Indian Polity and Governance

Section 21 IPC defines 'public servant'. Liquidators (appointed by court), civil judges, and panchayat members assisting courts are explicitly included. However, the secretary of a cooperative society is NOT a public servant unless the cooperative is specifically notified by the government. Cooperative societies are generally private bodies, not state instruments.

Lal Bahadur Shastri served as the Railway Minister of India from 1952 to 1956 under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He later became India's second Prime Minister (1964-1966). His tenure as Railway Minister is remembered for his integrity and resignation after a major railway accident, taking moral responsibility.

The President of India is elected by an Electoral College consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabhas). This indirect election system ensures federal representation.

PM resigns if he loses the majority in the house. It is a convention and not mentioned in the Constitution. Conventions are unwritten practices which are binding on the three organs of the state.

Under Article 76, impeachment procedure for the Attorney General is not provided. He shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. He must not be a member of either House of Parliament.

The President of India has a fixed 5-year term under Article 56. Governors serve at the pleasure of the President (no fixed term), while Prime Minister and Chief Justice have no constitutionally fixed terms.

Under Article 103 of the Indian Constitution, the President's decision on MP disqualification is final and cannot be challenged in court. The Speaker or Vice-President may recommend disqualification, but only the President decides.

Under Article 94 of the Indian Constitution, the Speaker of Lok Sabha submits resignation to the Deputy Speaker. This constitutional provision ensures continuity of the House's leadership structure during vacancies in the Speaker's office. The Deputy Speaker, being the second-highest presiding officer, is the appropriate authority to receive such resignation.

'Rubber stamp' means 'a person or organisation that gives automatic approval or authorisation to the decisions of others, without proper consideration'.

The moment the wakf is created, all rights of property pass out of the wakif and vest in the almighty. The manager of the wakf is called mutawalli. Neither a minor nor a person of unsound mind can be appointed a mutawalli.

As per provisions given under Article 281 of the Indian Constitution, the recommendations of the Finance Commission go to the President, who is constitutionally bound to place it before the two Houses of the Parliament.

Article 108 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to summon a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. This happens when a bill is passed by one House but rejected by the other, or when both Houses disagree on amendments. The Vice President presides over the Rajya Sabha but cannot call joint sessions.

In India, the Governor of a State serves as the Chancellor of State Universities. This is a constitutional convention where the Governor acts as the nominal head of universities in the state. The Chief Minister, Chief Justice, and President do not hold this position for state universities.

Kapil Sibal served as Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences from 2004 to 2009 in the UPA government. Ambika Soni handled Tourism and Culture, Kamal Nath was Commerce and Industry Minister. Science and Technology portfolio was with Sibal in 2007.

The President of India appoints the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, as with all state Governors, under Article 157 of the Constitution. This is a constitutional appointment made by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.