1. Prologue: laxmikanth new edition- worth upgrading?
  2. How many new chapters added/removed in the new edition?
  3. How many new Appendices added/removed in the new edition?
  4. Have they added new UPSC Question papers?
  5. Changes made in existing chapters?
  6. Conclusion: upgrade to new edition of Laxmikanth or not?

Prologue: laxmikanth new edition- worth upgrading?

  • Whenever a new model of iphone is released, the owners of the previous iPhone always have a doubt “whether we should upgrade our older phone or not?”
  • Similarly the Mcgraw Hill Publication has released the new edition of their best selling book on Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth. Available in हिन्दी, English & Kindle.
  • So, definitely those UPSC IAS/IPS civil service aspirants who are owners of previous editions would have doubt whether they should buy new editions or not?
  • The objective of this article is to compare and contrast what new developments have been added in the latest edition of Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth .
  • For the simplicity of understanding:  ?blue color means old edition (5th) and ?green color means new edition (6th)

Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth buy new one or keep old edition?

How many new chapters added/removed in the new edition?

?Blue Color Old Edition ?Green Color New Edition
Total 76 chapters Total 80 chapters. The new chapters are

  • 1. Chapter 48- Goods and Service Tax Council. Although just basic things given. Nothing greatly insightful or impressive which is not already known to any student of economy.
  • 2. Chapter 49- National Commission for BCs. again ‘thik hai’ type. Nothing greatly insightful or impressive which is not already known to any student of polity who would have prepared from PRSINDIA etc..
  • 3. Chapter 62- National Investigation Agency.
  • 4.Chapter 63-National Disaster Management Authority.
  • 5. Role of Regional Parties
  • 6. Coalition Government

Two chapters deleted from old blue book

  • Chapter- 36- Special status of J&K
  • Chapter 65- Authoritative Text of the Constitution in Hindi Language

?Verdict?

  • ?New edition doesn’t have any insightful factoid which is not already available on other wiki/free blog/e-learning website/Current-PDF-wallas  targeting UPSC aspirants.
  • ?But, if you buy, it saves the time and trouble of doing google search yourself.

How many new Appendices added/removed in the new edition?

?Blue Color Old Edition ?Green Color New Edition
Appendices 18 Now only 10. Because following have been deleted

  1. IV- Oath by the constitutional and other authorities.
  2. V- Definition under the constitution.
  3. VII- Allied amending acts at a glance.
  4. VIII- Model Code of Conduct at a glance.
  5. IX- Sections of Representation of People Act 1950
  6. X- Sections of Representation of People Act 1951.
  7. XI- Flag code of India.
  8. XIV- Sections of the Constitution of J & K.

?Verdict?

  • They should not have deleted these (to save the printing cost).
  • ?What if UPSC asks some question from flag code of India?

Have they added new UPSC Question papers?

UPSC IAS/CSE Exam’s ?Blue Color Old Edition ?Green Color New Edition
Past Prelims MCQs 1997-2016 2010 to 2019
Past Mains Questions 1993-2015 2010-2019

?Verdict?

  • Topic Wise question papers for prelims  and mains already available in many other books and free websites. So, this can’t be the ‘sole reason’ for upgrading to new edition. 
  • ?Besides, (to save the printing cost) they seem to have removed some of the older papers from the book, which actually reduces the number of Qs available for practice.

Changes made in existing chapters?

Changed feature Chapter no. as per blue old Edition (5th) Change Yes or No ?Green color new edition Total Changes
Chapter 1 – Historical Background Chapter 1 – Historical Background Yes Amending act of 1781, Act of 1786, Charter act of 1793, Charter act of 1813 page 1.4 Total 4 changes
Chapter 2- Making of Constitution Chapter 2- Making of Constitution Yes Experts committee of the congress- Page 2.5

Hindi Text of the Constitution- Page 2.7

Table 2.6 and 2.7 added

 Total 4 changes
Chapter 3- Salient Features of the constitution Chapter 3- Salient Features of the constitution No
Chapter 4- Preamble of the Constitution Chapter 4- Preamble of the Constitution No
Chapter -5 Union and its Territory Chapter -5 Union and its Territory Yes Table no 5.2 and 5.3 added in page 5.5

Table 5.5 added in page 5.9

 Total 4 changes
Chapter 6 Citizenship Chapter 6 Citizenship Yes Changes in Single citizenship theory given in pages 6.5 and 6.6. Total 1 change.
Chapter 7 Fundamental Rights Chapter 7 Fundamental Rights Yes Reservation for EWS’s in Educational institutes at page 7.7

Reservation for EWSs in Public Employment at Page 7.9

 Total 2 changes.
Chapter 8 Directive Principles of State Policy Chapter 8 Directive Principles of State Policy No
Chapter 9 Fudamental Duties Chapter 9 Fudamental Duties No
Chapter 10 Amendment of the Constitution Chapter 10 Amendment of the Constitution No
Chapter 11 Basic Structure of the Constitution Chapter 11 Basic Structure of the Constitution No
Chapter 12 Parliamentary System Chapter 12 Parliamentary System No
Chapter 13 Federal System Chapter 13 Federal System No
Chapter 14 Centre-State Relations Chapter 14 Centre-State Relations No
Chapter 15 Inter State Relations Chapter 15 Inter State Relations No
Chapter 16 Emergency Provisions Chapter 16 Emergency Provisions No
Chapter 17 President Chapter 17 President Yes Table 17.1 updated at page no. 17.5 Total one change only.
Chapter 18 Vice President Chapter 18 Vice President Yes Election at page 18.1 last para added and 9th point in notes and reference added Total two changes
Chapter 19 Prime Minister Chapter 19 Prime Minister Yes Table 19.1 on page 19.5 updated Only 1 change
Chapter 20 Central Council of Ministers Chapter 20 Central Council of Ministers Yes Table 20.2 at page 20.7 updated. Only 1 change
Chapter 21 Cabinet Committees Chapter 21 Cabinet Committees Yes List of cabinet committees at page 20.2 and details of heading Groups of Ministers updated. Total two changes
Chapter 22 Parliament Chapter 22 Parliament Yes Dilatory Motion at page no 22.18 added.

Last para of budget in parliament at page 22.26 added.

Special Powers of Rajya Sabha at page 22.35 point no 3 and 4 added

 Total 3 changes
Chapter 23 Parliamentary Committee Chapter 23 Parliamentary Committee No  
Chapter 24 Parliamentary Forums Chapter 24 Parliamentary Forums No  
Chapter 25 Parliamentary group Chapter 25 Parliamentary group No  
Chapter 26 Supreme Court Chapter 26 Supreme Court Yes Composition and appointment at page no. 26.1 updated.

Heading no. 7 constitutional Interpretation added at page no. 26.9

 Total 2 changes
Chapter 27 Judicial Review Chapter 27 Judicial Review No  
Chapter 28 Judicial Activism Chapter 28 Judicial Activism Yes Meaning of Judicial activism point no 3,4,5 added at page no. 28.1.

At page no. 28.2 Judicial review and judicial activism added at page no. 28.2

 Total 2 changes
Chapter 29 Public interest Litigation Chapter 29 Public interest Litigation No  
Chapter 30 Governor Chapter 30 Governor No  
Chapter 31 Chief Minister Chapter 31 Chief Minister Yes Table 31.1 at page no 31.3 updated Total 1 change only
Chapter 32 State Councils of Ministers Chapter 32 State Councils of Ministers Yes Table 32.1 at page no 32.5 updated Total 1 change only
Chapter 33 State Legislature Chapter 33 State Legislature Yes Table 33.5 at page no 33.18 inserted Total 1 change only
Chapter 34 High Court Chapter 34 High Court Yes Salaries and allowances at page no 34.2 updated Total 1 change only
Chapter 35 Tribunals Chapter 63 Tribunals No  
Chapter 36 Subordinate Courts Chapter 35 Subordinate Courts No  
Chapter 37 Special Provisions for Some States Chapter 37 Special Provisions for Some States No  
Chapter 38 Panchayati Raj Chapter 38 Panchayati Raj Yes Reservation of seats at page no. 38.9 updated.

Compulsory provisions at page no. 38.12 updated.

Voluntary provisions at page no. 38.12 updated.

 Total 3 changes
Chapter 39 Municipalities Chapter 39 Municipalities Yes Three types of Municipalities at page no 39.2 updated.

Other committees at page 39.3 added.

 Total 2 changes
Chapter 40 Union Territories Chapter 40 Union Territories Yes Creation of Union Territories last para upaded at page 40.4 to 40.4 Total 1 change only
Chapter 41 Schedule and Tribal Areas Chapter 41 Schedule and Tribal Areas Yes Table 41.3 of page 41.3 updated Total 1 change only
Chapter 42 Election Commission Chapter 42 Election Commission No  
Chapter 43 Union Public Service Commission Chapter 43 Union Public Service Commission No  
Chapter 44 State Public Service Commission Chapter 44 State Public Service Commission No  
Chapter 45 Finance Commission Chapter 45 Finance Commission Yes Advisory role last para updated at page no 45.2 along with table 45.1. Total 2 changes
Chapter 46 Goods and Services Tax Council Chapter 46 Goods and Services Tax Council Yes New Added Chapter  
Chapter 47 National Commission for SCs’ Chapter 46 National Commission for SCs’ Yes Powers of the commission last para updated. Total 1 change only.
Chapter 48 National Commission for STs’ Chapter 47 National Commission for STs’ No  
Chapter 49 National Commission for BCs’ Chapter 49 National Commission for BCs’ Yes New Added Chapter  
Chapter 50 Special officer for linguistic Minorities Chapter 48 Special officer for linguistic Minorities No  
Chapter 51 Comptroller and Auditor General Chapter 49 Comptroller and Auditor General No  
Chapter 52 Attorney General of India Chapter 50 Attorney General of India Yes Point no 5 of Rights and Limitation added Total 1 change only.
Chapter 53 Advocate General of the State Chapter 51 Advocate General of the State No  
Chapter 54 Niti Aayog Chapter 52 Niti Aayog Yes Functions at page 54.6, Cooperative Federalism at page 54.7 and Development monitoring and Evaluation office at 54.10 added Total 3 changes
Chapter 55 National Human Rights Commission Chapter 53 National Human Rights Commission Yes Compostion of the commission at page 55.1 and last points of performance of the commission at page 55.4 updated. Total 2 changes
Chapter 56 State Human Rights Commission Chapter 54 State Human Rights Commission Yes Compostion of commission and third para of the page 56.1 updated.

2019 Amendment act inserted at page no. 56.3

 Total 3 changes
Chapter 57 Central Information Commission Chapter 55 Central Information Commission Yes Tenure and service condition at page 57.1 updated.

Table no 57.1 at page 57.3 updated

 Total 2 changes
Chapter 58 State Information Commission Chapter 56 State Information Commission No  
Chapter 59 Central Vigilance Commission Chapter 57 Central Vigilance Commission Yes Whistle Blowers Protection act 2014 at page 59.4 added. Total 1 change only.
Chapter 60 Central Bureau of investigation Chapter 58 Central Bureau of investigation Yes Establisment of CBI last para updated at page no. 60.1.

Organization of CBI at page no. 60.2 updated.

 Total 2 changes
Chapter 61 Lokpal and Lokayukta Chapter 59 Lokpal and Lokayukta No  
Chapter 62 National Investigation Agency Chapter 62 National Investigation Agency Yes New Chapter added  
Chapter 63 National Disaster Management Authority Chapter 63 National Disaster Management Authority Yes New Chapter added  
Chapter 64 Co-operative Society Chapter 60 Co-operative Society No  
Chapter 65 Official Language Chapter 61 Official Language Yes Last para added of Language of the judiciary and texts of laws at page 65.3 One change only
Chapter 66 Public Service Chapter 62 Public Service No  
Chapter 67 Rights and Liabilities of the Government Chapter 64 Rights and Liabilities of the Government No  
Chapter 68 Special provisions relating to certain classes Chapter 66 Special provisions relating to certain classes Yes National commission for BC’s added at page no. 68.3 and Table 68.1 at page 68.4 updated Total 2 changes
Chapter 69 Political Parties Chapter 67 Political Parties Yes Last para of page 69.5 added. Table 69.1 and 69.2 of page 69.6 updated Total 3 changes
Chapter 70 Role of Regional parties Chapter 70 Role of Regional parties Yes New chapter added  
Chapter 71 Elections Chapter 68 Elections Yes Table 71.1 of page 71.7 updated. One change only
Chapter 72 Election laws Chapter 70 Election laws Yes Representation of people act 1950 of page 7.1 updated. Representation of people act 1951 of page 7.2 updated. Total 2 changes
Chapter 73 Electoral Reforms Chapter 71 Electoral Reforms Yes Calling on cash donations lowered , Introduction of Electoral Bonds, Foreign funding allowed at page no. 73.8 and 73.9 respectively. Total 3 changes
Chapter 74 Voting Behaviour Chapter 69 Voting Behaviour No  
Chapter 75 Coalition Government Chapter 75 Coalition Government Yes New chapter added  
Chapter 76 Anti Defection Law Chapter 72 Anti Defection Law No  
Chapter 77 Pressure Groups Chapter 73 Pressure Groups No  
Chapter 78 National Integration Chapter 74 National Integration No  
Chapter 79 Foreign Policy Chapter 75 Foreign Policy No  
Chapter 80 National Commission to review the Working of the Constitution Chapter 76 National Commission to review the Working of the Constitution Yes Earlier efforts to review the constitution at page no. 80.16 One change only

Conclusion: upgrade to new edition of Laxmikanth or not?

  • Thus, they have made changes in the majority of the chapters.
  • If you have never owned the book,
    • then yes you should buy the latest ?green edition book Available in हिन्दी, English & Kindle.
    • Instead old ?blue editions, even though older editions are available at a cheaper price in the second hand market.
  • If you already have the old ? blue edition, then chances are that
    • you would have used highlighter and coloured pens to mark/underline many factoids.
    • You may also have added the personal notes on the margins
    • Therefore buying new ?green edition creates challenges?, in terms of efficient revision. Then you have two options
      • 1) Borrow new ?green edition from a friend and manually update your old blue edition by using above table as reference. As such it should not take more than 2-3 days to finish this exercise. OR
      • 2) Buy the new ?green edition of Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth, and start using the highlighter again! फिरसे हाइलाइटर घिसना शुरू करो!?