GS 2 Books for IAS Mains General Studies 2 -Paper 3

General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

GS 2 Books: Indian Constitution

Syllabus:

• Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
• Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

GS 2 Books:

• Indian Polity by Laxmikant – English | Hindi
• NCERT Books:
  • Class XI – India Constitution At Work
  • NCERT Class X –  Democratic Politics
  • NCERT Class XII –  Political Science II
• DD Basu – Introduction To The Constitution Of India – English | Hindi

GS 2 Books: Government Schemes & Policies

• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

GS 2 Books: Social Sector

• Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

GS 2 Books: Governance

Syllabus:

• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Books:

• Governance in India – English

• Public Institutions in India: Performance and Design – Pratap Bhanu Mehta – English

GS 2 Books: International Relations & Institutions

• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Books:

• Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy – English