2. Introduction to the Indian Parliamentary System
The Indian Parliamentary System is a bicameral legislature consisting of the Rajya Sabha
(Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The system is based on the
Westminster parliamentary model, with the President of India as the head of state and the
Prime Minister as the head of government.
3. The Structure of the Indian Parliament
The Structure of the Indian Parliament
The Two Houses of
Parliament
The Indian Parliament
consists of two houses,
the Rajya Sabha (Council
of States) and the Lok
Sabha (House of the
People).
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha is the upper
house of the Parliament. It has
a maximum strength of 250
members, with 12 members
nominated by the President
and the rest elected by the
state legislatures.
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha is the lower house
of the Parliament. It has a
maximum strength of 545
members, of which 543 are
elected by the people of India and
2 are nominated by the President
from the Anglo-Indian community.
4. The Role of the President and the Prime Minister
The President and the Prime Minister are two of the most important positions in the Indian
Parliamentary System. While the President is the head of state, the Prime Minister is the head of
government. Both these positions hold significant power and responsibility.
The Role of the President
The President of India is the head of state and holds a
ceremonial position. The President is elected by an
Electoral College consisting of members of both houses
of Parliament and state legislatures. The President’s role
is to safeguard the Constitution of India, ensure the
smooth functioning of the government, and act as a
symbol of national unity.
The Role of the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister of India is the head of government
and holds the real power in the Indian Parliamentary
System. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President
and is usually the leader of the political party with the
most seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of
Parliament. The Prime Minister’s role is to lead the
government, formulate policies, and make key decisions
on behalf of the country.
Droupadi Murmu Narendra Modi
5. The Role of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Indian
Parliament. It is also known as the House of the
People. The members of Lok Sabha are elected by
the people of India through a general election. The
main function of Lok Sabha is to make laws for the
country.
Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Indian
Parliament. It is also known as the Council of States.
The members of Rajya Sabha are elected by the
members of the State Legislative Assemblies. The
main function of Rajya Sabha is to represent the
states and to ensure that the laws made by Lok
Sabha are in the interest of the country as a whole.
6.
7. The Legislative Process in the Indian Parliament
The Indian Parliament consists of two houses - the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The legislative process in
the Indian Parliament begins with the introduction of a bill in either of the two houses.
Passage of a Bill
Once a bill is introduced, it goes
through three readings in the
house where it is introduced.
After the third reading, a vote is
taken on the bill. If the bill is
passed in the house where it is
introduced, it goes to the other
house for consideration.
Consideration in the Other House
If the bill is passed in the first house, it
goes to the other house for
consideration. The bill goes through
three readings in the other house, and
if it is passed in the second house
without any amendments, it is sent to
the President for assent.
Assent by the President
After a bill is passed by both
houses of Parliament, it is sent
to the President for assent.
The President can either give
assent to the bill or withhold
his assent. If the President
gives assent to the bill, it
becomes law.
8. The Judiciary and the Indian Parliament
The Indian Parliament is a bicameral legislature consisting of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The
Judiciary is the third branch of the Indian government, which is responsible for interpreting and enforcing
the laws of the land.
The Judiciary's Role in the Indian Parliament
The Judiciary has an important role in the Indian
Parliament, as it is responsible for interpreting the
Constitution and ensuring that the laws passed by
the Parliament are in compliance with it. The
Judiciary also has the power to strike down any law
passed by the Parliament if it is found to be
unconstitutional.
The Relationship Between the Judiciary and the
Indian Parliament
While the Judiciary and the Indian Parliament are
separate branches of the government, they have a
symbiotic relationship. The Parliament is responsible
for passing laws, while the Judiciary is responsible for
interpreting and enforcing those laws. The Judiciary
also has the power to review the actions of the
Parliament and ensure that they are in compliance
with the Constitution.
9. The Indian Parliamentary Elections
The Indian Parliamentary Elections are held every five years to elect members of the Lok Sabha, the lower
house of the Indian Parliament. The Lok Sabha has 543 elected members and the party or coalition with a
majority of seats forms the government.
Voting Process
The voting process in India is conducted
electronically using Electronic Voting Machines
(EVMs). Voters select their preferred candidate by
pressing a button next to their name and symbol on
the EVM. The results are usually declared within a
few hours of the end of polling.
Recent Elections
The most recent Indian Parliamentary Elections were
held in 2019. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a
majority of seats and Narendra Modi was sworn in as
the Prime Minister for a second term.
10. The Evolution of the Indian Parliamentary System
The Indian Parliamentary System has undergone
significant changes since its inception. It is a
reflection of the country's struggle for independence
and its journey towards democracy.
The system has evolved from a colonial legacy to a
vibrant, democratic institution that reflects the
aspirations of the people of India.
Pre-Independence Era
The Indian Parliamentary System has its roots in the
British Parliamentary system. The Indian Councils Act
of 1861 established a legislative council for India
with limited powers. The Government of India Act of
1919 expanded the legislative council and introduced
the concept of dyarchy, which allowed for the
transfer of certain powers to Indian ministers.
Post-Independence Era
The Constitution of India, adopted in 1950,
established a parliamentary system of government.
The system is based on the principle of separation of
powers between the executive, legislative, and
judiciary. The President is the head of state, while
the Prime Minister is the head of government. The
Parliament consists of two houses - the Rajya Sabha
and the Lok Sabha.
11. Recent Developments
The Indian Parliamentary System has
undergone significant changes in recent
years. The introduction of electronic
voting machines has made the voting
process more efficient and transparent.
The Right to Information Act has
empowered citizens to hold their elected
representatives accountable. The Goods
and Services Tax (GST) was introduced in
2017, which is a significant tax reform that
aims to simplify the tax structure and
promote the ease of doing business in
India.
12. Challenges Faced by the Indian Parliamentary System
Lack of Consensus
The Indian Parliamentary
System is a multi-party
system, and often,
consensus cannot be
reached on important
issues. This results in
delays and obstruction of
legislative business.
Corruption
Corruption is a major
challenge faced by the
Indian Parliamentary
System. It leads to a
lack of accountability
and transparency, and
undermines the
credibility of the
system.
Lack of Representation
The Indian Parliamentary
System often fails to represent
the interests of marginalized
communities, such as women,
minorities, and the
economically disadvantaged.
This results in a lack of
inclusivity and can lead to
social unrest.
13. Recent Developments in the Indian Parliamentary System
The Indian Parliamentary System has undergone several recent developments that have transformed the
way it functions. These developments have been aimed at making the system more democratic, transparent,
and accountable.
Digitalization of Parliamentary Proceedings
The Indian Parliament has recently taken steps to
digitize its proceedings, making it easier for
citizens to access information about the
functioning of the system. This has also made the
system more transparent and accountable, as
citizens can now easily track the activities of their
elected representatives.
More Women in Representation
Efforts to increase women's representation in the
Indian Parliament have succeeded through quotas
and awareness campaigns. This has led to a
significant rise in women MPs.
14. Introduction of E-Voting
The Indian Parliament has recently introduced
e-voting for its members, making it easier for
them to participate in the voting process. This
has also made the process more efficient and
less time-consuming, as members can now
vote from anywhere in the world.
Increased Use of Social Media
Indian politicians have increasingly been using
social media to connect with their constituents
and to promote their policies and agendas.
This has made the system more accessible and
has given citizens a greater say in the political
process.
15.
16. Conclusion
In conclusion, the Indian Parliamentary system is a complex and dynamic system that has
evolved over time. It is a unique blend of British and Indian traditions, and has been successful
in maintaining democracy in India for over seven decades. The system has its challenges, but it
has also proven to be adaptable and resilient. As we move forward, it is important to continue
to analyze and improve the system to ensure that it remains effective in serving the needs of the
Indian people.
17.
18.
19. Indian Political Parties and Symbols
1. National Parties
BJP
Bhartiya Janata Party
BSP
Bahujan Samaj Party
CPI
Communist Party of India
CPI
Communist Party of India
(Marxist)
INC
Indian National congress
NCP
National Congress Party
TMC
Trinamool Congress
AAP
Aam Aadmi Party
JP Nadda Mayawati
D Raja
Sharad Pawar
Sitaram Yechury
Malikarjun
Kharge
Mamata
Banerjee
Arvind Kejriwal
20. 2. Popular State Parties
JD
Janata Dal (United)
LJP
Lok Jan Shakti Party
RJD
Rashtriya Janata Dal EVM Machine
SP
Samajwadi Party
SHS
Shivsena
Lalan
Singh
Chirag
Paswan
Lalu
Prasad
Yadav
Akhilesh
yadav
Uddhav
Balasaheb
Thackeray