Book excerpt: To say anything about the relevance of Indian Polity & Governance in civil service(s) examination would be like stating the obvious. However, change is the only constant thing in this ephemeral world of ours and so it is with UPSC and the pattern of civil services examination. The present status of GS can be best summed up by quoting Charles Dickens when he wrote that ';it was the best of times, it was the worst of times'. While on one hand, sweeping changes in the pattern of questioning and less than kind marking in all papers including optional has shaken the confidence of the most ardent of its advocates, on the other hand however, the indelible presence of a substantial portion of Indian Polity in all papers has proved it beyond doubt that you can love it or hate it but you can never be indifferent towards it. This edition presents the dynamic aspect of Indian Polity - the living, breathing, ever-changing, ever-challenging democratic environment which is as complex, as elusive and as mind boggling as the realities of India itself. Democracy, one can say, is the arena where the various theories and principles wrestle, grapple and jostle with each other to prove their pertinence and justify their existence! This book has been done in an equally diligent and devoted manner for revealing the complexities while retaining the simplicity of the subject in hand. I hope the present work will prove to be a fascinating, informative and enriching read for both students and casual but curious readers alike.