Impeachment

noun (countable and uncountable)

/ɪmˈpiːtʃmənt/

A formal legislative process for removing high constitutional functionaries from office on grounds of proved misconduct. Under the Indian Constitution, the President may be impeached under Article 61 by a special majority of 2/3 of total membership of each House; Supreme Court and High Court judges may be removed by an address of Parliament under Articles 124(4) and 218 — a process colloquially called impeachment. No President has been impeached in India; Justice V. Ramaswami (1993) was the only judge against whom the process was initiated but failed.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The motion to impeach Justice Ramaswami of the Supreme Court in 1993 failed in the Lok Sabha, as the Indian National Congress, the then-majority party, abstained from voting, thereby preventing the required special majority.

Synonyms

removalindictmentchargeformal accusationtrial of removal

Antonyms

confirmationappointmentacquittalreinstatement

🌱 Word Family

impeach (verb), impeachable (adjective), unimpeachable (adjective), impede (cognate verb), impediment (cognate noun)

🔡 Root

Old French empechier (to hinder, to impede) ← Late Latin impedicare (to fetter) ← in- + pedica (fetter) ← pes, pedis (foot)

📜 Etymology

From Old French empechier (to impede, to accuse), adopted into English in the 14th century meaning 'to accuse of treason'. The sense shifted to formal legislative accusation of public officials. The Latin root connects impedicare (to shackle by the foot) with the idea of hindering a public officer's continuance in office.

🧠 Memory Hook

IMPEACH = IM-PEACH: IM (against/block) + PEACH (Old French: to accuse). Think of a judge being 'PEACHED' on (accused) by Parliament to block them from staying in office. IMPEACH = to formally block a public servant.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Prelims 2025 — Parliament
Prelims 2019 — Judiciary

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Impeachment” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

⚖️ Polity & Constitution 📖 Seen in: Preamble of the Indian Constitution

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