CDS Polity · Free notes
Government Structure: CDS Polity
Government Structure has 144 past-year questions in CDS General Knowledge, from 2016 (II) to 2026 (II): 12 EASY, 82 MODERATE and 50 HARD. Most items take one rule of the Constitution and change a single detail: to whom an office-holder resigns, which House may act, what share of members a body has. So learn each fact as an exact pair, with its Article number, because the wrong options are usually the right rule with one word swapped. Forty-five of the 144 are about bodies created by an Act or by the government rather than by the Constitution, and those facts change as laws are replaced and ministries reorganised, so the notes give the year a fact holds for.
The handout has every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap with answers shown. The formula sheet is the chapter’s formulas and traps alone, on one page.
Subtopic notes
The President and Vice-President
10 PYQsWho elects the President and how, who may stand, the term, resignation and removal, the President's immunity, and how the Vice-President's office differs.
Prime Minister, Ministers and Law Officers
8 PYQsHow the Council of Ministers is formed and how big it may be, why it answers to the Lok Sabha, how a no-confidence motion works, and the Attorney General.
Houses of Parliament and Their Members
19 PYQsHow the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are filled, the Rajya Sabha's special powers, the Speaker, and when a member loses a seat or is protected by privilege.
Bills, Motions and Committees
14 PYQsHow an ordinary bill becomes law and when a joint sitting is called, what makes a money bill and the budget, the adjournment motion, and Parliament's committees.
Supreme Court and High Courts
10 PYQsWho can become a Supreme Court judge, the kinds of cases the Supreme Court hears and the Articles behind them, and how High Courts and their benches are set up.
Writs and Landmark Cases
12 PYQsThe five writs and when each one lies, which courts can issue them, the Latin maxims of natural justice, and the court cases CDS names.
Governor and State Legislature
15 PYQsWhat the Governor can and cannot do, the Governor's ordinance power, and how a State legislature is made up, with the six States that have a Legislative Council.
Constitutional Bodies
11 PYQsThe Election Commission, the CAG and the Finance Commission, the commissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, and the Articles that protect civil servants.
Statutory Bodies and Key Laws
22 PYQsBodies set up by an Act of Parliament rather than the Constitution (human rights and women's commissions, the CVC, NGT, NDMA and others) and the laws CDS asks about by name and year.
Ministries, NITI Aayog and Schemes
23 PYQsHow NITI Aayog is made up and what it does, which ministry or department runs which body, the training academies and institutes CDS names, and a few schemes.
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 35 reference tables · 56 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 35 reference tables · 56 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
The President and Vice-President
Reference tables (3)
Electing the President5 rows
| Member | Votes for the President? |
|---|---|
| Elected member of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha | Yes |
| Nominated member of the Rajya Sabha | No |
| Elected member of a State Legislative Assembly | Yes |
| Member of a State Legislative Council | NoQ CDS 2022 (I): an electoral college of all MPs and all State legislators is the wrong statement. Only elected MPs and MLAs vote. |
| Elected member of the Delhi or Puducherry Assembly | Yes, since the 70th Amendment (1992) |
Term, resignation, removal and immunity5 rows
| Office | Resigns by writing to | Removed by |
|---|---|---|
| President | The Vice-President | Impeachment by Parliament for violating the ConstitutionQ CDS 2020 (II): resigning by writing to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the false statement. |
| Vice-President | The President | A Rajya Sabha resolution agreed to by the Lok Sabha |
| Judge of the Supreme Court | The President | The President, after an address by both Houses passed by a special majorityQ CDS 2019 (II): a Supreme Court judge resigns to the President, not to the Chief Justice of India. |
| Comptroller and Auditor General | The President | In the same way as a Supreme Court judge |
| Speaker of the Lok Sabha | The Deputy Speaker | A Lok Sabha resolution passed by a majority of all its then members |
The Vice-President7 rows
| Person | Vice-President | President |
|---|---|---|
| Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 1952 to 1962 (two terms) | 1962 to 1967 |
| Zakir Husain | 1962 to 1967 | 1967 to 1969 |
| V. V. Giri | 1967 to 1969 | 1969 to 1974 |
| R. Venkataraman | 1984 to 1987 | 1987 to 1992 |
| Shankar Dayal Sharma | 1987 to 1992 | 1992 to 1997 |
| K. R. Narayanan | 1992 to 1997 | 1997 to 2002 |
| Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | Never (he was Speaker of the Lok Sabha) | 1977 to 1982Q CDS 2026 (I): of Radhakrishnan, Zakir Husain and Sanjiva Reddy, two had been Vice-President. |
Watch out for (6)
- Elected members only→ Electing the President
- A Minister may stand→ Electing the President
- The CAG is removed like a judge→ Term, resignation, removal and immunity
- Governors outrank former Presidents→ Term, resignation, removal and immunity
- Two different electoral colleges→ The Vice-President
- Sanjiva Reddy came from the Speaker's chair→ The Vice-President
Prime Minister, Ministers and Law Officers
Reference tables (3)
The Council of Ministers6 rows
| Article | What it says |
|---|---|
| 74 | The Council of Ministers aids and advises the President |
| 75(1A) | Ministers may number at most 15 per cent of the Lok Sabha's strength |
| 75(3) | The Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha |
| 75(5) | A non-member may be a minister for six months without a seatQ CDS 2021 (I): 'a person from outside Parliament can never be appointed to the Cabinet' is the wrong description. |
| 77 | Executive action is taken in the President's name |
| 78 | The Prime Minister keeps the President informed of the Council's decisionsQ CDS 2022 (I): the Article requiring the Prime Minister to furnish information to the President is 78. |
No-confidence and censure motions3 rows
| Point | No-confidence motion | Censure motion |
|---|---|---|
| Must it give reasons? | No | Yes |
| Against whom? | The whole Council of Ministers | A minister, a group of ministers or the whole CouncilQ CDS 2021 (I): a no-confidence motion is moved against the Council of Ministers, not one minister or the Prime Minister alone. |
| If passed | The Council of Ministers must resign | The government need not resign |
The Attorney General and Solicitor General4 rows
| Point | Attorney General | Solicitor General |
|---|---|---|
| Rank | First law officer | Second law officerQ CDS 2018 (I): the false statement was that the Attorney General is a whole-time counsel for the Government. |
| Source of the office | Article 76 of the Constitution | Not in the Constitution |
| Qualification | Fit to be a Supreme Court judge | Set by the appointment rules |
| Right to speak in Parliament | Yes, but no vote | No |
Watch out for (5)
- Fifteen per cent of the Lok Sabha→ The Council of Ministers
- A minister without a seat, for six months→ The Council of Ministers
- No reasons for no-confidence→ No-confidence and censure motions
- The Attorney General may practise privately→ The Attorney General and Solicitor General
- Only one law officer is in the Constitution→ The Attorney General and Solicitor General
Houses of Parliament and Their Members
Reference tables (4)
The two Houses and the Rajya Sabha's special powers9 rows
| State | Rajya Sabha seats |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 31, the most |
| Maharashtra | 19 |
| Tamil Nadu | 18Q CDS 2025 (I): of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu has the most seats. |
| Bihar | 16Q CDS 2021 (II): of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Karnataka, Bihar has the most seats. |
| West Bengal | 16 |
| Karnataka | 12 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 11 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 11 |
| Rajasthan | 10 |
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha10 rows
| Speaker | Years | Lok Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| G. V. Mavalankar (the first) | 1952 to 1956 | 1st |
| M. A. Ayyangar | 1956 to 1962 | 1st and 2nd |
| G. S. Dhillon | 1969 to 1975 | 4th and 5th |
| Balram Jakhar (the longest) | 1980 to 1989 | 7th and 8th |
| P. A. Sangma | 1996 to 1998 | 11thQ CDS 2022 (II): Ayyangar, Dhillon, Jakhar and Sangma were all Speakers of the Lok Sabha. |
| Manohar Joshi | 2002 to 2004 | 13thQ CDS 2024 (II): matched Joshi, Chatterjee, Meira Kumar and Mahajan to the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Lok Sabha. |
| Somnath Chatterjee | 2004 to 2009 | 14th |
| Meira Kumar (the first woman) | 2009 to 2014 | 15th |
| Sumitra Mahajan | 2014 to 2019 | 16th |
| Om Birla | 2019 onward | 17th and 18th |
Disqualification and the anti-defection law6 rows
| Case under the Tenth Schedule | Disqualified? |
|---|---|
| Member voluntarily gives up the party's membership | Yes |
| Member votes against the party whip without permission, not condoned within 15 days | Yes |
| Independent member joins a political party | Yes |
| Nominated member joins a party within six months of taking his seat | No |
| Nominated member joins a party after six months | Yes |
| Two-thirds of the legislature party agree to merge with another party | No |
Parliamentary privileges5 rows
| Situation | Protected by privilege? |
|---|---|
| A speech made in the Lok Sabha | Yes, no court may act on it |
| A vote given in a parliamentary committee | Yes |
| The same remark repeated at a press conference | No |
| Arrest in a civil case during a session | Yes |
| Arrest on a criminal charge or under preventive detention | NoQ CDS 2025 (I): privilege does not extend to freedom from preventive arrest or detention. |
Watch out for (7)
- The Rajya Sabha is elected indirectly→ The two Houses and the Rajya Sabha's special powers
- Tamil Nadu 18, Bihar 16→ The two Houses and the Rajya Sabha's special powers
- The Speaker resigns to the Deputy Speaker→ The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- A casting vote is not a second vote→ The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- Two deciders for two kinds of disqualification→ Disqualification and the anti-defection law
- Freedom from arrest is civil only→ Parliamentary privileges
- Privilege covers the House, not private life→ Parliamentary privileges
Bills, Motions and Committees
Reference tables (4)
Ordinary bills and the joint sitting4 rows
| Kind of bill | Can a joint sitting settle a deadlock? |
|---|---|
| Ordinary bill | Yes |
| Financial bill that is not a money bill | Yes |
| Money bill | No, the Rajya Sabha can only delay it 14 days |
| Constitutional amendment bill | No, each House passes it separately |
Money bills and the budget5 rows
| Article | Rule |
|---|---|
| 109 | The Rajya Sabha must return a money bill within 14 daysQ CDS 2017 (II): the Rajya Sabha can hold up a money bill for two weeks. |
| 110 | What a money bill is, and what does not make one (fines, fees, local taxes)Q CDS 2022 (I): fines imposed by a local authority for local purposes are not a money bill provision. |
| 112 | The Annual Financial Statement (the budget) is laid before ParliamentQ CDS 2019 (II): the statement of estimated receipts and expenditure is required by Article 112. |
| 113 | Demands for grants are voted by the Lok Sabha |
| 117 | A money bill needs the President's recommendation |
The adjournment motion and other devices4 rows
| Device | Key point |
|---|---|
| Question Hour | The first hour of a sitting; starred questions get an oral answer, unstarred a written one |
| Zero Hour | Starts right after Question Hour; an Indian practice not in the rules of procedure |
| Calling attention motion | Calls a minister's attention to an urgent matter; an Indian innovation of 1954 |
| Adjournment motion | Lok Sabha only; urgent matter of recent occurrence; 50 members' supportQ CDS 2025 (I): the false statement was that it may cover a matter within a State Government's jurisdiction. |
Parliamentary committees6 rows
| Committee | Members (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha) | Chairperson |
|---|---|---|
| Public Accounts Committee | 15 + 7 = 22 | Appointed by the Speaker |
| Estimates Committee | 30 + 0 = 30 | Appointed by the SpeakerQ CDS 2023 (I): the Estimates Committee is the one with no Rajya Sabha members. |
| Committee on Public Undertakings | 15 + 7 = 22 | Appointed by the Speaker |
| Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes | 20 + 10 = 30 | Appointed by the Speaker |
| Empowerment of Women | 20 + 10 = 30 | Appointed by the Speaker |
| Welfare of Other Backward Classes | 20 + 10 = 30 | Appointed by the SpeakerQ CDS 2026 (II): the Speaker appoints this committee's chairperson; on every committee in that question the Lok Sabha has more members. |
Watch out for (6)
- A joint committee needs both Houses→ Ordinary bills and the joint sitting
- The Rajya Sabha can talk, not block→ Money bills and the budget
- A constitutional amendment can start in the Rajya Sabha→ Money bills and the budget
- Union matters only→ The adjournment motion and other devices
- The Estimates Committee is a standing committee→ Parliamentary committees
- Chairpersons are appointed, not elected→ Parliamentary committees
Supreme Court and High Courts
Reference tables (3)
Judges of the Supreme Court3 rows
| Route to the Supreme Court | What is needed |
|---|---|
| Judge of a High Court | At least 5 years |
| Advocate of a High Court | At least 10 yearsQ CDS 2018 (II): twenty years as a sub-judicial magistrate is not a qualification. |
| Distinguished jurist | So in the opinion of the President |
Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court6 rows
| Jurisdiction | Article | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Original | 131 | Centre against States, or State against State |
| Writ | 32 | Enforcement of Fundamental Rights, shared with the High CourtsQ CDS 2016 (II): 'exclusive power to issue writs' is the false statement about the Supreme Court. |
| Special leave | 136 | Appeal from any court or tribunal, at the Court's discretion |
| Review | 137 | Reviewing its own judgment or order |
| Advisory | 143 | A question of law or fact referred by the President |
| Language of proceedings | 348 | English in the Supreme Court and the High CourtsQ CDS 2019 (II): the rule that Supreme Court proceedings are in English is in Article 348, not Article 145 or the Supreme Court Rules. |
High Courts and their benches4 rows
| High Court | Principal seat | Benches |
|---|---|---|
| Allahabad | Prayagraj (Allahabad) | Lucknow |
| Madhya Pradesh | Jabalpur | Gwalior and Indore |
| Rajasthan | Jodhpur | Jaipur |
| Gauhati | Guwahati | Kohima, Aizawl and ItanagarQ CDS 2021 (II): 'the Gauhati High Court has no bench' is the false statement. |
Watch out for (3)
- The President, not the Chief Justice, judges the jurist→ Judges of the Supreme Court
- Writ power is shared→ Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
- Parliament sets up a common High Court→ High Courts and their benches
Writs and Landmark Cases
Reference tables (3)
The five writs and natural justice5 rows
| Writ | Meaning | Used when |
|---|---|---|
| Habeas corpus | You may have the body | A person is detained unlawfullyQ Asked twice, CDS 2016 (II) and 2017 (II): the writ for freedom after unlawful arrest is habeas corpus. |
| Mandamus | We command | A public official fails to do a public duty |
| Prohibition | To forbid | A lower court or tribunal is about to exceed its jurisdiction |
| Certiorari | To be certified | A lower court or tribunal has decided without or beyond jurisdictionQ CDS 2023 (I): both conditions are needed: a body with legal authority and a duty to act judicially, which acted without jurisdiction. |
| Quo warranto | By what authority | Someone holds a public office created by law without the right to it |
Which courts issue writs3 rows
| Court | Article | Writs for |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court | 32 | Fundamental Rights onlyQ CDS 2020 (I): the Supreme Court can refuse relief under Article 32 when no fundamental right has been infringed. |
| High Courts | 226 | Fundamental Rights and other legal rights |
| District and other lower courts | None | Cannot issue writs |
Landmark cases CDS names7 rows
| Case | Year | What it decided |
|---|---|---|
| Kesavananda Bharati | 1973 | Parliament cannot change the basic structure of the Constitution |
| Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan | 1997 | Guidelines against sexual harassment at the workplaceQ CDS 2018 (I): the Vishaka judgment pertains to sexual harassment at the workplace. |
| Naz Foundation v. Government of NCT of Delhi | 2009 (Delhi High Court) | Section 377 tested against Articles 14, 15 and 21 and read downQ CDS 2022 (I) and 2024 (II): the Section 377 challenge is the Naz Foundation case, brought by the Naz Foundation (India) Trust. |
| Shreya Singhal v. Union of India | 2015 | Struck down Section 66A of the IT Act (online speech) |
| Shayara Bano v. Union of India | 2017 | Instant triple talaq is invalid |
| K. S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India | 2017 | Privacy is a Fundamental Right |
| Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India | 2018 | Consensual same-sex relations between adults are no crime |
Watch out for (6)
- Prohibition before, certiorari after→ The five writs and natural justice
- Quo warranto needs a broken rule→ The five writs and natural justice
- Double jeopardy is not natural justice→ The five writs and natural justice
- No writs from lower courts→ Which courts issue writs
- Naz Foundation was a High Court case→ Landmark cases CDS names
- Puttaswamy brought the case→ Landmark cases CDS names
Governor and State Legislature
Reference tables (3)
The Governor's powers5 rows
| Power | Who holds it in a State |
|---|---|
| Appointing the Advocate General | The GovernorQ CDS 2019 (II): the Advocate General is appointed by the Governor, not by the President on the Governor's recommendation. |
| Appointing State PSC members | The Governor |
| Removing State PSC members | The PresidentQ CDS 2026 (I): the false statement was that the President removes them on the Governor's report. |
| Pardoning an offence against State law | The Governor |
| Diplomatic and military powers | Nobody in the State: these are the President's |
The Governor's ordinance power4 rows
| Point | Rule under Article 213 |
|---|---|
| When it can be issued | Only when the Legislature is not in session |
| On whose advice | The Council of Ministers; not discretionaryQ CDS 2018 (II): the false statement was that the aid and advice of ministers is not required. |
| Life after the Legislature meets | Six weeks from reassembly |
| Laid before | The Assembly, and the Council too where one exists |
The State legislature and Legislative Councils10 rows
| State | Assembly seats | Legislative Council? |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 403, the most | Yes |
| West Bengal | 294 | NoQ CDS 2018 (I): of West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, West Bengal has the most Assembly seats. |
| Maharashtra | 288 | Yes |
| Bihar | 243 | Yes |
| Tamil Nadu | 234 | No |
| Madhya Pradesh | 230 | No |
| Karnataka | 224 | Yes |
| Andhra Pradesh | 175 | Yes |
| Telangana | 119 | YesQ CDS 2022 (II): Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh all have bicameral legislatures. |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 60 | No |
Watch out for (5)
- The Chief Minister reports to the Governor→ The Governor's powers
- The Governor appoints, the President removes→ The Governor's powers
- Six weeks, not two months→ The Governor's ordinance power
- One-third from local bodies→ The State legislature and Legislative Councils
- The Chief Minister is not part of the Legislature→ The State legislature and Legislative Councils
Constitutional Bodies
Reference tables (4)
The Election Commission4 rows
| Task | Done by |
|---|---|
| Conducting Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections | The Election Commission |
| Conducting the President's and Vice-President's elections | The Election Commission |
| Appointing Regional Commissioners | The President, after consulting the CommissionQ CDS 2018 (II): appointing Regional Commissioners is not among the Commission's own powers. |
| Conducting panchayat and municipal elections | The State Election Commission |
The CAG, the Finance Commission and the order of commissions7 rows
| Body | Set up | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Election Commission | 25 January 1950 | Article 324 |
| Planning Commission | March 1950 | A Cabinet resolution, not the Constitution |
| First Finance Commission | November 1951 | Article 280; chaired by K. C. NeogyQ CDS 2020 (I): from the earliest, the order is Election, Planning, Finance and then Investment Commission. |
| Investment Commission | 2004 | An advisory body chaired by Ratan Tata |
| Fourteenth Finance Commission | 2013 | Chaired by Y. V. Reddy; raised the States' share to 42 per cent for 2015 to 2020Q CDS 2016 (II): the chairman of the Fourteenth Finance Commission was Y. V. Reddy. |
| Fifteenth Finance Commission | 2017 | Chaired by N. K. Singh; States' share 41 per cent |
| Sixteenth Finance Commission | 2023 | Chaired by Arvind Panagariya, for 2026 to 2031 |
Commissions for SCs, STs and Backward Classes5 rows
| Commission | Article | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| National Commission for Scheduled Castes | 338 | A separate commission since the 89th Amendment (2003) |
| National Commission for Scheduled Tribes | 338A | Inserted by the 89th Amendment (2003) |
| National Commission for Backward Classes | 338B | Made constitutional by the 102nd Amendment (2018)Q CDS 2026 (I): it is a constitutional body and the 1993 Act is repealed; it is not headed by a ministry Secretary. |
| First Backward Classes Commission | 340 | Appointed 1953, chaired by Kaka KalelkarQ CDS 2025 (I): Kalelkar chaired the First commission; Mandal chaired the Second, not the Third. |
| Second Backward Classes Commission | 340 | Appointed 1979, chaired by B. P. Mandal |
Civil services and the All India Services4 rows
| Article | What it says |
|---|---|
| 309 | The legislature regulates recruitment and conditions of service |
| 310 | Civil servants hold office during the pleasure of the President or Governor |
| 311 | Safeguards against dismissal, removal or reduction in rank |
| 312 | Parliament creates All India Services after a Rajya Sabha resolutionQ CDS 2017 (II): an All India Service may be created by an Act of Parliament; the Rajya Sabha's endorsement is essential. |
Watch out for (5)
- Commissioners are protected by the Chief→ The Election Commission
- CAG reports go to the President→ The CAG, the Finance Commission and the order of commissions
- The Planning Commission was never constitutional→ The CAG, the Finance Commission and the order of commissions
- Reports go to both Houses→ Commissions for SCs, STs and Backward Classes
- The UPSC does not make the service rules→ Civil services and the All India Services
Statutory Bodies and Key Laws
Reference tables (4)
Human rights and women's commissions4 rows
| Body | Created by | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| National Human Rights Commission | Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 | Inquires suo motu or on petition; visits jails; promotes researchQ CDS 2018 (I): all four (suo motu inquiry, inquiry on petition, jail visits, research) are NHRC functions. |
| State Human Rights Commission | The same Act | The same work at State level |
| Human Rights Courts | The same Act | A Sessions Court named in each district to try rights offences quicklyQ CDS 2024 (I): the Human Rights Council (a UN body) is the one not under the 1993 Act. |
| National Commission for Women | NCW Act, 1990 (set up 1992) | Reviews safeguards for women; advises on policyQ CDS 2017 (II) and 2025 (I): the NCW was created by an Act of Parliament and is a statutory body. |
Vigilance, tribunals and other statutory bodies7 rows
| Body | Set up | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Central Vigilance Commission | 1964; statutory 2003 | Chosen by the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Leader of the OppositionQ CDS 2025 (I): all three statements were correct, including the place for the leader of the largest opposition group. |
| National Green Tribunal | 2010 | Not bound by the Code of Civil Procedure |
| Administrative Tribunals | Article 323A; Act of 1985 | Cannot exclude the Supreme Court's special leave jurisdictionQ CDS 2019 (I): the false statement was that such tribunals can exclude the jurisdiction of all courts. |
| Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India | 1 October 2016 | Regulator under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 |
| National Highways Authority of India | Act of 1988 | Collects fees, regulates vehicles on its highways, offers consultancy in India and abroad |
| Directorate of Enforcement | Department of Revenue | Enforces FEMA and the PMLA |
| Northern Zonal Council | States Reorganisation Act, 1956 | Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, LadakhQ CDS 2023 (I): Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are not in it; they belong to the Central Zonal Council. |
The National Disaster Management Authority4 rows
| Level | Body | Chaired by |
|---|---|---|
| National | National Disaster Management Authority | The Prime MinisterQ CDS 2020 (II): the NDMA functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. |
| State | State Disaster Management Authority | The Chief Minister |
| District | District Disaster Management Authority | The District Collector or Magistrate |
| City (since 2025) | Urban Disaster Management Authority | The Municipal CommissionerQ CDS 2026 (II): the 2025 amendment's national database, urban risk provision and city authorities were all correct. |
Laws CDS names, with their years8 rows
| Act | Year |
|---|---|
| Consumer Protection Act | 1986 (replaced by a new Act in 2019) |
| Information Technology Act | 2000 |
| Right to Information Act | 2005 |
| Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act | 2005Q CDS 2016 (II): the false statement was that relief can be sought only against the husband or male partner. |
| Forest Rights Act (Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers) | 2006 |
| Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act | 2012 |
| Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act | 2013Q CDS 2026 (I): verbal, non-verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature all count. |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (replacing the Indian Penal Code) | 2023 |
Watch out for (7)
- The NHRC can act on its own→ Human rights and women's commissions
- The NCW is statutory→ Human rights and women's commissions
- The NGT follows natural justice, not the CPC→ Vigilance, tribunals and other statutory bodies
- The ED does not enforce the Benami law→ Vigilance, tribunals and other statutory bodies
- The Prime Minister, not the Home Minister→ The National Disaster Management Authority
- RTI is 2005, POCSO is 2012→ Laws CDS names, with their years
- Domestic violence relief reaches relatives→ Laws CDS names, with their years
Ministries, NITI Aayog and Schemes
Reference tables (4)
NITI Aayog5 rows
| Part of NITI Aayog | Who |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | The Prime Minister |
| Governing Council | Chief Ministers of all States and of Union Territories with a legislature; Lieutenant Governors of the other Union TerritoriesQ CDS 2025 (I): the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh is a member of the Governing Council. |
| Vice-Chairperson | Appointed by the Prime Minister |
| Chief Executive Officer | Appointed by the Prime Minister |
| Ex officio members | Up to four Union Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister |
Which ministry runs what8 rows
| Body or task | Belongs to |
|---|---|
| National Authority, Chemical Weapons Convention | The Cabinet SecretariatQ CDS 2023 (I): it is the one not under the Ministry of Home Affairs. |
| Department of Public Enterprises | Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises until July 2021; Ministry of Finance sinceQ CDS 2020 (I) asked the old two-department ministry; CDS 2021 (II) asked the new home, the Ministry of Finance. |
| Policy on Intellectual Property Rights | Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) |
| Nodal agency for the UN Environment Programme | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change |
| National Dope Testing Laboratory | Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports |
| Prime Minister's National Relief Fund | The Prime Minister's Office |
| Public Financial Management System | Controller General of Accounts |
| Implementing telecom policy | The Digital Communications Commission (Department of Telecommunications) |
Training academies and government institutions5 rows
| Institution | Place |
|---|---|
| Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration | Mussoorie |
| National Academy of Audit and Accounts | Shimla |
| National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics | Palasamudram (Andhra Pradesh) |
| All India Institute of Local Self Government | Mumbai |
| National Water Academy | Khadakwasla, PuneQ CDS 2018 (I): it trains in-service engineers, but it is in Pune, not New Delhi. |
Schemes for MPs and villages5 rows
| Scheme | Run by | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| MPLADS | Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation | MPs recommend; the district authority sanctions and executesQ CDS 2020 (I): the false statement was that MPs sanction, execute and complete the works. |
| Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana | Ministry of Rural Development | Launched 11 October 2014 |
| DAY-NRLM | Ministry of Rural Development | Income for women's self-help groupsQ CDS 2026 (I): STRY and DAY-NRLM were described correctly; SVEP does not exclude self-help group members. |
| Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme | Ministry of Rural Development (under DAY-NRLM) | Rural small businesses |
| Skill Training of Rural Youth | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare | Skills in farming and allied themes |
Watch out for (6)
- No inter-state disputes→ NITI Aayog
- Legal Affairs is not a Home department→ Which ministry runs what
- TRAI regulates, it does not implement→ Which ministry runs what
- The National Recruitment Agency is recent and not constitutional→ Training academies and government institutions
- MPs recommend, they do not spend→ Schemes for MPs and villages
- SAGY is a Rural Development scheme→ Schemes for MPs and villages
PYQ weightage by concept
35 concepts · 144 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
PYQ weightage by concept
35 concepts · 144 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
The President and Vice-President10 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electing the President | 4 | 3% |
| Term, resignation, removal and immunity | 4 | 3% |
| The Vice-President | 2 | 1% |
Prime Minister, Ministers and Law Officers8 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The Council of Ministers | 4 | 3% |
| No-confidence and censure motions | 2 | 1% |
| The Attorney General and Solicitor General | 2 | 1% |
Houses of Parliament and Their Members19 PYQs · 13%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The Speaker of the Lok Sabha | 7 | 5% |
| The two Houses and the Rajya Sabha's special powers | 6 | 4% |
| Disqualification and the anti-defection law | 4 | 3% |
| Parliamentary privileges | 2 | 1% |
Bills, Motions and Committees14 PYQs · 10%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Money bills and the budget | 5 | 3% |
| Parliamentary committees | 5 | 3% |
| Ordinary bills and the joint sitting | 2 | 1% |
| The adjournment motion and other devices | 2 | 1% |
Supreme Court and High Courts10 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Judges of the Supreme Court | 4 | 3% |
| Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court | 4 | 3% |
| High Courts and their benches | 2 | 1% |
Writs and Landmark Cases12 PYQs · 8%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The five writs and natural justice | 5 | 3% |
| Landmark cases CDS names | 5 | 3% |
| Which courts issue writs | 2 | 1% |
Governor and State Legislature15 PYQs · 10%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The Governor's powers | 7 | 5% |
| The State legislature and Legislative Councils | 5 | 3% |
| The Governor's ordinance power | 3 | 2% |
Constitutional Bodies11 PYQs · 8%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions for SCs, STs and Backward Classes | 4 | 3% |
| The CAG, the Finance Commission and the order of commissions | 3 | 2% |
| The Election Commission | 2 | 1% |
| Civil services and the All India Services | 2 | 1% |
Statutory Bodies and Key Laws22 PYQs · 15%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vigilance, tribunals and other statutory bodies | 7 | 5% |
| Laws CDS names, with their years | 7 | 5% |
| Human rights and women's commissions | 5 | 3% |
| The National Disaster Management Authority | 3 | 2% |
Ministries, NITI Aayog and Schemes23 PYQs · 16%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Which ministry runs what | 11 | 8% |
| Training academies and government institutions | 5 | 3% |
| Schemes for MPs and villages | 4 | 3% |
| NITI Aayog | 3 | 2% |
Test yourself on Government Structure — Parliament, Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.