role‬
‭●‬ ‭Money Power and Criminalization in Politics‬

‭18. Constitutional Interpretation‬

‭‬
● ‭ octrine of Basic Structure‬
D
‭●‬ ‭Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Restraint‬
‭●‬ ‭Public Interest Litigation (PIL)‬
‭●‬ ‭Recent Landmark Judgments‬
‭19. Current Affairs‬
‭●‬ R ‭ ecent political and governance challenges such‬
‭as executive decisions, law enforcement,‬
‭electoral processes, etc.‬
‭●‬ ‭Challenges in the distribution of authority, tax‬
‭policies, allocation of funds, administrative‬
‭restructuring, coalitions politics, relationships‬
‭between central and state governments‬
‭●‬ ‭Instances of corruption, bureaucratic hurdles,‬
‭and efficiency in public service delivery‬
‭●‬ ‭Interactions between parliament and state‬
‭assemblies‬
‭●‬ ‭The oversight role of the judiciary includes‬
‭interventions from both the Supreme Court and‬
‭various High Courts.‬

‭20. Important Articles‬ ‭ to 50 Articles, Articles of Parliament, Emergency‬

1
‭Provisions, Panchayat, Constitutional Bodies, President,‬
‭Governor, etc.‬