Indian Government and Politics Most Important Questions BA Programme sem-2 in English

Describe the basic features of the Indian Constitution.

• The Indian Constitution is a document in which rules are written to run the governance system of our country.

• “The Constitution is a living document which continues to change with the changing needs and circumstances of the society.”

• In the last 70 years, we have seen that the Constitution has been amended more than 100 times.

• Preamble: The Constitution begins with a Preamble that outlines the goals and objectives of the Indian state, such as justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

• Federal system with unitary characteristics: India has a federal system of government where power is distributed between the central government and the state governments.

• However, there are also unitary characteristics that give the central government greater power in certain circumstances.

• Parliamentary Democracy: India follows a parliamentary system of government where the President is the formal head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. Parliament consists of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

• Fundamental Rights: The Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights to all citizens, such as the right to equality, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of religion and the right to constitutional remedies.

• Directive Principles of State Policy: These are the guidelines and principles that the state should aim to achieve in governance. Although not legally enforceable, they still serve as a moral compass for the state.

• Judicial Review: The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary with a Supreme Court. The Judiciary has the power of judicial review, which allows it to review laws and actions of the executive and legislative branches

• Single Citizenship: Unlike some federal countries where citizens have both federal and state citizenships, India has a single citizenship for the entire country.

• Rigid and Flexible Features: While some parts of the Constitution can be amended only by a special majority of the Parliament and the ratification of half the state legislatures, other parts can be amended by a simple majority of the Parliament.

• Secular State: India is a secular state, which means the state does not support any religion as a state religion. It respects all religions and allows citizens to practice their religion freely.

Powers and functions of the Prime Minister in India.

• Head of Government: The Prime Minister heads the Council of Ministers and leads the executive branch of government.

• Advisor to the President: The Prime Minister advises the President on the appointment of various officials such as ministers, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and governors of states.

• Leader of Parliament: The Prime Minister leads the functioning of the government in both houses of the Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). 

• They play an important role in the legislative process, including introducing bills, participating in debates, and influencing legislation.

• Policy Making: The Prime Minister is involved in policy making and decision making on both domestic and international issues.

• Administration: The Prime Minister oversees the functioning of various ministries and departments of the government.

• They ensure coordination between various ministries and monitor the implementation of government policies and programmes.

• Foreign Affairs: The Prime Minister plays an important role in foreign policy making and represents India in international forums and summits. 

• They negotiate treaties, agreements and alliances on behalf of the country.

• Crisis management: In times of national crisis or emergency, the Prime Minister plays a leadership role in coordinating the government's response and ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens.

• Appointment and removal: The Prime Minister recommends the appointment of key officials, including ministers, to the President.

• He also has the power to remove ministers and recommend dissolution of the Lok Sabha in certain circumstances.

Discuss the debates of the Constituent Assembly on various provisions of fundamental rights.

• Inclusion of Fundamental Rights: There was a consensus among the members of the Constituent Assembly about the need to include fundamental rights in the Constitution.

• These rights were seen as necessary safeguards against possible abuses of power by the state.

• There was debate over which specific rights should be included under fundamental rights.

• Drafting Committee, Dr. B.R. Under the chairmanship of Ambedkar, it prepared a detailed list of fundamental rights, drawing inspiration from various sources, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Right to Property: One of the most debated provisions was the inclusion of the right to property as a fundamental right.

• Ultimately it was decided to include it, but it was later amended through the 44th Amendment Act, 1978 to make it a legal right rather than a fundamental right.

• Another important debate was about the enforceability of fundamental rights.

• Some members advocated making fundamental rights justiciable, which means that citizens can approach the courts if their rights are violated.

• Limitations and Restrictions: The Assembly also debated the limitations and restrictions that can be imposed on fundamental rights.

• Recognizing the importance of individual liberty, the members also acknowledged the need to impose reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order, morality and integrity of the nation.

• Uniform Civil Code: The idea of a Uniform Civil Code was also discussed in the context of fundamental rights, which would replace personal laws based on religion with common laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance.

• However, a consensus has not been reached on this issue and it remains a subject of debate and discussion in Indian politics.

• Security of Minorities: There were concerns regarding the security of minorities and their rights.

• The Constitution contains provisions such as Article 29 and Article 30 to preserve the language, script and culture of minorities and to protect the rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

Do you think class and caste have changed the power dynamics in Indian politics?

Social class

• Economic Policies and Development: Historically, the Indian National Congress, especially during the Nehru era, focused on socialist economic policies aimed at reducing income inequalities.

• However, liberalization in 1991 led to economic reforms that significantly impacted the middle and upper classes and reshaped their political preferences.

• Urban-rural divide: The interests of the urban middle class often differ from those of the rural poor. 

• Urban-centric policies such as infrastructure development and tax reforms may not always benefit rural populations, leading to diverging political priorities.

• Political mobilization: The rise of regional parties representing specific class interests, such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) representing the urban middle class or the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) representing the Sikh middle class, effects of class-based mobilization Reflects.

• Political funding: The influence of corporate funding in politics has increased significantly, often aligning political parties with the interests of the business class.

• This has raised concerns about the undue influence of money in shaping political decisions.

• The rise of the middle class, especially in urban areas, has led to demands for better governance, transparency and accountability from political leaders.

• This has forced political parties to adapt their strategies and policies to meet the aspirations and concerns of this emerging class.

• Furthermore, class-based issues such as unemployment, inflation and economic inequality have become central to political debates and electoral campaigns.

• Political parties are now keen to focus on economic growth, job creation and social welfare measures to woo middle class voters.

Caste

• Identity politics: Caste-based politics has been a prominent feature in India, with parties often mobilizing voters on the basis of caste.

• In Uttar Pradesh, parties like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) mainly depend on caste-based vote banks.

• Reservation Policies: The system of caste-based reservation in education and public employment has been a controversial issue.

• Although it aims to uplift historically marginalized communities, it has also been criticized for perpetuating caste divisions and inequality.

• Electoral alliances: Caste arithmetic often decides electoral alliances, with parties forming alliances based on the caste demography of different regions.

• This strategy is especially evident during state elections.

Examine the role of the judiciary in India with special reference to judicial review.

• Judiciary in India plays an important role in upholding the rule of law, protecting the rights of citizens and ensuring the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.

• One of the most important powers vested in the judiciary is the power of judicial review.

• Guardians of the Constitution: The Supreme Court of India and the High Courts act as the guardians of the Constitution.

• They ensure that laws made by the legislature and actions taken by the executive are in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

• Protector of Fundamental Rights: Judiciary protects the fundamental rights granted to the citizens by the Constitution.

• It ensures that these rights are not violated by the government or any other entity.

• Interpreter of laws: The judiciary interprets laws made by the legislature to ensure their proper implementation and resolve any ambiguities or disputes arising from them.

• Dispute resolution: The judiciary acts as an arbitrator in resolving disputes between individuals, between individuals and the state and between the states themselves.

• Check on the Executive and the Legislature: Through the power of judicial review, the judiciary acts as a check on the actions of the executive and the legislature.

• This ensures that they do not overstep their constitutional limits or violate the rights of citizens.

Judicial Review

• Judicial review is the power of the judiciary to review and determine the constitutionality of laws and actions of the executive and legislative branches of government.

• This power is derived from the Constitution of India, which is the supreme law of the country.

• Writ Jurisdiction: Article 32 of the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to issue writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights.

Writ

• Habeas Corpus: This writ is used to protect personal liberty by ordering the release of a person unlawfully detained or imprisoned.

• Mandamus: Mandamus means "we order." This writ is issued to compel a public officer or government authority to perform a duty which they are legally bound to perform.

• Prohibition: This writ is issued by the High Court to restrain a lower court or tribunal from exceeding its jurisdiction or to prevent it from continuing with proceedings which are beyond its legal authority.

• Certiorari: Certiorari means "to be certified." This writ is issued by the High Court to transfer a case to a lower court or tribunal or to cancel the order of a lower court or tribunal.

• Quo warranto: This writ is issued to inquire into the validity of a claim made by a person to a public office and to determine whether the person is entitled to hold that office.

• Writ Jurisdiction of High Court: Under Article 226, High Courts have the power to issue writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights as well as for any other purpose.

Importance Of Judicial Review

• Constitutional Supremacy: Judicial review ensures that the Constitution remains supreme and that laws and actions inconsistent with its provisions are struck down.

• Protection of Rights: It provides an essential safeguard against possible abuse of power by the executive and legislative branches, thereby protecting the rights and liberties of citizens.

• Accountability: Judicial review holds the government accountable for its actions and ensures transparency, impartiality and adherence to the rule of law.

What is party system? Discuss the rise of coalition politics in India since the 1990s

• Party system refers to the number of significant political parties competing for power in a country and the balance of power among them.

• The nature of party systems can range from a two-party system, where two major parties dominate the political landscape, to a multi-party system, where multiple parties compete for power and often form coalitions to govern.

• In the context of India, the rise of coalition politics since the 1990s has been a significant development in its political landscape.

• Before the 1990s, India was largely dominated by a single-party system, with the Indian National Congress (INC) being the dominant political force since independence in 1947.

• However, in the 1990s there was a shift towards and emergence of a multi-party system. Coalition governments at both the central and state levels.

• Fragmentation of Congress: The political landscape became more fragmented due to the decline in dominance of the Congress Party and the emergence of regional parties.

• Regional parties began to gain prominence, especially in states with strong regional identities and issues.

• Mandal Commission and Social Justice Movement: The implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations in the early 1990s, which aimed to provide reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs and educational institutions, led to various caste and community-based political mobilizations. Gave birth to.

• These parties played an important role in coalition politics by representing specific caste or community interests.

• Economic reforms and globalization: Economic liberalization and globalization policies initiated in 1991 opened up the Indian economy and gave rise to new economic opportunities.

• This resulted in the emergence of new business interests and the rise of parties representing these interests.

• Electoral Politics: The first-past-the-post electoral system in India encourages parties to form coalitions to maximize their chances of winning seats, especially in multi-cornered contests.

• As a result, coalition politics became a practical necessity for many parties to secure power.

• State-level politics: The rise of regional parties at the state level and their ability to win a significant number of seats in the Lok Sabha has made them major players in coalition politics.

• Regional parties often play an important role in determining the composition of coalition governments at the central level.

• Since the 1990s, coalition governments have become the norm rather than the exception in India.

• These alliances are formed both pre-poll (pre-poll alliance) and post-poll (post-poll coalition) based on electoral mathematics and the need to form a stable government.

• Coalition politics in India has had both positive and negative effects.

• On the positive side, this has led to greater representation of diverse interests and forced parties to take a more inclusive approach to governance.

• However, this resulted in political instability.

Examine the challenges faced in the process of linguistic reorganization of states in India.

• The linguistic reorganization of states in India, which occurred mainly between 1953 and 1966, was an important political and administrative undertaking aimed at creating states on the basis of linguistic and cultural similarity.

• Although the restructuring was intended to promote national unity and regional development, it also presented many challenges.

• Identification of linguistic boundaries: One of the primary challenges was to accurately identify the linguistic boundaries of different regions.

• Languages often overlap, and communities can be multilingual. This made it difficult for new states to draw clear and uncontested boundaries.

• Political opposition: The restructuring process faced strong political opposition from various sectors.

• Some leaders and communities felt that division of states on the basis of language would lead to fragmentation and weaken national unity.

• Administrative and Economic Concerns: The creation of new states required the establishment of new administrative structures, which posed logistical and financial challenges.

• Regional imbalance: Reorganization led to the creation of states with different levels of economic and infrastructural development.

• This resulted in regional imbalances, with some states lagging behind in development compared to others.

• Social and cultural issues: Linguistic restructuring has sometimes exacerbated existing social and cultural tensions.

• In some cases, minority linguistic communities felt marginalized or threatened by the dominant linguistic group in their new state.

• Resource allocation: The distribution of natural resources, water and infrastructure among the newly formed states became a contentious issue.

• This led to disputes and negotiations over resource sharing and allocation.

India is a 'welfare state'. Discuss.

• India is often described as a "welfare state", a term that refers to a political system where the government plays a key role in ensuring the welfare and well-being of its citizens.

• The concept of welfare state implies that the government takes the responsibility for the social and economic security of its people through various policies, programs and initiatives.

• Social Welfare Programmes: India has implemented several social welfare programs aimed at eliminating poverty, unemployment and social inequality.

• Some major programs include the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), which guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households, and the Public Distribution System (PDS), which provides subsidized food grains to the poor.

• Health Care: The government has made efforts to improve access and affordability of health care through initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which aims to provide health insurance coverage to vulnerable populations.

• Additionally, the government runs public health facilities and provides free or subsidized health services to those in need.

• Education: India has prioritized education as a means of empowering its citizens and reducing social inequalities.

• The government has implemented various programs to promote universal primary education and improve the quality of education in the country.

• The Right to Education Act (RTE) is an important step in this direction, which aims to provide free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6-14 years.

• Subsidies and Financial Assistance: The government provides subsidies on essential commodities like food, fuel and fertilizers to reduce the financial burden on the poor and weaker sections of the society.

• Additionally, various financial assistance programs, such as pensions for the elderly and scholarships for students, are also available to assist those in need.

• Employment and Labor Rights: India has labor laws and regulations in place to protect workers' rights and ensure fair labor practices.

• The government also promotes employment generation through various initiatives and schemes aimed at creating opportunities for the unemployed and the underprivileged.

• Housing and Urban Development: The government has launched several housing and urban development programs to meet the housing needs of the urban and rural poor.

• Initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana aim to provide affordable housing to all by 2022.

Debate on secularism in India

• Secularism in India has been a subject of debate since the country's independence in 1947.

• The concept of secularism in India is enshrined in its Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex or location. by birth.

• Definition of Secularism: One of the main debates is regarding the definition of secularism itself. 

• While some argue for a strict separation of religion and state, others believe in a more inclusive interpretation where the state can intervene in religious matters to ensure social justice and equality.

• Uniform Civil Code: The demand for Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a controversial issue related to secularism in India.

• Advocates of the UCC argue that it will promote gender equality and social justice by replacing personal laws based on religious customs and traditions with a common set of laws applicable to all citizens.

• However, opponents argue that the UCC may violate the religious freedom of minorities and disrupt their cultural practices.

• Religious freedom versus state interference: There is an ongoing debate on to what extent the state should interfere in religious matters.

• While the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, there have been instances where the state has interfered in religious practices, such as banning certain religious practices or festivals to maintain public order or social harmony.

• This raises questions about the balance between religious freedom and state interference.

• Communalism and Identity Politics: Communalism, which means organizing religious identities for political gain, has been a major challenge to secularism in India.

• Identity politics based on religion, caste and ethnicity often polarizes society and undermines the principles of secularism by creating divisions between communities.

• Secularism versus Hindutva: The rise of Hindutva politics, which seeks to establish Hindu dominance in India, has posed a significant challenge to secularism.

• Proponents of Hindutva argue that India is a Hindu-majority nation and, therefore, its cultural and political institutions should reflect Hindu values and traditions.

• However, critics see Hindutva as a threat to the secular fabric of the country and accuse it of promoting majoritarianism and marginalizing religious minorities.

• Religious minorities and secularism: The status and rights of religious minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and others, have been a point of concern in the debate on secularism.

• Critics argue that religious minorities in India often face discrimination and persecution, undermining the country's secular ideals.

• Proponents of secularism emphasize the importance of protecting the rights and freedoms of religious minorities as an essential component of secular democracy.

• Secularism and Education: The role of religion in education is another area of debate in the context of secularism.

• Critics argue that religious education in schools and colleges undermines secular values and promotes religious intolerance.

• Proponents of secularism demand a curriculum that promotes scientific temper, critical thinking, and respect for diversity without promoting any particular religious ideology.

Discuss the parliamentary system of government. Do you agree that the parliamentary system was the best possible option for India?

Executive: The Prime Minister is the head of government and is appointed by the President of India.

• The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament).

Legislature: India has a bicameral legislature consisting of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).

• Rajya Sabha is the upper house, where members are indirectly elected by the state legislatures, and Lok Sabha is the lower house, where members are directly elected by the people.

Cabinet system: The prime minister appoints other ministers to the cabinet, who are usually members of parliament from the ruling party or coalition.

• The Cabinet is responsible for the administration of the country and makes government policies.

No fixed tenure: Unlike the presidential system, where the President serves a fixed tenure, in a parliamentary system the tenure of the Prime Minister depends on the support of the majority in the legislature.

• If the government loses the confidence of the House, it can be removed through a no-confidence vote.

Interdependence: In a parliamentary system the executive and legislative branches are closely interconnected.

• The executive is accountable to the legislature, and the legislature can hold the executive accountable through various mechanisms such as questions, debates and votes.

Was the parliamentary system the best possible option for India?

• Diversity and Pluralism: India is a diverse country with many languages, religions and cultures. The parliamentary system allows for the representation of different groups and communities through political parties and electoral constituencies.

• It accommodates India's diversity by providing a platform for diverse voices to be heard and represented in government.

• Flexibility and adaptability: The parliamentary system is flexible and can adapt to changing political scenarios.

• This allows for a smooth transition of power and enables the government to respond quickly to political challenges and crises.