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INDIAN POLITY TERMS – ONE-LINER Q&A

January 11, 2026
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Q: What is the Constitution?

A: Supreme law of the land

Q: What is Sovereignty?

A: Absolute authority of the state

Q: What does Secular mean in Indian polity?

A: No state religion

Q: What is Federalism?

A: Division of powers between Centre and States

Q: What is Republic?

A: Head of state is elected

Q: What is Parliamentary system?

A: Executive is responsible to legislature

Q: What is Rule of Law?

A: Equality before law

Q: What is Universal Adult Franchise?

A: Right to vote for all adults

Q: What is Bicameral Legislature?

A: Two houses of Parliament

Q: What is Unicameral Legislature?

A: Single house legislature

Q: What is Lok Sabha?

A: Lower House of Parliament

Q: What is Rajya Sabha?

A: Upper House of Parliament

Q: What is Quorum?

A: Minimum members required to conduct business

Q: What is Adjournment?

A: Suspension of sitting for a short period

Q: What is Prorogation?

A: Termination of a session

Q: What is Dissolution?

A: Ending of Lok Sabha

Q: What is Zero Hour?

A: Time for raising urgent issues

Q: What is Question Hour?

A: First hour of parliamentary sitting

Q: What is Whip?

A: Party direction to members

Q: What is Money Bill?

A: Bill dealing only with financial matters

Q: What is Ordinary Bill?

A: Bill on non-financial matters

Q: What is Joint Sitting?

A: Combined meeting of both Houses

Q: What is No-Confidence Motion?

A: Motion to remove government

Q: What is Censure Motion?

A: Motion to criticise government policy

Q: What is Cut Motion?

A: Proposal to reduce budget demand

Q: What is Impeachment?

A: Removal of President or judges

Q: What is Ordinance?

A: Law made by President when Parliament not in session

Q: What is Veto power?

A: Power to withhold assent

Q: What is Collective Responsibility?

A: Council of Ministers accountable to Lok Sabha

Q: What is Cabinet?

A: Core decision-making body

Q: What are Fundamental Rights?

A: Justiciable rights in Part III

Q: What are DPSPs?

A: Non-justiciable policy principles

Q: What are Fundamental Duties?

A: Moral obligations of citizens

Q: What is Judicial Review?

A: Power to examine constitutionality of laws

Q: What is PIL?

A: Public Interest Litigation

Q: What is Habeas Corpus?

A: Protection against illegal detention

Q: What is Mandamus?

A: Order to perform public duty

Q: What is Certiorari?

A: Order to quash lower court decision

Q: What is Quo Warranto?

A: Inquiry into legality of office

Q: What is Writ jurisdiction?

A: Power to issue constitutional remedies

Q: What is Election Commission?

A: Constitutional body for elections

Q: What is UPSC?

A: Central recruitment agency

Q: What is Finance Commission?

A: Body for centre-state revenue distribution

Q: What is Attorney General?

A: Chief legal advisor of Government

Q: What is CAG?

A: Auditor of public finances

Q: What is Amendment?

A: Change in Constitution

Q: What is Basic Structure?

A: Core features of Constitution

Q: What is Cooperative Federalism?

A: Centre-state cooperation

Q: What is Single Citizenship?

A: One citizenship for entire country

Q: What is Secession?

A: Separation from the state (not allowed in India)