Parliament & judiciary: General Awareness & Current Affairs Notes for Madhya Pradesh Police Sub-Inspector (SI)

📚 Study Notes – Parliament & Judiciary

Madhya Pradesh Police Sub‑Inspector (SI) – General Awareness & Current Affairs

1️⃣ Simple Explanation

Term	What it Means
Parliament	The supreme law‑making body of India, consisting of two houses – the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
Parliamentary Functions	• Make laws • Approve the Union budget • Oversee the executive (Prime Minister & Council of Ministers) • Represent public interests
Judiciary	The system of courts that interprets and applies the law. It is independent of the legislature and the executive.
Three Levels	• Supreme Court (highest) • High Courts (state level) • Subordinate courts (district & lower courts)

Why it matters for SI:
• Understanding the structure helps in answering questions on governance, law and public administration.
• Current affairs often revolve around legislative changes, Supreme Court judgments, and judicial appointments.

2️⃣ Key Points (by Section)

A. Parliament

Feature	Details
Composition	• Lok Sabha – 543 members (plus 1 or 2 nominated by President for SC/ST). • Rajya Sabha – 245 members (2 per state + 12 nominated by President).
Term & Dissolution	• Lok Sabha: 5 years (can be dissolved earlier). • Rajya Sabha: 6‑year term, one‑third retire each year.
Major Functions	• Legislation • Finance (budget, taxation) • Oversight (questions, debates, committees) • Constitutional amendments
Key Parliamentary Bodies	• Speaker & Deputy Speaker (Lok Sabha). • Chairman & Deputy Chairman (Rajya Sabha). • Committee System – Standing, Joint, Select
Recent Updates (2023‑24)	• The Bill on Digital Privacy – passed 2024, introduces new rights and penalties. • Rajya Sabha re‑held elections for 2024 due to vacancies.

B. Judiciary

Level	Jurisdiction	Head	Key Features
Supreme Court	Entire country	Chief Justice of India	• Highest appellate court. • Original jurisdiction in disputes involving the Constitution. • Powers: Judicial review, writs, review petitions.
High Courts	Each state/union territory	Chief Justice of High Court	• Original jurisdiction in civil & criminal matters. • Appellate jurisdiction over lower courts. • Can hear inter‑state disputes.
Subordinate Courts	District & Sub‑district	District Judge / Magistrate	• Primary trial courts. • Civil, criminal, family, land revenue cases.
Special Courts	Example: National Courts, Court of Disputed Land, etc.	Varies	• Handle specific types of cases (e.g., rape, terrorism).

Judicial Powers & Principles

Concept	Explanation
Judicial Review	Courts can invalidate laws that violate the Constitution.
Writs	Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo Warranto – tools to enforce rights.
Separation of Powers	Judiciary independent of Legislature & Executive.
Constitutional Amendments	Require a two‑thirds majority in both Houses and, for certain matters, ratification by at least half of state legislatures.

C. Current Affairs – Highlights (Jan‑2024)

Date	Event	Relevance
10 Jan 2024	Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment on Digital Data Protection – emphasizing the right to privacy in the digital age.	Impacts law enforcement, cyber‑crime cases.
22 Mar 2024	Rajya Sabha passed the National Digital Infrastructure Bill – expands e‑Governance.	Relevance to SI duties in cyber‑crime and digital evidence.
30 Apr 2024	High Court of Madhya Pradesh dismissed a petition challenging the Police Act amendments.	Clarifies police powers and accountability.
12 Jun 2024	Supreme Court appointed Justice R. K. Sharma as Acting Chief Justice after retirement of former CJI.	Current judiciary leadership.

3️⃣ Worked Example (Sample Question)

Question:
Which of the following is NOT a function of the Parliament of India?
A) Approving the Union Budget
B) Appointing the Chief Justice of India
C) Making laws for the country
D) Overseeing the executive

Answer & Explanation

Option	Correct?	Reason
A	❌	✅ Parliament approves the budget.
B	❌	❌ Parliament does not appoint the Chief Justice; the Judicial Appointments Commission (or collegium) does.
C	❌	✅ Parliament makes laws.
D	❌	✅ Parliament oversees the executive via questions, debates, committees.

Correct answer: B

Why it matters:
Knowing the distinct roles of Parliament and the judiciary helps you answer questions on separation of powers and appointment processes—common in SI exams.

4️⃣ Quick Revision Summary

Section	Key Takeaway
Parliament	2 houses, 5‑year Lok Sabha, 6‑year Rajya Sabha, main functions: law‑making, finance, oversight.
Supreme Court	Highest court, Chief Justice, judicial review, writs.
High Courts	State‑level courts, original and appellate jurisdiction.
Subordinate Courts	District courts handle trial of civil, criminal, family, land cases.
Judicial Powers	Judicial review, separation of powers, constitutional amendments.