GK Express of 18/02/2025
🚆 GK Express 2.0
Discipline • Clarity • Competitive Preparation
- Great Nicobar Project: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has approved the Rs 81,000-crore Great Nicobar project, stating that it found “no good ground” to intervene, while imposing stringent conditions to safeguard the environment.
- Dam Safety in India: The International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS) 2026 concluded successfully in Bengaluru, serving as a pivotal platform for strengthening India’s dam safety ecosystem.
- PM RAHAT Scheme : The Union Government launched the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) Scheme.
It is an initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to provide immediate, cashless treatment to road accident victims.
Subject: Indian Polity
Concept: Basic Structure Doctrine
The Basic Structure Doctrine was evolved by the Supreme Court in the historic Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala case (1973). According to this doctrine, Parliament has the authority to amend the Constitution under Article 368, but it cannot change or destroy the fundamental identity or core framework of the Constitution.
The judgment clarified that the amending power of Parliament is wide but not unlimited. Any constitutional amendment that damages the essential principles on which the Constitution is built can be declared invalid by the judiciary.
Important Elements of Basic Structure include:
- Supremacy of the Constitution
- Democratic and Republican form of Government
- Secularism
- Federalism
- Rule of Law
- Separation of Powers
- Judicial Review
- Independence of Judiciary
- Free and Fair Elections
- Protection of Fundamental Rights
This doctrine ensures that no government can misuse its parliamentary majority to abolish democracy, remove citizens’ rights, or convert India into an authoritarian system. It maintains a balance between Parliamentary sovereignty and constitutional supremacy.
Later judgments such as Indira Gandhi Case (1975), Minerva Mills Case (1980), and I.R. Coelho Case (2007) further strengthened and expanded the scope of the Basic Structure Doctrine.
Today, the doctrine acts as one of the strongest safeguards of Indian democracy and plays a crucial role in preserving the spirit and stability of the Constitution.
The Gujral Doctrine is a foreign policy approach introduced by former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral in the 1990s to improve India's relations with its neighbouring countries. It emphasized trust, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence in South Asia.
The doctrine focused on building friendly relations with India's neighbours without expecting reciprocal concessions from smaller countries. It aimed to strengthen regional stability and mutual confidence.
Main Principles of the Gujral Doctrine:
- India will not demand reciprocity from smaller neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
- No South Asian country should allow its territory to be used against the interests of another country.
- Respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Non-interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring states.
- Peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and cooperation.
The doctrine reflected India's role as a responsible regional power and aimed at creating goodwill and long-term partnerships in South Asia. It significantly influenced India's neighbourhood policy during the late 1990s.
The Gujral Doctrine remains important in understanding India's Neighbourhood First approach and regional diplomacy.
In the Indian Parliamentary system, a Whip is an important functionary of a political party responsible for maintaining party discipline and ensuring that members vote according to the party’s directions inside the legislature.
🔹 Meaning of Whip
- A Whip is both:
- A party official, and
- A written instruction issued to party members.
- Appointed by political parties in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
- Ensures coordination between party leadership and legislators.
🔹 Types of Whip
- One-line Whip: Members may attend; voting not compulsory.
- Two-line Whip: Members must be present during voting.
- Three-line Whip: Strict instruction; compulsory attendance and voting as directed.
🔹 Functions / Role of Whip
- Maintains party discipline in the House.
- Ensures members’ presence during important debates and voting.
- Communicates party policy and decisions to MPs/MLAs.
- Prevents cross-voting and political instability.
- Helps smooth functioning of parliamentary business.
🔹 Whip and Anti-Defection Law
- Related to Tenth Schedule (1985).
- If a member disobeys a party whip without permission → may face disqualification.
- Decision taken by Speaker/Chairman.
🔹 Criticism
- Reduces individual freedom of MPs.
- Limits healthy debate and independent opinion.
- Members sometimes become bound to party high command.
🧠 Main Point
Whip is not mentioned in the Constitution; it is based on parliamentary conventions.
Q.1 Which committee was appointed to review the working of the Panchayati Raj institutions in 1977?
Q.2 Under which Article can the President of India declare a National Emergency?
1. How many schedules were there in Indian Constitution on 26th January, 1950?
2. What is the full form of NAM?
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In todays gk i learned so much of things like about whip I. K kujral doctrine etc... Thanks brother ☺☺
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