SSC CPO – General Awareness & Current Affairs
Topic: Parliament & Judiciary
Note – These notes are designed for quick revision, clear understanding, and exam‑ready highlighting of the most important facts.
1. Simple Explanation
| Concept | What it is | Why it matters for SSC CPO |
|---|---|---|
| Parliament | The central law‑making body of India. It consists of the President, the Lok Sabha (House of the People), and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). | Many questions test knowledge of powers, composition, and functioning of Parliament. |
| Judiciary | The system of courts that interprets and applies the law. The Supreme Court (highest) and High Courts (state level) are the core. | SSC CPO often asks about the structure, independence, and landmark judgments that shaped Indian law. |
2. Key Points
A. Parliament
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Structure | - Lok Sabha: 545 members (543 elected + 2 nominated). - Rajya Sabha: 245 members (233 elected by state legislatures + 12 nominated). |
| Powers | - Legislative: Make, amend, repeal laws. - Financial: Approve budgets, taxes. - Control: Oversight of the Executive (Question Hour, Committee reports). - Constitutional: Amend Constitution (requires 2/3 majority in both Houses). |
| Sessions | 3 sessions per year: Winter, Monsoon, Budget. |
| Procedure of a Bill | 1. Drafting 2. First Reading (introduction) 3. Second Reading (committee stage) 4. Third Reading (final debate) 5. Passage (majority in each House) 6. Presidential assent (or veto). |
| Committees | - Standing Committees (e.g., Estimates, Public Accounts) - Select Committees (e.g., Bill committees). |
| Key Facts | - Lok Sabha: 5‑year term, dissolved earlier by President on advice of PM. - Rajya Sabha: 6‑year term, one‑third retires every 2 years. - Speaker & Deputy Speaker: Preside over Lok Sabha. - Chairman & Deputy Chairman: Preside over Rajya Sabha. |
B. Judiciary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Hierarchy | 1. Supreme Court (SC) – apex. 2. High Courts – one per state/union territory. 3. District Courts – Civil & Criminal (First‑tier). 4. Sub‑ordinate Courts – Sub‑judges, Magistrates. |
| Functions | - Interpretation of Constitution (judicial review). - Protection of Fundamental Rights. - Dispute Resolution (civil, criminal, constitutional). - Advisory (to President, on legal matters). |
| Appointment | - Supreme Court: President appoints Chief Justice & others (consultation with collegium). - High Courts: Similar process, but includes Chief Justice of the High Court. |
| Tenure | - SC & High Courts: Retirement at 65 (SC) & 62 (High Court). |
| Key Principles | - Separation of Powers – independence from Legislature & Executive. - Judicial Review – power to strike down unconstitutional laws. - Constitutional Guardianship – safeguarding Fundamental Rights. |
| Landmark Judgments | - Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) – Basic Structure Doctrine. - S. R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) – Limits on President’s power. - Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) – Decriminalization of homosexuality. - Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) – Right to Privacy. |
| Recent Developments (2023‑24) | - Supreme Court: Judgments on Aadhaar privacy, digital rights, and AI regulation. - High Courts: Expansion of digital hearing platforms, e‑court initiatives. |
3. Worked Example – Passage of a Bill in Parliament
Scenario: 'The Clean Air Act 2025' is introduced to impose stricter emissions norms on industries.
| Stage | Activity | Key Players | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Drafting | Draft prepared by Ministry of Environment. | Ministry, Expert Committee. | Bill ready for introduction. |
| 2. First Reading | Bill presented in Lok Sabha; no debate. | Lok Sabha Speaker. | Bill tabled; scheduled for Second Reading. |
| 3. Second Reading | Bill referred to a Standing Committee (e.g., Public Accounts Committee). | Committee members (MPs). | Committee submits report with amendments. |
| 4. Third Reading | Full debate on the Bill and amendments. | Lok Sabha MPs. | Bill passed by majority. |
| 5. Rajya Sabha Review | Bill moved to Rajya Sabha; similar readings. | Rajya Sabha members. | Bill passed with or without amendments. |
| 6. Presidential Assent | President signs the Bill. | President. | Bill becomes law after 30 days (or sooner if urgent). |
Key Takeaway: A Bill must pass through both Houses and receive Presidential assent to become law. Amendments can be made in either House but require concurrence of the other.
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Question |