Unit 5 Gba
Unit 5 Gba
Unit 5 Gba
AWARENESS
UNIT 5
Working of The Indian Political System
A political system is regarded as the way a government makes policy
and organizes administration. A political system, if sound, ought to
ensure the maintaining of order and harmony in the society and
provide institutions for addressing grievances and complaints of citizens
at large.
A political system is, after all, a set of institutions, interest groups (such
as poli- tical parties, trade unions, lobby groups) and provides dynamics
of interaction among those institutions and bases for political norms
and rules that govern their functions, say, Constitution and the Law.
Foremost, it consists of the members of a social organisation (group)
who are in power but also of interdependent components and
peripheries of the milieu with which it interacts.
The Lok Sabha or House of the People
It is composed of representatives of the people directly elected based on adult suffrage.
The maximum strength of the House provided by the Constitution is 552 that includes up to
530 members to represent the States, 20 members to represent the Union Territories and two
members of the Anglo-Indian Community nominated by the President, if that community is
not adequately represented in the House.
The ratio between the number of seats allotted to each State and the population of the State,
as far as practicable, is kept the same for all States.
Currently, the size of the house is 545-made up of 530 elected from the States, 13 elected
from the Territories, and two nominated from the Anglo-Indian community.
Uttar Pradesh with 80 members has the largest number of Lok Sabha members, being the
most populous among all Indian states.
Three states have only one representative each; certain constituencies are reserved for
candidates from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
RAJYA SABHA
• The upper house in the Indian political system is the Rajya Sabha or Council of
States which has up to 250 members, 12 of which are nominated by the President
for their accomplishment in art, literature, science, or social services.
• The remainder of the house-currently comprising 238 members-is elected indirectly
by the state and territorial legislatures in proportion to the unit's population. Uttar
Pradesh has 31 members.
• The method of election followed by legislatures is 'single transferable vote'. Term of
office is six years, with one-third of the members seeking election every two years.
The Rajya Sabha meets in continuous session. Unlike the Lok Sabha, it is not subject
to dissolution.
• The two houses share legislative powers, except around Money Bill where the Lok
Sabha has overriding powers. In the case of conflicting legislation, a joint sitting of
the two houses is held. If there is a conflict which cannot be resolved even by the
joint committee of the two houses, it is solved by vote in a joint session of the
Parliament, where the will of the Lok Sabha.
Evolution of Indian Political System
• 1967 was the turning point when the state parties suddenly came into power.
• This was a signal of democratization of Indian politics. Due to balance of payment
problem, international financial institutions devalued rupee and India started drifting
into economic crises.
• Mrs. Indira Gandhi swept the polls in 1971 elections with the 'eradicate poverty'
slogans.
• In 1975 with the misuse of article 356 of Indian constitution, Mrs. Gandhi declared
an emergency in India.
• Economic crises, formation of Bangladesh and Authoritarian rule at the centre
weakened Indian democracy.
• The decision-making roles and powers of the cabinet members and ministers were
consequently dissolved and were taken over by Mrs. Gandhi.
• • Though the Panchayati raj system was to democratize the country at the village
level but the power was still concentrated at the top of the pyramid.
Political Parties
• There were 7 recognised national parties in the country in 2018. Here
are the details of these parties:
• 1) All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)
• Launched on 1 January 1998 under the leadership of Mamata
Banerjee. Recognised as a national party in 2016
• The party's symbol is flowers and grass.
• Committed to secularism and federalism.
• Has been in power in West Bengal since 2011 and has a presence in
Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura.
2) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
• Formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.
• Seeks to represent and secure power for the Bahujan samaj which
includes the Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities .
• Stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the
Dalits
• It has its main base in the state of Uttar Pradesh and substantial
presence in neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab.
• Formed government in UP several times by taking the support of
different parties at different times.
3) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
• Founded in 1980, formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951.
• Wants to build a strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from
India's ancient culture and values, and Deendayal Upadhyaya's ideas of
integral humanism and Antyodaya.
• Cultural nationalism (or 'Hindutva') is an important element in its
conception of Indian nationhood and politics.
• Earlier limited to north and west and to urban areas, the party expanded
its support in the south, east, the north-east and to rural areas.
• Emerged as the largest party with 282 members in the 2014 Lok Sabha
elections.
Communist Party of India (CPI)
• Formed in 1925. Believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and
democracy.
• Opposed to the forces of secessionism and communalism.
• Accepts parliamentary democracy as a means of promoting the
interests of the working class, farmers and the poor.
• Significant presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab,
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• It secured less than 1 per cent votes and 1 seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha
elections.
5) Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-
M)
• - :• Founded in 1964. Believes in Marxism-Leninism. Supports
socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and
communalism.• Accepts democratic elections as a useful and helpful
means for securing the objective of socio-economic justice in
India.THIS DAY IN HISTORY
6) Indian National Congress (INC):