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Glossary
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Legislative Control | Parliament's supervision of executive administration | Core topic |
| Judicial Control | Courts supervising administrative actions for legality | Core topic |
| Executive Control | Political executive and hierarchy supervising bureaucracy | Core topic |
| Habeas Corpus | Writ to release from illegal detention | Writ PYQ |
| Mandamus | Writ to compel performance of public duty | Writ PYQ |
| Prohibition | Writ preventing inferior tribunal from exceeding jurisdiction | Writ PYQ |
| Certiorari | Writ to quash inferior tribunal's ultra vires decision | Writ PYQ |
| Quo Warranto | Writ challenging right to hold public office | Writ PYQ |
| PAC | 22-member Parliamentary committee; post-audit; opposition chair | PYQ |
| Estimates Committee | 30 LS members; pre-audit; ruling party chair | Financial control |
| COPU | 22-member committee examining PSU performance and accounts | Financial control |
| Vote on Account | Article 116; Parliament's advance grant before full Budget | PYQ |
| Cut Motion | Motion to reduce Demand for Grants; signals disapproval | Leg. control |
| Zero Hour | Post-1962 Indian practice; urgent matters without notice | Leg. control |
| PIL | Any citizen's petition in public interest; liberalised locus standi | Judicial control |
| CAT | Article 323A; service matters of Central Government employees | Judicial control |
| Judicial Review | Courts examining constitutionality and legality of admin actions | Judicial control |
| Natural Justice | Audi alteram partem + Nemo judex; fairness in admin proceedings | Judicial control |
| Ultra Vires | Beyond powers — admin acts beyond statutory authority | Judicial review |
| Locus Standi | Right to bring a case to court; liberalised by PIL | PIL |
| CVC | CVC Act 2003; independent vigilance body; advises on Group A discipline | Executive control |
| Delegated Legislation | Rules/notifications made by executive under parent Act; subject to judicial review | Legislative control |
| Question Hour | Daily Parliament hour; oral/written questions to ministers | Leg. control |
| L. Chandra Kumar | 1997 SC case; CAT appeals to HC; superior court jurisdiction inalienable | CAT |
| Audi Alteram Partem | Natural justice: both sides must be heard before decision | Natural justice |
Sources: Constitution of India (Articles 32, 116, 226, 227, 323A, 323B); Administrative Tribunals Act 1985; CVC Act 2003; L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India (1997); Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979); Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006); Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997); S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994); RPSC Mains PYQs 2013–2023; 2nd ARC Reports; Laxmikanth, Indian Polity; Avasthi & Maheshwari, Public Administration; Rajasthan Administrative Tribunal Rules.