UGC NET LAW (058) · UNIT 02 · REVISION

Constitutional and Administrative Law Rapid-Recall Sheet

Each line is a typical direct-recall item. Use it in the last days of revision, after you have read the topics and the exam traps.

220 high-yield facts
One page
Type to filter

High-yield facts

Rapid-recall facts
Item	Key fact
12	Definition of 'State' for Part III
13	Laws inconsistent with FRs void; Eclipse and Severability doctrines
14	Equality before law; equal protection; twin tests of classification
15	Prohibition of discrimination: religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth
15(3)	Special provisions for women and children
15(4)	Special provisions for backward classes/SC/ST (1st Amendment)
15(5)	Reservation in private educational institutions (93rd Amendment)
15(6)	10% EWS reservation (103rd Amendment, 2019)
16	Equality of opportunity in public employment
16(4)	Reservations for backward classes not adequately represented
16(4-A)	Reservation in promotion for SC/ST (77th Amendment)
16(4-B)	Carry-forward of unfilled SC/ST vacancies (81st Amendment)
16(6)	10% EWS reservation in public employment (103rd Amendment)
17	Abolition of Untouchability — applies against private individuals
18	Abolition of Titles
19	Six freedoms: speech (a), assembly (b), association (c), movement (d), residence (e), profession (g)
20	Protection from conviction: ex post facto, double jeopardy, self-incrimination — NON-SUSPENDABLE
21	Right to life and personal liberty — most expansive FR
21-A	Free and compulsory education 6–14 years (86th Amendment, 2002)
22	Protection against arrest and preventive detention
23	Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour
24	Prohibition of child labour below 14 years in hazardous employment
25–28	Freedom of religion
29–30	Cultural and educational rights of minorities
32	Right to constitutional remedies; five writs; 'heart and soul' of Constitution
33	Parliament can restrict FRs of armed forces, police
34	Parliament can indemnify acts during martial law
35	Parliament alone can legislate to give effect to certain FRs
37	DPSPs non-justiciable but fundamental in governance
39	Equal right to livelihood; equal pay; protection of workers and children
39-A	Equal justice and free legal aid (42nd Amendment, 1976)
40	Organisation of village panchayats
44	Uniform Civil Code
45	Early childhood care and education (amended by 86th Amendment)
48-A	Protection and improvement of environment (42nd Amendment, 1976)
50	Separation of judiciary from executive
51	Promotion of international peace and security
51-A	Fundamental Duties — 11 duties (Part IVA)
52	There shall be a President of India
53	Executive power of Union vested in President
54	Election of President (electoral college)
61	Impeachment of President
63	There shall be a Vice President
64	VP is ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha
66	Election of VP (elected + nominated members of both Houses)
72	Pardoning power of President: death sentences, court martial, Union law offences
74	Council of Ministers to aid and advise President; advice binding
75	Appointment of PM and Ministers; collective responsibility to Lok Sabha
76	Attorney General of India
123	President's Ordinance-making power when Parliament not in session
143	Advisory jurisdiction: President's reference to Supreme Court
153	There shall be a Governor for each State
155	Governor appointed by President
156	Governor holds office during pleasure of President; 5-year term
157	Qualifications: citizen of India; 35 years
158	Conditions: not member of any legislature; no office of profit
161	Pardoning power of Governor: State law offences; NOT death sentences
163	CoM to aid and advise Governor; Governor's discretionary powers
164	Appointment of CM and Ministers; collective responsibility to Legislative Assembly
167	CM's duty to communicate Cabinet decisions to Governor
200	Assent to Bills by Governor: assent/withhold/return/reserve
201	Bills reserved for President's consideration: President has wider discretion
213	Governor's Ordinance-making power when Legislature not in session
361	Immunity of President and Governor from court proceedings during tenure
79	Constitution of Parliament (President + Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha)
80	Composition of Rajya Sabha: 238 elected + 12 nominated = 250 maximum
81	Composition of Lok Sabha: 543 elected (after 104th Amendment)
100	Voting in Houses; quorum = 1/10 of total membership
105	Powers, privileges, immunities of Parliament and Members
108	Joint sitting of both Houses for ordinary Bill deadlock (NOT Money Bills or CA Bills)
109	Special procedure for Money Bills: introduced only in Lok Sabha
110	Definition of Money Bill
111	Presidential assent: cannot withhold after Bill is re-passed
112	Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget)
368	Power to amend Constitution; Basic Structure doctrine limits Parliament's power
124	Establishment of Supreme Court; retirement age 65
125	Salaries of SC judges charged to Consolidated Fund of India
131	Original jurisdiction of SC: inter-State disputes
136	Special Leave Petition (SLP): discretionary appellate jurisdiction
141	Law declared by SC is binding on all courts in India
142	SC can make any order to do complete justice
143	Advisory opinion: President's reference to SC
148	Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): removed like SC judge
217	Appointment and conditions of HC judges; retirement age 62
226	HC's power to issue writs: wider than Article 32
227	HC's superintendence over all subordinate courts
228	Transfer of cases involving constitutional questions
352	National Emergency: war, external aggression, armed rebellion
353	Effect: Parliament legislates on State List
354	Modification of revenue distribution during National Emergency
355	Duty of Union to protect States from external aggression
356	Failure of constitutional machinery in State: President's Rule
357	Exercise of legislative powers under Art. 356 proclamation
358	Automatic suspension of Art. 19 during war/external aggression
359	Suspension of enforcement of FRs by Presidential Order; NOT Arts. 20 & 21
360	Financial Emergency: financial stability/credit of India threatened
365	Failure to comply with Union directions = basis for Art. 356
245	Extent of laws: Parliament for whole India; State Legislature for State
246	Subject-matter of laws (three Lists, Seventh Schedule)
248	Residuary powers: Parliament
249	Parliament legislates on State List (Rajya Sabha resolution, 2/3 majority)
250	Parliament legislates on State List during National Emergency
252	Parliament legislates for two or more States by consent
253	Legislation for implementing international treaties
254	Repugnancy: Union law prevails over State law on Concurrent List
256	Obligation of States: comply with Union laws
257	Control of Union over States in certain cases
262	Inter-State water disputes: SC jurisdiction may be excluded
263	Inter-State Council
280	Finance Commission (constituted every 5 years)
324	Election Commission of India: superintendence, direction, control of elections
326	Adult suffrage: elections on basis of adult suffrage (18 years — 61st Amendment, 1988)
329	Bar on courts in election matters (except as provided by law)
338	National Commission for Scheduled Castes
340	Commission for Other Backward Classes
A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras	1950; Narrow interpretation of Art. 21 — any procedure prescribed by law suffices
State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan	1951; FRs prevail over DPSPs; prompted 1st Amendment adding Art. 15(4)
Shankari Prasad v. Union of India	1951; Constitutional amendments are NOT 'law' under Art. 13
In re Delhi Laws Act	1951; Excessive delegation is unconstitutional; Parliament cannot abdicate essential legislative function
Bhikhaji Narain Dhakras v. State of MP	1955; Doctrine of Eclipse — pre-constitutional law inconsistent with FR becomes dormant, not void
R.M.D. Chamarbaugwala v. Union of India	1957; Doctrine of Severability — only unconstitutional part of law struck down
Berubari Union Case	1960; Preamble NOT part of Constitution (overruled by Kesavananda Bharati)
State of West Bengal v. Anwar Ali Sarkar	1952; Twin tests of reasonable classification under Article 14 laid down
Golak Nath v. State of Punjab	1967; Parliament cannot amend Fundamental Rights (overruled by Kesavananda Bharati)
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala	1973; Basic Structure Doctrine; Preamble is part of Constitution; Parliament can amend but not destroy basic structure
Shamsher Singh v. State of Punjab	1974; President and Governor are constitutional heads; act on CoM advice in normal matters
E.P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu	1974; Arbitrariness violates Art. 14; equality is antithetic to arbitrariness
Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain	1975; Free and fair elections is basic structure; Rule of Law is basic structure; 39th Amendment struck down
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India	1978; 'Golden triangle' (Arts. 14, 19, 21); procedure under Art. 21 must be just, fair, reasonable
Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar	1979; Speedy trial is a component of Art. 21; landmark PIL on undertrial prisoners
Minerva Mills v. Union of India	1980; Harmony between Parts III and IV is basic structure; absolute primacy of DPSPs struck down
Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corp	1985; Right to livelihood is part of Art. 21
Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India	1984; SC ordered identification, release, rehabilitation of bonded labourers under Arts. 21 and 23
Indra Sawhney v. Union of India	1992; Reservations capped at 50%; creamy layer exclusion; Mandal Commission upheld with limits
S.R. Bommai v. Union of India	1994; Art. 356 is justiciable; Assembly in suspended animation; secularism is basic structure
T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka	2002; Rights of minority and non-minority educational institutions; 11-judge bench
I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu	2007; Laws in 9th Schedule after April 24, 1973 can be challenged if they violate basic structure
K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India	2017; Right to privacy is a fundamental right under Art. 21; 9-judge bench unanimous
Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India	2018; Section 377 IPC read down — consensual same-sex relations between adults decriminalised
Common Cause v. Union of India	2018; Right to die with dignity; passive euthanasia and advance directives (living will) recognised
Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India	2022; 103rd Amendment (10% EWS reservation) upheld by 3:2 majority
Nabam Rebia v. Deputy Speaker, Arunachal Pradesh	2016; Governor cannot advance Assembly session contrary to CoM advice
B.P. Singhal v. Union of India	2010; Removal of Governor cannot be arbitrary or for political reasons
Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India	2006; Dissolution of Bihar Assembly by Governor struck down as mala fide
Sita Soren v. Union of India	2024; MPs taking bribes to vote have NO immunity under Art. 105; overruled P.V. Narasimha Rao
Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu	1992; Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection) upheld; Speaker's decision subject to judicial review
Selvi v. State of Karnataka	2010; Narco-analysis, brain mapping, polygraph without consent violate Art. 20(3)
Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India	2002; Candidates must disclose criminal antecedents, assets, education — right to know under Art. 19(1)(a)
Lily Thomas v. Union of India	2013; Convicted MPs/MLAs disqualified from date of conviction — Section 8(4) RPA struck down
Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan	1997; Sexual harassment at workplace violates Arts. 14, 19, 21; Vishaka Guidelines with force of law
Shayara Bano v. Union of India	2017; Triple talaq struck down as manifestly arbitrary under Art. 14
Dr. Farooq Abdullah v. Union of India	2023; Abrogation of Art. 370 and J&K's reorganisation upheld by 5-judge bench
Dimes v. Grand Junction Canal	1852; Pecuniary bias automatically disqualifies adjudicator — no proof of actual influence needed
Cooper v. Wandsworth Board of Works	1863; Early recognition of audi alteram partem — hearing required even without statutory provision
R v. Sussex Justices, ex parte McCarthy	1924; 'Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done'
Associated Provincial Picture Houses v. Wednesbury Corporation	1948; Wednesbury unreasonableness — decision so unreasonable no reasonable authority could make it
Ridge v. Baldwin	1964; Natural justice applies to decisions affecting rights, not just strictly judicial functions — landmark revival
Syed Yakoob v. K.S. Radhakrishnan	1964; Error apparent on the face of the record as a distinct ground of certiorari defined
Anisminic v. Foreign Compensation Commission	1969; ANY error of law makes a decision a nullity — abolished distinction between jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional errors
A.K. Kraipak v. Union of India	1970; Natural justice applies to administrative functions too; rule against bias applies broadly
Gullapalli Nageswara Rao v. A.P. SRTC	1959; Investigator cannot be adjudicator; departmental bias recognised
Bhagat Raja v. Union of India	1967; Quasi-judicial orders must be reasoned/speaking orders — duty to give reasons
Council of Civil Service Unions v. Minister (GCHQ)	1985; Lord Diplock's three grounds: Illegality, Irrationality, Procedural Impropriety
Swadeshi Cotton Mills v. Union of India	1981; Natural justice is flexible — content depends on context, statutory framework, consequences
Navjyoti Coop. Group Housing Society v. Union of India	1992; First clear recognition of Legitimate Expectation doctrine in India
Union of India v. Hindustan Development Corporation	1993; Legitimate Expectation gives procedural right only, NOT substantive right to expected benefit
Motilal Padampat Sugar Mills v. State of UP	1979; Promissory estoppel against Government confirmed in India
S.P. Gupta v. Union of India (First Judges Case)	1981; Executive primacy in judicial appointments
SC Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India (Second Judges Case)	1993; Collegium system established; CJI's opinion gets primacy
In re Special Reference (Third Judges Case)	1998; Collegium expanded to CJI + 4 senior-most SC judges
SC Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India (NJAC Case)	2015; 99th Amendment struck down; NJAC unconstitutional; judicial independence is basic structure
L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India	1997; HC's power under Arts. 226/227 is basic structure; CAT decisions subject to HC review
Tata Cellular v. Union of India	1994; Judicial review of government contracts: courts apply illegality, irrationality, procedural impropriety
Om Kumar v. Union of India	2001; Proportionality doctrine adopted in Indian admin law for review of administrative punishment
D.C. Wadhwa v. State of Bihar	1987; Repeated re-promulgation of Ordinances without legislative approval is fraud on Constitution
Pradeep Kumar Biswas v. IICB	2002; Instrumentality/agency test for 'State' under Art. 12 — functional test is the key
Ram Jawaya Kapur v. State of Punjab	1955; India does not adopt strict separation of powers but has checks and balances
University of Mysore v. C.D. Govinda Rao	1964; Quo Warranto is a discretionary writ, not a writ of right
1st Amendment	1951; Added Art. 15(4); created 9th Schedule; land reform laws protected; public order added to Art. 19(2)
7th Amendment	1956; Reorganisation of States on linguistic basis; Union Territories created; one HC for multiple States
14th Amendment	1962; Pondicherry included; Art. 239-A empowers Parliament to create UT Legislatures
24th Amendment	1971; Parliament's power to amend ANY provision including FRs (Art. 368 amended); response to Golak Nath
25th Amendment	1971; Art. 31C inserted — laws giving effect to Art. 39(b)/(c) cannot be challenged on Arts. 14/19 grounds
26th Amendment	1971; Abolished privy purses and special privileges of former rulers of princely States
38th Amendment	1975; Presidential proclamation of Emergency made non-justiciable (Emergency era; largely reversed by 44th)
39th Amendment	1975; Election of President, VP, PM, Speaker not subject to judicial review — STRUCK DOWN in Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)
42nd Amendment	1976; Most sweeping — 'Socialist', 'Secular', 'Integrity' added to Preamble; Fundamental Duties (Art. 51-A); Art. 31C expanded; Administrative Tribunals (Arts. 323-A, 323-B); Education to Concurrent List
44th Amendment	1978; Reversed most of 42nd Amendment's excesses; 'Armed rebellion' replaced 'internal disturbance'; Cabinet's written advice required for Emergency; Arts. 20/21 non-suspendable; Right to Property → Art. 300-A
52nd Amendment	1985; Anti-Defection Law — 10th Schedule inserted
61st Amendment	1988; Voting age reduced from 21 to 18 years (Art. 326)
69th Amendment	1991; Delhi given special status as NCT — Legislative Assembly and Council of Ministers
73rd Amendment	1992; Panchayati Raj institutions — Part IX added; 11th Schedule (29 subjects for Panchayats)
74th Amendment	1992; Municipal bodies — Part IX-A added; 12th Schedule (18 subjects for municipalities)
77th Amendment	1995; Art. 16(4-A) — reservation in promotion for SC/ST
81st Amendment	2000; Art. 16(4-B) — unfilled SC/ST vacancies carried forward; not subject to 50% ceiling
84th Amendment	2001; Delimitation of constituencies freeze extended till 2026
86th Amendment	2002; Art. 21-A — free and compulsory education 6–14 years; 11th Fundamental Duty; Art. 45 amended
91st Amendment	2003; 10th Schedule amended — 'split' exception removed; only merger of 2/3 recognised; CoM size capped at 15%
93rd Amendment	2005; Art. 15(5) — reservation for OBC/SC/ST in private educational institutions
97th Amendment	2011; Part IX-B added; right to form cooperative societies under Art. 19(1)(c)
99th Amendment	2014; NJAC established — STRUCK DOWN by SC in 2015 as violating basic structure (judicial independence)
100th Amendment	2015; Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh
101st Amendment	2016; Goods and Services Tax (GST) introduced; Art. 246-A, 269-A; GST Council established
102nd Amendment	2018; National Commission for Backward Classes given constitutional status (Art. 338-B)
103rd Amendment	2019; Art. 15(6) and Art. 16(6) — 10% reservation for EWS; upheld in Janhit Abhiyan (2022)
104th Amendment	2020; Abolished nomination of Anglo-Indian members to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies (Arts. 331 & 333)
105th Amendment	2021; Restored power of States to identify OBCs for State reservation purposes
B.N. Rau Committee (Constitutional Adviser)	1946–49; Drafted key provisions of Constitution; studied constitutions of USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia
Swaran Singh Committee	1976; Recommended insertion of Fundamental Duties (42nd Amendment)
Sarkaria Commission	1983–1988; Reviewed Centre-State relations; recommended reviving Inter-State Council; greater restraint in Art. 356; independent Governors
Venkatachaliah Commission (National Commission to Review the Constitution)	2000–2002; Comprehensive review; recommended strengthening Parliamentary committees, regulating anti-defection
J.S. Verma Committee (Fundamental Duties)	1999; Reviewed enforceability of Fundamental Duties; noted they have legal dimensions
Punchhi Commission	2007–2010; Second commission on Centre-State relations; recommended stronger Inter-State Council, codifying Governor's discretion, time-limit for assent
P.B. Gajendragadkar Commission	1967; Enquired into communal violence; linked to secularism provisions
L.M. Singhvi Committee	1986; Recommended 73rd/74th Amendments (Panchayati Raj); coined term 'gram sabha'
Ranganath Misra Commission	2007; Recommended reservation for minorities and linguistic minorities; some Fundamental Duties be made justiciable
Administrative Reforms Commission (1st ARC)	1966–1970; Recommended Lokpal and Lokayukta; Morarji Desai headed it
2nd Administrative Reforms Commission	2005–2009; Thirteen reports on administrative reforms including citizen-centric administration, Ethics in Governance, Public Order
21st Law Commission of India	2018; Recommended Uniform Civil Code — India is not ready yet; codification of personal laws should come first
Law Commission Report 277	2018; Recommended abolition of sedition law (Section 124-A IPC) — since carried forward; SC stayed its operation in 2022

Where each fact is explained

Open the topic for the concept behind any line you cannot recall.

← Chapter overview Practise MCQs →

Last updated: 22 October 2026.