Indian Polity for UPSC Prelims and Mains, straight from the Constitution
Polity is the highest-yield section in Prelims and it is examined from the bare text of the Constitution: Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, the Union and State executive, Parliament, the judiciary, emergency provisions and the amendment procedure. Read the actual article, see how the Supreme Court has read it, then drill it.
What this covers
Covers the Constitution of India in full — every article, schedule and amendment. It does not cover the non-Polity portions of the General Studies syllabus (history, geography, economy, environment).
Constitution
- Part IThe Union and its Territory20 Q
- Part IICitizenship35 Q
- Part IIIFundamental Rights150 Q
- Part IVDirective Principles of State Policy95 Q
- Part IVAFundamental Duties5 Q
- Part VThe Union497 Q
- Part VIThe States425 Q
- Part VIIThe States in Part B of the First Schedule (Repealed)2 Q
- Part VIIIThe Union Territories34 Q
- Part IXThe Panchayats78 Q
- Part IXAThe Municipalities89 Q
- Part IXBThe Co-operative Societies64 Q
- Part XThe Scheduled and Tribal Areas10 Q
- Part XIRelations between the Union and the States100 Q
- Part XIIFinance, Property, Contracts and Suits189 Q
- Part XIIITrade, Commerce and Intercourse within the Territory of India30 Q
- Part XIVServices under the Union and the States75 Q
- Part XIVATribunals10 Q
- Part XVElections30 Q
- Part XVISpecial Provisions relating to Certain Classes70 Q
- Part XVIIOfficial Language55 Q
- Part XVIIIEmergency Provisions45 Q
- Part XIXMiscellaneous45 Q
- Part XXAmendment of the Constitution5 Q
- Part XXITemporary, Transitional and Special Provisions107 Q
- Part XXIIShort Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals17 Q
Common questions
Is reading the bare Constitution enough for UPSC Polity?
The bare text is where the questions come from, but Prelims increasingly tests how a provision has been interpreted. Each article here carries the exact text, a plain-language explanation and the landmark judgments that shaped it — which is the combination the exam actually rewards.
Which articles matter most for UPSC Prelims?
Part III (Fundamental Rights, Articles 12–35) and Part IV (Directive Principles) are the densest scoring areas, followed by the provisions on Parliament, the President, the Supreme Court and the emergency provisions in Part XVIII. The schedules and the amendment list are reliable one-mark questions.
Does the new criminal law (BNS) matter for UPSC?
It is not part of the Polity syllabus, but the transition from the IPC to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is live current affairs and has appeared in Mains and the interview. The IPC → BNS map on this site covers it.
Question counts are live from the database. Questions are generated from the statute text and independently verified against it; flagged questions are withheld. Education, not legal advice.