Polity, Governance and Current Affairs
429 key terms for this subject — each defined in plain language, with where it helps in the exam and a link to the study note it comes from.
- 26/11
Mumbai terrorist attacks Nov 2008; LeT; 166 killed; triggered NIA
Read the study note →- Advisory Jurisdiction
SC's power to give opinion on Presidential reference (Article 143)
Read the study note →- AFSPA
Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958; special powers in disturbed areas
Read the study note →- Algorithmic polarisation
Social media algorithms driving outrage and division through engagement optimisation
Read the study note →- Anti-defection Law
Tenth Schedule (1985) disqualifying legislators who change parties or defy whip
Read the study note →- Anti-Incumbency
Voters punishing ruling party for governance failures; strong in India
Read the study note →- APT
Advanced Persistent Threat — state-sponsored cyber espionage groups
Read the study note →- Article 324
Constitutional basis of Election Commission of India
Read the study note →- Aspirational politics
Politics appealing to voters' upward mobility dreams — economic growth, jobs, better services
Read the study note →- BAP
Bharat Adivasi Party; Rajasthan 2023; tribal/Adivasi identity platform
Read the study note →- Basic Structure Doctrine
Certain features of Constitution cannot be amended — Kesavananda (1973)
Read the study note →- BSF
Border Security Force; 1965; India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders
Read the study note →- CAPF
Central Armed Police Forces — CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG, NDRF
Read the study note →- Caste Census
Systematic collection of caste data — Bihar did it (2023); national demand by opposition
Read the study note →- CERT-In
Computer Emergency Response Team India; Section 70B IT Act 2000
Read the study note →- Certiorari
Writ quashing order of inferior court/tribunal
Read the study note →- Coalition Politics
Governance through alliances of multiple parties sharing power
Read the study note →- Collegium
CJI + 4 senior-most SC judges recommending judicial appointments
Read the study note →- Common Minimum Programme
Negotiated governing agenda of coalition partners; UPA-I CMP (2004) famous
Read the study note →- Congress System
Rajni Kothari's concept of Congress as dominant "party of consensus" 1952–1967
Read the study note →- CRPF
Central Reserve Police Force; 1939; India's largest CAPF; LWE+J&K+elections
Read the study note →- cVIGIL
ECI app for citizens to report Model Code of Conduct violations with geotagged evidence
Read the study note →- Deepfake
AI-generated synthetic media (video/audio) of persons saying/doing things they never did
Read the study note →- Delimitation Commission
Ad hoc commission for constituency boundary redrawing (after each census)
Read the study note →- Delimitation
Redrawing of constituency boundaries after Census; triggers women's reservation
Read the study note →- e-Courts
Courts with digital infrastructure for filing, hearing, and delivering judgments
Read the study note →- Electoral Bonds
Anonymous political funding instruments; struck down as unconstitutional 2024
Read the study note →- EPIC
Elector's Photo Identity Card; primary voting document
Read the study note →- Epistolary Jurisdiction
Treating letters/postcards to court as PIL petitions
Read the study note →- EVM
Electronic Voting Machine; standalone; BEL + ECIL; nationwide since 2004
Read the study note →- FASTER
Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records — SC orders to prisons
Read the study note →- Federalism of parties
Regional parties participating in central governance; mirror of federal structure in party politics
Read the study note →- Floor-crossing
Legislator changing party or voting against their party
Read the study note →- Flying Squad
ECI team for election expenditure monitoring and MCC enforcement
Read the study note →- FPTP
First Past The Post; candidate with most votes wins; India's LS/Assembly system
Read the study note →- Golden Crescent
Drug production zone: Afghanistan-Pakistan-Iran; feeds Indian drug markets
Read the study note →- Habeas Corpus
Writ requiring production of detained person before court
Read the study note →- Hindutva
V.D. Savarkar's concept of Hindu cultural nationalism; BJP-RSS ideological framework
Read the study note →- Hung Parliament
Parliament where no party/pre-formed coalition has majority; requires post-poll deals
Read the study note →- Hybrid Militancy
J&K model: ordinary civilians recruited for short-duration attacks; hard to detect
Read the study note →- ICJS
Interoperable Criminal Justice System — links police, courts, prisons, forensics
Read the study note →- Identity Politics
Political mobilisation based on shared group characteristics (caste, religion, gender)
Read the study note →- INDIA Alliance
Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (2023); 26-party opposition bloc
Read the study note →- Intersectionality
Overlapping identities (gender + caste) creating compounded disadvantage
Read the study note →- IPU
Inter-Parliamentary Union — international organisation tracking women's representation in parliaments
Read the study note →- Issue-driven Politics
Political competition focused on policy outcomes — development, governance, welfare
Read the study note →- IT Cell
Political party's social media management unit — runs targeted digital campaigns
Read the study note →- ITBP
Indo-Tibetan Border Police; 1962; India-China border (3,488 km)
Read the study note →- Judicial Activism
Proactive judicial interpretation to protect rights and enforce accountability
Read the study note →- Judicial Overreach
Courts exceeding their role by making policy decisions for executive/legislature
Read the study note →- Judicial Review
Power of courts to test constitutional validity of laws and executive acts
Where it helps 5/10-mark core concept
Read the study note →- Kovind Committee
Ram Nath Kovind chaired; 2024 report on simultaneous elections
Read the study note →- Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)
Naxal/Maoist armed insurgency targeting Indian state; from 1967 Naxalbari
Read the study note →- Locus Standi
Legal right to file a case; relaxed in PIL
Read the study note →- MAC
Multi-Agency Centre; IB-led intelligence fusion centre for counter-terrorism
Read the study note →- Mandal Commission
B.P. Mandal chaired; 27% OBC reservation recommendation (1980); implemented 1990
Read the study note →- Mandamus
Writ commanding public official to perform a legal duty
Read the study note →- MCC
Model Code of Conduct — ECI convention binding on parties and candidates
Read the study note →- MCMC
Media Certification and Monitoring Committee — pre-certifies political ads
Read the study note →- Micro-targeting
Using data to send specifically tailored political messages to individual voter segments
Read the study note →- Model Code of Conduct
ECI convention restricting government actions during election period
Read the study note →- Multi-Party System
Political system with multiple parties competing for power; no single party dominance
Read the study note →- Narco-terrorism
Terror funding through drug trade; Punjab-Pakistan-Afghanistan nexus
Read the study note →- Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
106th Amendment (2023); 33% reservation for women in LS and State Assemblies
Read the study note →- National Party
Party recognised by ECI meeting specified criteria; symbol reserved nationwide
Read the study note →- Naxalism
LWE movement; CPI(Maoist) as primary group
Read the study note →- NCIIPC
National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre; PMO/NTRO
Read the study note →- NDA
National Democratic Alliance; BJP-led coalition (est. 1998)
Read the study note →- NDRF
National Disaster Response Force; 2005 DM Act; 16 battalions from CAPFs
Read the study note →- NIA
National Investigation Agency; 2008; central counter-terrorism investigative body
Read the study note →- NJAC
National Judicial Appointments Commission — struck down by SC in 2015
Read the study note →- NJDG
National Judicial Data Grid — real-time pending case data across all courts
Read the study note →- NOTA
None of the Above; reject all candidates; no impact on result; from 2013
Read the study note →- NRLM
National Rural Livelihoods Mission (2011); organises rural poor into SHGs for livelihood and empowerment
Read the study note →- NSCN(IM)
National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah); Naga insurgent group; 1997 ceasefire
Read the study note →- NSG
National Security Guard; 1984; Black Cat Commandos; counter-terrorism
Read the study note →- OBC (Other Backward Classes)
Socially and educationally backward communities identified for reservation
Read the study note →- One Nation One Election
Proposal to hold LS + State Assembly elections simultaneously
Read the study note →- Operation Sindoor
May 2025; India's precision strikes on 9 Pakistan+POK terror camps post-Pahalgam attack
Read the study note →- Original Jurisdiction
Power to hear case as a court of first instance (SC under Article 131)
Read the study note →- Pahalgam Attack
April 22, 2025; 26 tourists killed; Baisaran meadow; triggered Operation Sindoor
Read the study note →- Paid News
Political content published as news after payment without disclosure
Read the study note →- PDA Coalition
Pichhra-Dalit-Alpasankhyak; SP strategy in UP 2024 LS elections
Read the study note →- PIL (Public Interest Litigation)
Petition filed by any person on behalf of public interest; locus standi relaxed
Read the study note →- Polarised Pluralism
Sartori's term for multi-party system with strong ideological poles
Read the study note →- Portfolio Allocation
Distribution of cabinet ministries among coalition partners
Where it helps Coalition context
Read the study note →- Post-poll Coalition
Parties joining forces after election results
Read the study note →- Prakash Singh Case
2006 SC; 7 police reform directives; largely unimplemented
Read the study note →- Pre-poll Alliance
Alliance announced before elections with seat sharing and joint campaign
Read the study note →- Proxy representation
Situation where elected representative is effectively replaced by another person (sarpanch pati)
Read the study note →- PRSTV
Proportional Representation with Single Transferable Vote; Rajya Sabha/President
Read the study note →- Quo Warranto
Writ challenging authority of person holding public office
Read the study note →- Red Corridor
Geography of LWE-affected districts: Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand-Odisha-AP
Read the study note →- Regionalism
Assertion of regional identity, interests, and autonomy in politics
Read the study note →- RPA 1950
Deals with electoral rolls and delimitation
Read the study note →- RPA 1951
Deals with election conduct, corrupt practices, election disputes
Read the study note →- SAMADHAN
MHA's LWE doctrine acronym (Smart leadership to No financing)
Read the study note →- Sanskritisation
M.N. Srinivas: lower castes adopting upper caste customs for social mobility
Read the study note →- Sarpanch Pati
Male relative effectively governing in place of elected woman sarpanch
Read the study note →- Second Democratic Upsurge
Yogendra Yadav's concept — OBC/Dalit becoming assertive political agents post-Mandal
Read the study note →- Self-Help Group (SHG)
Women's savings and credit groups; 10 crore+ members; platform for political participation
Read the study note →- SLP (Special Leave Petition)
Article 136 discretionary appeal against any court's order
Read the study note →- Social Engineering
BSP strategy of combining Dalit+OBC+Muslim+upper caste for electoral majority
Read the study note →- Sons of Soil
Nativist movement asserting priority for locals over migrants (e.g., MNS in Maharashtra)
Read the study note →- State Election Commission
Article 243K body managing Panchayat/ULB elections
Read the study note →- State Party
Party recognised by ECI only in specific state(s)
Read the study note →- States Reorganisation Act 1956
Created 14 states + 6 UTs on linguistic basis
Where it helps Regionalism context
Read the study note →- Suo Motu
Court taking cognisance of a matter on its own initiative
Read the study note →- Tenth Schedule
Anti-defection provisions added by 52nd Amendment (1985)
Read the study note →- Three Judges Cases
S.P. Gupta (1982), SCAORA (1993), Presidential Reference (1998) — evolved collegium
Read the study note →- UAPA
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967; primary anti-terrorism law; 2019: individual designation
Read the study note →- Ultra Vires
Beyond the powers granted; used when a law/act exceeds constitutional limits
Read the study note →- UPA
United Progressive Alliance; Congress-led coalition (2004–2014)
Read the study note →- Virtual Courts
Courts conducting hearings via video conferencing (accelerated post-COVID)
Read the study note →- Voting Behavior
Patterns of how individuals decide whether and how to vote
Where it helps Topic definition
Read the study note →- VVPAT
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail; paper slip showing candidate voted for; nationwide 2019
Read the study note →- Writ
Court order commanding a person or authority to do or not to do something
Read the study note →- 1.5°C Goal
Paris Agreement's aspirational ceiling; requires net-zero CO₂ by ~2050
Read the study note →- 103rd Amendment
2019 — EWS reservation 10% in education and employment
Where it helps Constitutional history
Read the study note →- 10th Schedule
Anti-defection provisions added by 52nd Amendment
Read the study note →- 11th Schedule
29 functions of Panchayati Raj institutions
Read the study note →- 12th Schedule
18 functions of Urban Local Bodies
Read the study note →- 42nd Amendment
1976 — added Fundamental Duties, 'Socialist'+'Secular' in Preamble
Where it helps Constitutional history
Read the study note →- 44th Amendment
1978 — removed Right to Property from Fundamental Rights
Where it helps Constitutional history
Read the study note →- 73rd Amendment
1992 constitutional amendment mandating PRIs
Where it helps Legal foundation
Read the study note →- 74th Amendment
1992 constitutional amendment mandating ULBs
Where it helps Urban governance basis
Read the study note →- 86th Amendment
2002 — added Art 21A (Right to Education) + 11th Fundamental Duty
Where it helps Constitutional history
Read the study note →- 9th Schedule
List of laws immune from FR challenge (added 1951)
Read the study note →- ABHA
Ayushman Bharat Health Account — unique health ID (14-digit); 6.20 crore generated in Rajasthan
Where it helps Digital health angle; links to AB-PMJAY; relevant in e-governance questions
Read the study note →- Absolute majority
Majority of total membership (not just present)
Read the study note →- Act East
Strategic + economic engagement with ASEAN-East Asia (2014–)
Where it helps Tested every exam
Read the study note →- Adjournment Motion
Motion to adjourn House to discuss urgent public matter
Where it helps Parliamentary practice
Read the study note →- Agenda setting
Process by which issues get onto government's priority list
Where it helps Stage 2 of policy cycle
Read the study note →- All India Services
IAS, IPS, IFoS — recruits nationally, serves states (Art 312)
Read the study note →- Anti-defection law
Disqualification for switching parties; 10th Schedule
Where it helps 52nd Amendment (1985)
Read the study note →- Anti-incumbency
Tendency of voters to vote against the current ruling party
Where it helps Rajasthan's unique pattern since 1993
Read the study note →- Anuprati Coaching
Free coaching for UPSC, RPSC, REET for SC/ST/OBC/MBC youth (family income ≤ ₹8 lakh)
Where it helps Social equity scheme; 17,704 beneficiaries, ₹81 crore in 2024-25
Read the study note →- Appellate Body
WTO's final appeal mechanism (paralysed 2019–)
Read the study note →- Article 14
Equality before law and equal protection of laws
Read the study note →- Article 21
Right to life and personal liberty
Read the study note →- Article 249
RS can enable Parliament to legislate on State List (2/3 majority, 1 year)
Read the study note →- Article 254
Repugnancy — Central law prevails over State law on Concurrent subjects
Read the study note →- Article 263
Inter-State Council — consultative body for inter-state disputes
Read the study note →- Article 300A
Legal right to property (not fundamental right) after 44th Amendment
Read the study note →- Article 312
RS can create new All India Services
Read the study note →- Article 32
Right to Constitutional Remedies — writ jurisdiction of SC
Read the study note →- Article 352
National Emergency — war, external aggression, or armed rebellion
Read the study note →- Article 356
President's Rule — failure of constitutional government in state
Read the study note →- Article 360
Financial Emergency — never invoked
Read the study note →- Article 368
Procedure for constitutional amendment
Read the study note →- Article 370
Special status for J&K, abrogated 2019, upheld SC Dec 2023
Where it helps Constitutional history
Read the study note →- Article 5 (NATO)
Collective defence — attack on one = attack on all
Where it helps Invoked first time 9/11
Read the study note →- Article 74
President must act on CoM's aid and advice
Read the study note →- Article 75(3)
Council of Ministers collectively responsible to Lok Sabha
Read the study note →- ASEAN
10-member Southeast Asian bloc (1967–)
Read the study note →- ASEAN Way
Consensus, non-interference, peaceful resolution
Read the study note →- AUKUS
Australia, UK, USA security pact (2021); nuclear submarines
Where it helps China containment
Read the study note →- Ayushman Arogya Mandir
Renamed Health & Wellness Centers under Ayushman Bharat (Nov 2023); basic healthcare + yoga
Where it helps Connects yoga to health policy; 2,019 in Rajasthan; 50 NABH-accredited — cite in Yoga Day answers
Read the study note →- Ayushman Bharat
Central government's flagship health protection mission (AB-PMJAY); merged with Rajasthan's MAA Yojana
Where it helps Central-state convergence example; ₹5 lakh central cover + Rajasthan's ₹20 lakh trust top-up
Read the study note →- Basic Structure
Essential features of Constitution that Parliament cannot destroy
Where it helps Kesavananda (1973)
Read the study note →- Basic Structure Doctrine
Judicial doctrine that lets Parliament amend the Constitution but not destroy its essential features
Where it helps Kesavananda Bharati (1973)
Read the study note →- BharatNet
National rural broadband programme; optical fibre to Gram Panchayats
Where it helps Rural connectivity
Read the study note →- Bipolarity
Two dominant powers (as in Cold War)
Read the study note →- BNS 2023
Replaced IPC 1860; in force 1 July 2024
Read the study note →- BNSS 2023
Replaced CrPC 1973; in force 1 July 2024
Where it helps Criminal procedure
Read the study note →- Booth Management
Party strategy to manage individual polling booths for voter mobilization
Where it helps BJP's IT-cell innovation
Read the study note →- Brexit
UK's exit from EU (Jan 2020)
Read the study note →- BRI
China's global infrastructure investment programme (2013)
Where it helps China's power projection
Read the study note →- BRICS
Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa + 4 new (2024)
Read the study note →- Budget Session
Feb–May; longest session; Union Budget presented 1 February
Read the study note →- CAA 2019
Fast-track citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities from 3 countries
Where it helps Citizenship Act amended
Read the study note →- CAG
Comptroller and Auditor General; audits government accounts
Where it helps Accountability institution
Read the study note →- Carbon Budget
Remaining CO₂ emission allowance to stay within temperature target
Read the study note →- Cashless Treatment
Patient receives treatment without upfront payment; hospital directly claims from scheme
Where it helps Core feature of MAA, RGHS, Vay Vandan; use to explain "universalising healthcare access"
Read the study note →- Caste arithmetic
Calculating votes by caste/community composition of a constituency
Where it helps Candidate selection strategy
Read the study note →- CBDR-RC
Common But Differentiated Responsibilities — equity principle (1992)
Where it helps India's negotiating basis
Read the study note →- CDRI
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (India-UK, COP26)
Where it helps India's climate initiative
Read the study note →- CEC
Congress's Central Election Committee for ticket allocation
Where it helps Candidate selection
Read the study note →- CEPA
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (India-UAE 2022)
Where it helps India's FTA model
Read the study note →- Certiorari
Writ to quash inferior court order exceeding jurisdiction
Where it helps Common Law/Art 32
Read the study note →- Coalition politics
Government formed by alliance of two or more parties
Where it helps Rare in Rajasthan state; national NDA context
Read the study note →- Collective responsibility
Entire CoM resigns if Lok Sabha passes NCM
Read the study note →- Collegium system
SC judges' panel that recommends judicial appointments
Where it helps Second Judges' Case (1993)
Read the study note →- Commissioner
IAS/RAS executive head of Municipal Corporation
Where it helps Administrative head
Read the study note →- Competitive federalism
States competing for investment and performance rankings
Where it helps NITI Aayog indices
Read the study note →- Concurrent List
List III — 52 subjects — both Centre and States; Central law prevails
Read the study note →- Constituent Assembly
Body elected to draft the Constitution (1946–1949)
Where it helps Cabinet Mission Plan
Read the study note →- Constituent power
Power to make or amend the Constitution
Read the study note →- Constitutional morality
Adherence to constitutional values over popular norms
Where it helps Ambedkar (1948); Navtej Johar (2018)
Read the study note →- Containment
US Cold War strategy to prevent Soviet expansion
Where it helps Truman Doctrine (1947)
Read the study note →- Contractor-politician nexus
Collusion between contractors and politicians inflating scheme costs
Where it helps Political interference
Read the study note →- Convergence
Coordination of multiple schemes targeting same beneficiary/area
Where it helps Implementation challenge
Read the study note →- Cooperative federalism
Centre and states working together as equal partners on shared goals
Where it helps NITI Aayog; GST Council
Read the study note →- COP
Conference of Parties — UNFCCC's annual decision-making body
Where it helps COP26, 27, 28, 29
Read the study note →- Criminalization of politics
Entry of candidates with criminal records into elections
Where it helps ADR data: Rajasthan candidates with cases
Read the study note →- CSS
Centrally Sponsored Schemes — Centre + State co-funded; conditionalities
Read the study note →- DAKSHIN
India's Global South technology-knowledge cooperation initiative
Where it helps India's leadership
Read the study note →- Data Fiduciary
Entity determining purpose and means of data processing
Read the study note →- Data Principal
Individual whose personal data is processed
Read the study note →- DBT
Direct Benefit Transfer — scheme benefits directly to beneficiary's bank account
Where it helps Anti-leakage mechanism
Read the study note →- De-dollarisation
Reducing dependence on US dollar in international trade
Read the study note →- Defection
MLA/MP switching party; governed by anti-defection law
Where it helps Sachin Pilot context
Read the study note →- Delimitation
Redrawing of constituency boundaries
Where it helps Last done in 2008; due post-2026 census
Read the study note →- Deputy Speaker
Second presiding officer of Lok Sabha
Read the study note →- Diaspora
Citizens/former citizens living abroad; Indian diaspora = 32 million
Where it helps Remittances, lobbying
Read the study note →- Digital Divide
Inequality in access to digital technology between urban-rural, men-women
Where it helps E-governance challenge
Read the study note →- DILRMP
Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme
Where it helps Land digitization
Read the study note →- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Cash/benefits transferred directly to beneficiary bank account, eliminating intermediaries
Where it helps Tested in Jan Aadhaar and scheme-efficiency questions; cite ₹78,300 crore DBT figure
Read the study note →- Directive Principles
Non-justiciable guidelines for state governance policy
Read the study note →- Divisible pool
Central taxes shared with states; excludes cesses/surcharges
Where it helps Finance Commission
Read the study note →- DOIT&C
Rajasthan's Department of Information Technology and Communication — apex e-gov body
Where it helps Institutional head
Read the study note →- DPDP Act
India's first comprehensive data privacy law, 2023
Where it helps Privacy legislation
Read the study note →- Drafting Committee
7-member committee chaired by Ambedkar to draft final text
Read the study note →- DSB
WTO Dispute Settlement Body
Read the study note →- Détente
Easing of Cold War tensions (1970s)
Where it helps Nixon-Brezhnev era
Read the study note →- e-Dharti
Online land records portal for Jamabandi (ownership) and Khasra (plot) access
Read the study note →- E-Governance
Use of ICT by government for service delivery, transparency, and participation
Where it helps Core T106 concept
Read the study note →- e-Mitra
Rajasthan's kiosk-based citizen service delivery network; 75,000+ points
Where it helps Service delivery
Read the study note →- Electoral behavior
Patterns in how voters make choices at the ballot
Where it helps Core T102 concept
Read the study note →- Electoral bond
Financial instrument for anonymous corporate party donations (Supreme Court struck down 2024)
Where it helps Party funding transparency
Read the study note →- Electoral College
Body that elects the President — MPs + MLAs
Read the study note →- ERCP
Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project — inter-basin water transfer mega project
Where it helps 10-mark question staple (2016 PYQ); memorise 17 districts, 3.25 cr population, national project status
Read the study note →- EU
Political-economic union of 27 European states
Read the study note →- Euro
Common currency of 20 EU states
Read the study note →- EVM
Electronic Voting Machine; used in Raj since 2003
Where it helps Replaced ballot paper
Read the study note →- EWS reservation
10% reservation for economically weaker sections
Where it helps Art 15(6), 16(6)
Read the study note →- Factionalism
Division within a party into competing internal groups
Where it helps Congress's Gehlot-Pilot split
Read the study note →- FATF
Financial Action Task Force — monitors terror/money laundering financing
Where it helps Pakistan grey list 2018–22
Read the study note →- Finance Commission
Recommends tax devolution and grants — Art 280
Read the study note →- First-past-the-post
Electoral system where candidate with most votes wins, regardless of majority
Where it helps India's parliamentary system
Read the study note →- Fiscal Deficit
Excess of government expenditure over receipts (excluding borrowings)
Where it helps Fiscal constraint
Read the study note →- Floor crossing
Legislators switching parties; governed by Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule)
Where it helps Gehlot-Pilot 2020 context
Read the study note →- Foreign Policy
State's goals and strategies in international relations
Read the study note →- Fossil Fuel
Coal, oil, natural gas — main sources of climate-changing emissions
Read the study note →- FRBM
Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act; limits deficit to 3% GSDP
Where it helps State fiscal norm
Read the study note →- FRBM Act
Fiscal discipline law for Centre and states
Read the study note →- Fundamental Duties
Moral obligations on citizens; non-justiciable
Read the study note →- Fundamental Rights
Justiciable rights guaranteed by Part III against state action
Read the study note →- G-20
19 nations + EU + AU; 85% of global GDP
Where it helps India's presidency
Read the study note →- G2C Services
Government-to-Citizen digital services (certificates, scheme applications)
Read the study note →- G4
India, Germany, Brazil, Japan — campaign for UNSC permanent seats
Read the study note →- GGI
Good Governance Index by DARPG; ranks states on 58 governance indicators
Where it helps Rajasthan: 18/20
Read the study note →- Global Stocktake
5-yearly Paris Agreement review of collective progress (first: COP28)
Where it helps COP28 key outcome
Read the study note →- Governor
State constitutional head + Centre's representative; appointed by President
Read the study note →- Gram Sabha
Assembly of all adult voters in a GP area
Where it helps Core T104 institution
Read the study note →- Gram Sachiv
Government servant supporting Gram Panchayat
Where it helps Administrative link
Read the study note →- Green Climate Fund
Multilateral climate fund for developing nation projects
Where it helps India recipient + contributor
Read the study note →- GSDP
Gross State Domestic Product — total value of goods/services produced in state
Where it helps Economic performance question hook; Rajasthan GSDP ₹17.04 lakh crore, growth 7.82% (2024-25)
Read the study note →- GST Council
Federal body with Centre + States to decide GST rates
Where it helps Art 279A (101st Amend.)
Read the study note →- Gujral Doctrine
Asymmetric generosity toward South Asian neighbours (1996)
Where it helps Neighbours First basis
Read the study note →- GWOT
Global War on Terror — post-9/11 US strategy
Where it helps Afghanistan, Iraq wars
Read the study note →- Habeas Corpus
Writ to produce unlawfully detained person before court
Where it helps Common Law/Art 32
Read the study note →- Hard Power
Military and economic coercive power
Where it helps Contrasted with soft power
Read the study note →- Harmonious construction
Interpretive approach to reconcile FRs and DPSPs
Where it helps Minerva Mills (1980)
Read the study note →- Hegemony
Dominance of one state over others economically, militarily, culturally
Where it helps US post-Cold War
Read the study note →- Horizontal devolution
Distribution of states' share among themselves — Finance Commission formula
Read the study note →- Hung assembly
Assembly where no party has clear majority
Where it helps Rajasthan's avoided outcome post-1993
Read the study note →- Hybrid Warfare
Mix of conventional + cyber + disinformation + proxy forces
Where it helps Russia-Ukraine; China
Read the study note →- I2U2
India, Israel, UAE, USA grouping (2021–)
Where it helps Abraham Accords context
Read the study note →- ICCR
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (1950); cultural diplomacy institution
Where it helps Cultural diplomacy
Read the study note →- iCET
Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (India-US 2023)
Read the study note →- IMEC
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (G20 2023)
Where it helps Alternative to BRI
Read the study note →- Implementation
Converting policy decisions into action on the ground
Where it helps Core bottleneck concern
Read the study note →- INDIA Bloc
Opposition coalition in 2024 elections; includes Congress, regional parties
Where it helps National coalition context
Read the study note →- Indo-Pacific
Strategic concept spanning IOR + Pacific Ocean
Read the study note →- Insurance Mode
Portion of MAA Yojana (₹5 lakh) managed through standard insurance company
Where it helps Pair with Trust Mode for complete MAA Yojana answer; 1,761 packages under insurance mode
Read the study note →- Internal democracy
Genuine elections within party for leadership/candidate selection
Where it helps Largely absent in both parties
Read the study note →- International Yoga Day
Observed annually on 21 June; established by UN resolution (Dec 2014) on India's proposal under PM Modi
Where it helps Syllabus point; link to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs offering yoga; 177 co-sponsoring nations
Read the study note →- ISA
International Solar Alliance — India-France (2015); 120 members; Gurugram HQ
Where it helps India's climate institution
Read the study note →- ISIS/ISIL/Daesh
Takfiri terrorist organisation; caliphate 2014–19
Where it helps Global terrorism
Read the study note →- Issue-based voting
Voting based on policy issues rather than caste/identity
Where it helps Growing trend among youth
Read the study note →- IWT
Indus Waters Treaty (1960) — World Bank-mediated India-Pakistan water treaty
Where it helps India-Pakistan water
Read the study note →- Jal Jeevan Mission
National mission for tap water connections to every rural household; 47.92 lakh families covered in Rajasthan
Where it helps Infrastructure + rural welfare angle; cite ₹93,427 crore total project cost in Rajasthan
Read the study note →- Jan Aadhaar
Rajasthan's family digital identity system (Act 2020); 97%+ coverage
Where it helps State DBT backbone
Read the study note →- Jan Aadhaar Number (JAN)
10-digit unique family identifier
Read the study note →- Jan Soochna Portal
Proactive disclosure platform for 100+ Rajasthan government schemes
Where it helps Innovation (2019)
Read the study note →- Jan Sunwai
Public hearing format for citizen grievances — origin in MKSS model
Where it helps Right to Hearing implementation
Read the study note →- Jana Sangh
Pre-cursor to BJP (1951–1977); Hindu nationalist party
Where it helps BJP's historical roots
Read the study note →- Jansunwai
Public hearing for grievances (3-tier: GP, Sub-division, District)
Where it helps Governance/accountability angle; 2024 data — 1.83 lakh GP-level complaints disposed
Read the study note →- Joint Sitting
Combined sitting of LS and RS for deadlocked ordinary bills
Read the study note →- Judicial review
Power of courts to review constitutionality of laws/actions
Read the study note →- Just Transition
Moving to clean energy while protecting workers in fossil fuel industries
Where it helps Coal worker equity
Read the study note →- Justiciable
Enforceable by courts
Read the study note →- Kyoto Protocol
1997 binding targets — only for developed (Annex I) nations
Where it helps Pre-Paris framework
Read the study note →- LAC
Line of Actual Control — India-China de facto border
Read the study note →- Last-mile delivery
Final delivery step from government system to beneficiary
Where it helps Key failure point
Read the study note →- LoC
Line of Control — India-Pakistan de facto border in Kashmir
Where it helps Kashmir conflict
Read the study note →- Look East
Economic engagement with ASEAN (1991–2014)
Where it helps Distinction with Act East
Read the study note →- Loss and Damage
Fund for climate-vulnerable nations for unavoidable climate losses
Where it helps COP27 created; COP28 operational
Read the study note →- MAA Yojana
Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana — Rajasthan's flagship health insurance; renamed from Chiranjeevi Yojana (Dec 2023)
Where it helps Most-tested scheme; cite ₹25 lakh cover, 1.33 crore families, ₹2,500 crore budget
Read the study note →- Mandamus
Writ compelling public authority to perform mandatory duty
Where it helps Common Law/Art 32
Read the study note →- Mayor
Elected head of Municipal Corporation
Read the study note →- MFN
WTO's most favoured nation principle — non-discrimination
Read the study note →- MGNREGS
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
Where it helps Cite Rajasthan 2024-25 data: ₹7,676.98 cr, 53.28 lakh households, 2,309.72 lakh man-days
Read the study note →- Minilateral
Small grouping of like-minded states for specific goals
Where it helps QUAD, I2U2, AUKUS
Read the study note →- Minority vote
Votes of religious/linguistic minorities
Where it helps ~9% Muslim population in Rajasthan
Read the study note →- Mission LiFE
Lifestyle for Environment — PM Modi (COP26 2021); behaviour change
Where it helps Syllabus-specific
Read the study note →- Mission Vatsalya
Child protection and rehabilitation scheme for orphans and at-risk children; 125 institutions, 3,802 children
Where it helps Child welfare; replaces Integrated Child Protection Scheme; adoption facilitation
Read the study note →- MKSS
Workers' and Farmers' Power Organisation — civil society body pioneering RTI
Where it helps Rajasthan civil society
Read the study note →- Model Code of Conduct
ECI guidelines for parties/candidates during election
Where it helps Enforced via cVIGIL app
Read the study note →- Money Bill
Bill dealing exclusively with taxation, expenditure, or debt
Read the study note →- MoU
Memorandum of Understanding — intent-to-invest agreement
Where it helps Rising Rajasthan context: ₹35 lakh crore MoUs; note MoUs ≠ confirmed investment — exam nuance
Read the study note →- Multilateralism
Coordination among multiple states in international institutions
Read the study note →- Multipolarity
Multiple roughly equal power centres
Where it helps Emerging order from 2008
Read the study note →- NCQG
New Collective Quantified Goal — $300B/year (COP29, 2024)
Where it helps Latest climate finance target
Read the study note →- NDA
National Democratic Alliance; BJP-led national coalition
Where it helps RLP's Lok Sabha alliance context
Read the study note →- NDB
New Development Bank — BRICS's MDB (Shanghai, 2015)
Where it helps Infrastructure finance
Read the study note →- NDC
Nationally Determined Contribution — each country's climate plan
Where it helps India's NDC targets
Read the study note →- Neighbours First
Prioritising South Asian neighbourhood (Modi era)
Read the study note →- Net Zero
Balancing emissions produced with emissions removed; India target 2070
Where it helps India's long-term pledge
Read the study note →- NFSA
National Food Security Act — basis for subsidised food grain entitlement
Where it helps Link to Jan Aadhaar ration card delivery; Annapurna Khadya Suraksha extension under it
Read the study note →- NJAC
Commission for judicial appointments, struck down 2015
Read the study note →- No-confidence motion
Motion by Lok Sabha to withdraw confidence from government
Where it helps Parliamentary device
Read the study note →- Non-Alignment
Policy of not joining military blocs (NAM, 1961)
Where it helps India's Cold War policy
Read the study note →- Non-justiciable
Cannot be enforced by courts
Read the study note →- NOTA
None of the Above — voter option to reject all candidates
Where it helps SC judgment 2013; used in Raj 2023
Read the study note →- NPT
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) — P5 + 185 non-nuclear states
Where it helps India, Pakistan outside
Read the study note →- NRI
Non-Resident Indian — Indian citizen abroad
Read the study note →- OCI
Overseas Citizen of India — lifelong multi-entry visa for PIOs
Read the study note →- Ordinance
Presidential legislation when Parliament not in session; 6-week validity after session resumes
Read the study note →- OSOWOG
One Sun One World One Grid — global solar interconnect vision
Where it helps ISA's flagship concept
Read the study note →- Padma Awards
India's civilian honours (Padma Vibhushan, Bhushan, Shri) awarded annually on Republic Day
Where it helps PYQ 2021; RPSC tests Rajasthan-origin recipients — folk artists, craftspeople, social workers
Read the study note →- Palanhar
Literally "one who nurtures"; scheme for children outside normal family care
Where it helps Direct 5-mark PYQ (2021); know benefit tiers — ₹1,500/₹2,500 for orphans vs ₹750/₹1,500 for others
Read the study note →- Panchamrit
India's 5 COP26 climate commitments (PM Modi, Glasgow 2021)
Where it helps Specific data needed
Read the study note →- Panchayat Samiti
Intermediate/block-level PRI body
Read the study note →- Panchsheel
Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence (1954, India-China)
Where it helps Most tested concept
Read the study note →- Panna Pramukh
BJP booth worker managing ~50 voters listed on one page of electoral roll
Where it helps BJP's micro-level organization
Read the study note →- Paris Agreement
COP21 (2015) — 1.5°C goal; NDCs; universal applicability
Where it helps Most important climate treaty
Read the study note →- Patron-client network
Relationship where politicians provide benefits in exchange for electoral support
Where it helps Explains anti-incumbency
Read the study note →- PBD
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas — 9 January annual convention
Read the study note →- Pehchan Portal
Real-time birth and death registration portal linked to Jan Aadhaar.
Where it helps Used in Jan Aadhaar and governance answers to show de-duplication, service integration, and welfare-delivery accuracy.
Read the study note →- PESA
Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act 1996; tribal self-governance
Where it helps BAP's core demand
Read the study note →- PM Awas Yojana
Central housing scheme (urban + rural); 2,88,550 houses sanctioned in Rajasthan (urban); extended to Dec 2025
Where it helps Central scheme with Rajasthan data; MCQ on sanctioned vs completed houses
Read the study note →- PM-KISAN
Central scheme giving ₹6,000/year to farmers; Rajasthan state tops up with additional ₹2,000
Where it helps Appear in combination with CM Kisan Samman Nidhi; combined benefit ₹8,000/year
Read the study note →- Pocket Veto
President keeps bill pending indefinitely when Parliament not in session
Read the study note →- Policy cycle
Six-stage framework: Problem ID to Evaluation
Where it helps Analytical framework
Read the study note →- Political socialization
Process by which individuals learn political values and behaviors
Where it helps Family, school, SHG as agents
Read the study note →- Popular morality
Majoritarian social norms; may conflict with constitutional values
Where it helps Contrast to const. morality
Read the study note →- Positive rights
Rights requiring state action to provide conditions for their exercise
Where it helps Art 21 expansion
Read the study note →- Pradesh Congress Committee
State-level Congress organizational body
Where it helps Congress state structure
Read the study note →- Pradhan
Elected head of Panchayat Samiti
Where it helps Block-level elected head
Read the study note →- Praja Mandal
People's assemblies in princely states that fought for responsible government pre-1947
Where it helps Historical context
Read the study note →- Preamble
Introductory statement declaring objectives and nature of the state
Where it helps Indian Constitution
Read the study note →- President's Rule
Central government takes over state administration
Read the study note →- Privy purses
Annual payments to former rulers of princely states, abolished 1971
Read the study note →- Pro-Planet People
Mission LiFE's term for individuals making environmentally conscious choices
Read the study note →- Proactive disclosure
Publishing information without citizen request — Section 4 of RTI
Where it helps Jan Soochna model
Read the study note →- Prohibition
Writ to prevent an inferior court or tribunal from exceeding jurisdiction (prospective)
Where it helps Common Law/Art 32
Read the study note →- Prospective overruling
SC ruling to apply only to future cases, protecting past vested rights
Where it helps Golak Nath (1967)
Read the study note →- Public policy
Authoritative government decisions to address public problems
Where it helps Core T105 concept
Read the study note →- Punchhi Commission
2007–10; recommended constitutional status for Inter-State Council
Where it helps Indian federalism
Read the study note →- QUAD
India, USA, Australia, Japan strategic forum (non-military)
Read the study note →- Question Hour
First hour of each sitting for MP questions to ministers
Where it helps Parliamentary practice
Read the study note →- Quo Warranto
Writ questioning legal authority to hold public office
Where it helps Common Law/Art 32
Read the study note →- Rajasthan Sampark
Centralized grievance helpline (181) for state government services
Where it helps Grievance mechanism
Read the study note →- Rajivika
Rajasthan's self-help group federation (under NRLM)
Where it helps Link to Annapurna Rasoi Rural (984 rasois run by Rajivika SHGs) and women's empowerment
Read the study note →- Rajshree Yojana
Financial incentive scheme for girl child's birth, health milestones, and education; linked to Jan Aadhaar
Where it helps Girl empowerment; sex ratio improvement policy — link to Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Read the study note →- Rasoi
Kitchen/eatery; Annapurna Rasoi = subsidised meal kitchen
Where it helps MCQ trap: old name "Indira Rasoi" renamed Dec 2023; know ₹8 plate, 1,000 rasois, 240 urban bodies
Read the study note →- Reasonable Classification
Valid basis for treating unlike groups differently under Art 14
Read the study note →- Regionalism
Political movements based on regional identity
Where it helps BAP's tribal regionalism
Read the study note →- Repugnancy
Conflict between Central and State laws on Concurrent subjects
Read the study note →- Residuary powers
Legislative power over subjects not in any list — Parliament
Read the study note →- RGHS
Rajasthan Government Health Scheme for state employees, pensioners, MLAs; 740+ empanelled hospitals
Where it helps Pair with MAA Yojana; note different target group — govt servants vs general public
Read the study note →- RGSA
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan — PRI capacity building programme
Read the study note →- Right to Privacy
Fundamental right under Art 21; Puttaswamy (2017)
Read the study note →- RIPS
Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme 2024 — incentive framework to attract domestic and foreign investment
Where it helps Economic policy question; link to Rising Rajasthan summit outcomes
Read the study note →- Rising Rajasthan
Global Investment Summit held 9–11 Dec 2024, Jaipur; ₹35 lakh crore MoUs from 32 countries
Where it helps Economic current affairs; cite ₹35L crore, 17 partner countries, PM Modi inaugural
Read the study note →- RSWAN
Rajasthan State Wide Area Network connecting all government offices
Where it helps IT infrastructure
Read the study note →- RTI
Right to Information Act 2005; citizens' right to access public records
Where it helps Policy accountability
Read the study note →- S.R. Bommai
1994 SC case restricting Art 356 misuse; floor test mandatory
Read the study note →- SAARC
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (1985, 8 members)
Read the study note →- Sabarimala
Temple case — women aged 10–50 exclusion declared unconstitutional (2018)
Read the study note →- SAFTA
South Asian Free Trade Area — largely ineffective due to India-Pakistan tensions
Read the study note →- SAGAR
Security and Growth for All in the Region (IOR strategy)
Where it helps India's IOR role
Read the study note →- Sarkaria Commission
1983–87; reviewed Centre-State relations; recommended against Art 356 misuse
Where it helps Indian federalism
Read the study note →- Sarpanch
Elected head of Gram Panchayat
Where it helps GP level leadership
Read the study note →- Sarpanch Pati
Husband exercising power on behalf of women Sarpanch — proxy governance
Where it helps Women empowerment challenge
Read the study note →- SAU
Social Audit Unit — independent body for MGNREGS social audit
Where it helps District-level body
Read the study note →- Scheme leakage
Diversion of scheme benefits to ineligible persons
Where it helps Implementation challenge
Read the study note →- SCO
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation; India full member 2017
Where it helps India-China-Russia
Read the study note →- Section 377 IPC
Criminalised consensual homosexuality; struck down Navtej Johar (2018)
Where it helps Now decriminalised
Read the study note →- Section 497 IPC
Adultery offence; struck down Joseph Shine (2018)
Read the study note →- Sexual orientation
Protected ground under Art 15 as per Navtej Johar (2018)
Read the study note →- Shakti Kendra
BJP organizational unit covering 3–4 booths; coordinates panna pramukhs
Where it helps BJP booth management
Read the study note →- Single Transferable Vote
Preferential voting system for President/VP elections
Read the study note →- Smart City SPV
Special Purpose Vehicle company running Smart City projects
Read the study note →- Smart Power
Combination of hard and soft power
Where it helps Hillary Clinton's formulation
Read the study note →- Social audit
Public verification of development work quality/expenditure
Where it helps MGNREGS mechanism
Read the study note →- Soft Power
Cultural and ideational influence (Joseph Nye, 1990)
Where it helps US cultural hegemony
Read the study note →- Speaker
Presiding officer of Lok Sabha
Read the study note →- Special majority
Absolute majority of membership + 2/3 of voting members
Read the study note →- SSO Portal
Single Sign-On portal providing one login for 300+ Rajasthan services
Where it helps Digital convenience
Read the study note →- Starred Question
Oral answer required; supplementary questions allowed
Read the study note →- State Data Centre
Centralized government computing infrastructure in Jaipur
Where it helps Hosting infrastructure
Read the study note →- State Election Commission
Independent body conducting PRI/ULB elections
Read the study note →- State Finance Commission
Body recommending state-local fiscal devolution
Where it helps RSFC; 6th SFC 2023
Read the study note →- State List
List II — 61 subjects — primarily state legislature jurisdiction
Read the study note →- State-sponsored terrorism
State funding/sheltering of terrorist groups
Where it helps Pakistan-LeT links
Read the study note →- Strategic Autonomy
Independent foreign policy engaging all powers without binding alliances
Where it helps India's current policy
Read the study note →- Substantive equality
Equality addressing structural disadvantages, not just formal treatment
Where it helps Transformative constitutionalism
Read the study note →- Sustainable Development
Development meeting present needs without compromising future (Brundtland 1987)
Where it helps Foundational concept
Read the study note →- SVEEP
Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (ECI programme)
Where it helps Jan Aadhaar-linked voter education
Read the study note →- Swing voter
Voters not firmly committed to any party
Where it helps Jat, OBC communities in Rajasthan
Read the study note →- Thucydides Trap
Rising power's challenge to established power leads to war (Graham Allison)
Where it helps US-China rivalry
Read the study note →- Transformative constitutionalism
Constitution as instrument for active social transformation
Where it helps Justice Chandrachud; Karl Klare
Read the study note →- Tribal belt
South Rajasthan (Udaipur, Banswara, Dungarpur, Sirohi, Rajsamand) with high ST population
Where it helps ST political participation
Read the study note →- Triple talaq
Instant dissolution of Muslim marriage by triple pronouncement; now criminal
Where it helps Muslim Women Act 2019
Read the study note →- Trust Mode
Portion of MAA Yojana health cover (₹20 lakh) managed by state trust for high-cost treatments
Where it helps Distinguish from Insurance Mode in MAA Yojana questions; ₹20L trust vs ₹5L insurance split
Read the study note →- Two-party system
Political system dominated by two major parties
Where it helps Rajasthan's structural characteristic
Read the study note →- UNFCCC
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992, 196 parties)
Where it helps Foundation of all climate talks
Read the study note →- Uniform Civil Code
Single personal law for all citizens irrespective of religion
Read the study note →- Union List
List I — 100 subjects — exclusive Parliament jurisdiction
Read the study note →- Unipolarity
Single dominant power in international system
Where it helps Post-1991 US dominance
Read the study note →- UNSC
UN's primary peace and security body; P5 + 10
Read the study note →- Unstarred Question
Written reply only; no supplementaries
Read the study note →- Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
"The world is one family" — G20 Presidency theme
Where it helps G20, India's philosophy
Read the study note →- Veto Power
P5 member's ability to block any UNSC resolution
Read the study note →- Vimukt / Nomadic Communities
Denotified, nomadic, and semi-nomadic communities; 17,156 plots allotted Oct 2024 to houseless families
Where it helps Social justice current affairs; shows BJP govt outreach to historically excluded groups
Read the study note →- Vishakha guidelines
SC-issued guidelines (1997) on sexual harassment at workplace — replaced by POSH Act 2013
Read the study note →- Vote share
Percentage of total votes received by a party
Where it helps 2023: BJP 41.7%, INC 39.5%
Read the study note →- Voter turnout
Percentage of eligible voters who actually vote
Where it helps 74.13% in Rajasthan 2023
Read the study note →- VVPAT
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail; paper receipt of vote cast
Where it helps Introduced in Rajasthan 2018
Read the study note →- Ward Committee
74th Amendment mandated body in cities over 3 lakh
Where it helps Sub-municipal democracy
Read the study note →- Washington Consensus
IMF/World Bank neoliberal prescriptions (privatisation, deregulation, free trade)
Where it helps Post-Cold War development
Read the study note →- Writ jurisdiction
Power of SC/HC to issue constitutional writs
Read the study note →- WTO
World Trade Organisation; multilateral trade rules (1995–)
Read the study note →- Zero Hour
Informal session after Question Hour for urgent matters
Where it helps Parliamentary practice
Read the study note →- Zila Parishad
District-level PRI body
Where it helps Third (apex) PRI tier
Read the study note →- Zila Pramukh
Indirectly elected head of Zila Parishad
Read the study note →