Politics and Politician in India

1 year ago

Politics of India:

India’s political system operates under its Constitution, establishing it as a parliamentary secular democratic republic. The President is the head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government. The system is federal in nature, with a central authority and state governments. The Constitution, while amendable, is supreme and requires all laws to conform to it.

India has a bicameral legislature the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Rajya Sabha represents states, while the Lok Sabha represents the general populace. The Supreme Court, as part of an independent judiciary, safeguards the Constitution and fundamental rights, resolves disputes, and invalidates unconstitutional laws.

The Lok Sabha consists of 543 members elected by plurality voting from single-member districts, and the Rajya Sabha has 245 members, with 233 elected indirectly and 12 nominated by the President. Governments are formed based on majority control in the Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha, with elections held every five years. The most recent election, in April-June 2024, resulted in a new government led by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Central Government:

The Government of India follows the Westminster model and comprises three branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. The Constitution assigns powers to the Prime Minister, Parliament, and Supreme Court. The President is the head of state and commander-in-chief, while the Prime Minister leads the executive branch and manages the Union government. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Lok Sabha (lower house) and the Rajya Sabha (upper house). The judiciary includes the Supreme Court, 25 High Courts, and 688 district courts, with the Supreme Court being the highest authority.

Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha, or House of the People, is the lower house of Parliament. Members are elected by universal suffrage through a first-past-the-post system for five-year terms. The house can have up to 552 members, currently holding 543 seats. It includes reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The house meets in New Delhi, and its quorum is 10% of its total membership.

Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, is the upper house of Parliament with a maximum of 250 members. Of these, 238 are elected by state legislatures and union territories, and 12 are appointed by the President for their expertise. Members serve staggered six-year terms, with one-third elected every two years. The Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved but can be prorogued. It shares legislative powers with the Lok Sabha, except in financial matters where the Lok Sabha prevails.

Office of the Prime Minister

The Prime Minister is the head of government and holds executive power, though the President is the nominal head. The Prime Minister must be a member of either house of Parliament and must maintain the confidence of the majority in the Lok Sabha. They are appointed by the President and oversee the Council of Ministers.

Current Prime Minister: Narendra Modi (BJP)

Current Home Minister: Amit Shah (BJP)

Current Opposition Leader: Rahul Gandhi (INC)

Priyanka Gandhi (INC)

State Governments in India

State governments in India govern 28 states and 8 union territories, led by a Chief Minister who heads the Council of Ministers. Each state has a legislative assembly, which can be unicameral or bicameral. A unicameral legislature consists solely of the State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), while a bicameral legislature includes both the Vidhan Sabha and the State Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). The Vidhan Sabha parallels the Lok Sabha, and the Vidhan Parishad parallels the Rajya Sabha in the Parliament of India.

Vidhan Sabha

The Vidhan Sabha, or State Legislative Assembly, is present in all states and 3 union territories. In 22 states and 3 union territories, it is the sole legislative body. Each Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is elected for a 5-year term from single-member constituencies. The Assembly must have between 60 and 500 members, though some states like Goa and Sikkim have exceptions. Assemblies can be dissolved in emergencies, by the Governor at the Chief Minister’s request, or if a no-confidence motion is passed.

Vidhan Parishad

The Vidhan Parishad, or State Legislative Council, serves as the upper house in states with a bicameral legislature. Only 6 states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh) have a Legislative Council. It cannot exceed one-third the size of the Vidhan Sabha and must have at least 40 members, who elect the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.