Polity
Government Policy
Welcome to the dedicated section on Government Policy, a cornerstone of your UPSC Civil Services Examination preparation, falling under the broader umbrella of Polity and Governance. In the Indian administrative context
373 articles in this topic
Articles on Government Policy
Corruption in the Governance of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
In News The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) recently blacklisted 178 Training Partners (TPs) and Training Centres (TCs) for large-scale irregularities under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). About PMKVY Launched: 2015 under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Implementing Agency: National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
India & Its Quasi-Federal Model
As India approaches the 76th anniversary of the Constitution, there is renewed reflection on its core values and structural foundations. The Indian Federation continues to exemplify the balance between national unity and regional diversity.
An Amended Constitution Bill: Its Contentious Issues
The introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025 aiming to enhance governance and accountability, along with serious risks to democratic principles and civil liberties.
Freedom of Religion and Right to Privacy Interlinked: Supreme Court
Context The Supreme Court of India has recently held that the freedom of religion under Article 25 and the right to privacy under Article 21 are deeply interlinked. Supreme Court ruling The judgment arose in response to multiple petitions challenging provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, highlighting the constitutional balance between individual autonomy and state control. It stated that privacy is a “condition precedent” for exercising freedom of re
Contours of Constitutional Morality
In recent years, India’s constitutional courts have revived the concept of ‘constitutional morality’ for constitutional interpretation and judicial reasoning, and has become a litmus test for the constitutional validity of laws and a safeguard against the volatility of public morality.
Government Defends Forest Rights Act in Supreme Court
Context The Central Government has defended the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, before the Supreme Court, emphasizing that the legislation is restoring the dignity, livelihoods, and cultural identity of India’s forest-dependent communities. Background The FRA, was challenged in the Supreme Court in 2008 by Wildlife First, an NGO which called for the eviction of people whose FRA claims had been rejected. In February 2019, the court directed states to evict all claimants whose FRA claims had been r
India’s Urban Crisis Deepens as States Choke City-Level Governance
Urban India is buckling under the weight of rapid, unplanned growth, with dysfunctions ranging from clogged drains and toxic air to flooded streets and crumbling infrastructure — highlighting the urgent need for empowered city-level governance, often stifled by state control.
Can match-fixing be Legally Considered Cheating?
Context The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) approached the Supreme Court seeking to intervene in a criminal appeal related to alleged match-fixing in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) in 2018-19. About The Karnataka High Court quashed the criminal proceedings, holding that while match-fixing was reprehensible, it did not amount to the offence of cheating as defined by Section 420 IPC. BCCI argues that match-fixing should be viewed as cheating as there is an implied promise to spect
Govt. Notifies Amendments to IT Rules, 2021 To Regulate AI-generated Content
Context The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has proposed amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 under powers granted by the Information Technology Act, 2000. Key Proposed Amendments Authorized Officers for Content Regulation: Only Joint Secretary-rank officers (or equivalent in Central Government) and Director General of Police-rank officers (for states) can issue takedown requests. This would preven
We Need a Law to Protect Domestic Workers
The Supreme Court of Indias directive to the Union government to enact a comprehensive law outlining the rights of domestic workers and to establish a committee for drafting the legislative framework remains shrouded in uncertainty, and progress remains slow.
Reservations in Local Bodies
Context The Supreme Court declined to interfere with a Telangana High Court order that had stayed two Government Orders enhancing the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in municipalities and panchayats to 42%. About The Telangana High Court stayed the increase, citing the 50% ceiling set by Supreme Court precedents, but allowed elections to proceed with total reservations capped at 50%. Supreme Court’s Observations: Dismissed Telangana’s appeal; allowed elections to proceed without en
Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025
Context The Ministry of Power has released the Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to reform India’s power sector and strengthen distribution companies (discoms). What are the implications? Fiscal Transparency: By ending hidden cross-subsidies, the Bill promotes fiscal accountability though it may raise short-term deficits.
Twenty Years of Right To Information (RTI)
The Right to Information (RTI) Act, which once empowered the ordinary Indian to challenge the extraordinary opacity of governance, facing the challenges of erosion of its power, governance and others.
India Needs a National Mission For Urban Roads
India’s urban roads have deteriorated significantly, marked by potholes, broken footpaths, unplanned utilities, and flooding.
Supreme Court on Retrospective Application of Surrogacy Act
In News In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that the age restrictions under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, cannot be applied retrospectively to couples who had frozen embryos and initiated the surrogacy process before the Act came into force. SC Observations Doctrine of Fairness: Retrospective laws that impair vested rights or impose new burdens violate the principle of fairness and legal certainty. Right to Privacy and Bodily Autonomy: Derived from K.S.
e-Governance: Digital Transformation of Governance in India
Context The evolution of e-governance in India has reshaped governance from a top-down administrative model into a participatory, transparent, and citizen-centric ecosystem. About e-Governance in India It represents a paradigm shift in how the government interacts with citizens, businesses, and other arms of the state. India has reimagined governance to be more transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric by leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Why Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Is Crucial for India’s Courts?
Context India’s judicial system is grappling with an unprecedented backlog underscoring the urgent need for alternative mechanisms to ensure timely delivery of justice. Constitutional and Legal Basis of ADR Article 39A: It mandates the State to ensure equal justice and free legal aid. Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure (1908): ADR processes such as arbitration, conciliation, mediation, and judicial settlement (Lok Adalat) derive statutory recognition from Section 89 CPC.
NCRB 2023 Report Highlights Alarming Trends of Road Accidents in India
Context According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded 4,64,029 road accidents in 2023, leading to 1,73,826 deaths and 4.47 lakh injuries. Key Findings Nearly 46% of the victims were two-wheeler riders, reflecting the vulnerability of motorcyclists in India’s traffic ecosystem.
National Initiative on Water Security
In News The Government of India has launched the ‘National Initiative on Water Security,’ making water conservation a top national priority and introducing mandatory minimum spending on water-related works under MGNREGA. What Qualifies as Water Conservation Works? Construction of check dams, farm ponds, community tanks, and percolation tanks.
Driving Digital Transformation in Gram Panchayats
Context The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has launched a series of digital reforms to strengthen Gram Panchayats. Need for the Digital Transformation of Villages Bridging the Digital Divide: Rural India still faces low internet penetration and digital illiteracy, digital transformation helps ensure inclusive growth and reduces inequality. Improved Governance and Service Delivery: Digital platforms enable direct benefit transfers (DBT), e-Governance, and online grievance redressal.