Eleanor Finch
India has a multi-party system, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) recognising 6 national parties, 58 state parties, and 2,763 unrecognised parties as of 23 March 2024. The country's first general election took place in 1951, four years after gaining independence from British rule. The Indian Constitution, which came into effect on 26 January 1950, is the world's longest for a sovereign nation and has been amended 106 times. It is the supreme power of the nation and governs all laws.
Characteristics and Values of the Political System in the Indian Constitution
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of political system | Multi-party system |
| Number of national parties | 6 |
| Number of state parties | 58 |
| Number of unrecognized parties | 2,763 |
| Number of Lok Sabha members | 543 |
| Number of Rajya Sabha members | 245 |
| Frequency of government formation | Every five years |
| Year of first general election | 1951 |
| President's role | Head of state, commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces |
| Prime Minister's role | Head of the executive, responsible for running the Union government |
| Constitutional head | President |
| Constitutional powers | Protect, defend, preserve the constitution and rule of law |
| Constitutional amendments | 106 |
| Constitutional length | 145,000 words |
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What You'll Learn
India has a multi-party system
The multi-party landscape in India is a result of the country's diverse and complex social fabric. The Indian Constitution allows parties to be formed based on region, religion, and caste, accommodating the varied interests and ideologies across the vast nation. This has resulted in a highly fragmented political arena, with numerous parties vying for influence.
To become a recognised political party in India, certain criteria must be met. For national-level recognition, a party must secure at least 6% of the total valid votes in at least four states and have a minimum of four MPs in the Lok Sabha. Alternatively, they can achieve recognition by winning at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from three states. State-level recognition is slightly different, with parties needing to secure at least 6% of valid votes in an election to the state legislative assembly and win a minimum of two seats, or achieve similar thresholds at the Lok Sabha level.
The process of registering a political party in India is straightforward but essential for participation in elections. An application must be submitted to the ECI within 30 days of the party's formation, accompanied by a processing fee and specific constitutional documents. The party's constitution must include a mandatory provision affirming its allegiance to the Indian Constitution and its principles of socialism, secularism, and democracy.
India's multi-party system has evolved over time, with the country's first general election taking place in 1951. The Government of India is modelled after the Westminster system, with powers vested in the prime minister, parliament, and the supreme court. The president, while the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, plays a more ceremonial role, with the prime minister acting as the head of the executive.
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Criteria for recognition as a national party
India has a multi-party system. The Election Commission of India (ECI) grants recognition to national-level and state-level political parties based on objective criteria. A recognised political party enjoys privileges such as a reserved party symbol, free broadcast time on state-run television and radio, consultation in the setting of election dates, and giving input to setting electoral rules and regulations.
The rules for recognition as a national party are specified by the Commission in para 6B of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. A party becomes eligible to be accorded national status if it fulfils one of the following conditions: if it is recognised as a state party in at least four states or secures eight per cent or more of the total valid votes polled in the state.
The ECI reviews the poll performance of recognised parties after every state assembly election or general election to the Lok Sabha. Registered parties can be upgraded to recognised national or state parties by the ECI if they meet the relevant criteria after a Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly election. The ECI periodically reviews the recognised party status.
In 2016, the ECI announced that a review would take place after two consecutive elections instead of after every election. Therefore, a political party will retain its recognised party status even if it does not meet the criteria in the next election. However, if it fails to meet the criteria in the election following the next one, it would lose its status.
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Criteria for recognition as a state party
India has a multi-party system, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) granting recognition to national- and state-level political parties based on objective criteria. A recognised political party enjoys privileges such as a reserved party symbol, free broadcast time on state-run television and radio, consultation in the setting of election dates, and input in setting electoral rules and regulations.
To be recognised as a state party, a registered party must fulfil at least one of the following five criteria:
- Secure at least 6% of valid votes polled in an election to the state legislative assembly and win a minimum of two seats in that state assembly.
- Secure at least 6% of valid votes polled in an election to Lok Sabha and win at least one seat in Lok Sabha.
- Win at least 3% of the total number of seats or any fraction thereof allotted to that state.
- Secure 8% or more of the total valid votes polled in the state legislative assembly.
- Return at least one member to the Legislative Assembly of that state for every thirty members of that assembly from that particular state.
Registered parties can be upgraded to recognised national or state parties by the ECI if they meet the relevant criteria after a Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly election. The ECI periodically reviews the recognised party status. Before the amendment in 2016, if a political party failed to fulfil the criteria in the subsequent Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly election, it would lose its status as a recognised party. However, in 2016, the ECI announced that a review would take place after two consecutive elections instead of after every election. Thus, a political party will retain its recognised status even if it does not meet the criteria in the next election.
The recognition of state and national parties is separate from the process of forming a government. Governments are formed through elections held every five years (unless otherwise specified) by parties that secure a majority of members in their respective lower houses (Lok Sabha in the central government and Vidhan Sabha in states).
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Election of the President of India
India has a multi-party system, with 6 national parties, 58 state parties, and 2,763 unrecognised parties. The President of India is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. The President is elected by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both houses of parliament (MPs), the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) of all states, and the elected members of the legislative assemblies (MLAs) of union territories with legislatures, i.e., the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry. The election process of the president is more extensive than that of the prime minister, who is also elected indirectly by the members of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament.
The President of India is elected indirectly through the electoral college, which consists of both houses of the Parliament of India and the legislative assemblies of every Indian state and territory, who are all directly elected. The electoral college members are assigned varying numbers of votes, with the total weight of MPs and MLAs being roughly equal and the voting power of a state or territory proportional to its population. Overall, the members of the electoral college are eligible to cast 1,086,431 votes, with a majority threshold of 543,216 votes. The election is held by secret ballot under the instant-runoff voting system. For a candidate to be eligible for the president's office, they must be subscribed by at least 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors as seconders. Each elector casts a different number of votes, with the common standard being that the total number of votes given by Members of Parliament equals the total number of votes cast by State Legislators. Legislators from larger states cast more votes than those from smaller states.
The President of India must be a citizen of India and at least 35 years old. They should not hold any office of profit in the Government of India or any Indian state or local authority. The President should not be a member of either house of parliament or a house of the legislature of any state. If a member of either house of parliament or a house of the legislature of any state is elected President, they are considered to have resigned from that house on the date they take office as President. The President's role is to protect, defend, and preserve the constitution and the rule of law in a constitutional democracy with constitutional supremacy.
The 2022 Indian presidential election was the 16th presidential election in India and was held on 18 July 2022. The incumbent president, Ram Nath Kovind, did not run for reelection. The election had a high turnout of 99.12%. Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Droupadi Murmu won the election by a margin of 296,626 votes against Yashwant Sinha, the United Opposition candidate. Murmu became the first member of a Scheduled Tribe and the second woman to become President, as well as the first President born after Indian independence.
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The role of the judiciary
India has a multi-party system, with 6 national parties, 58 state parties, and 2,763 unrecognised parties. The role of the judiciary in the Indian Constitution is primarily vested in the Supreme Court, which is the highest judicial authority in the country. The judiciary's primary function is to interpret and uphold the Constitution, acting as its guardian and protector.
The judiciary in India is independent of the executive and the legislature, ensuring its impartiality and ability to act as a check on the other branches of government. The Supreme Court is specifically tasked with safeguarding the fundamental rights of citizens and ensuring that the actions of the executive and legislature are in line with the Constitution. This power of judicial review, modelled after the United States, is outlined in Article 13 of the Indian Constitution. The Supreme Court can declare any law or executive action that violates the Constitution as null and void, protecting the fundamental rights and liberties guaranteed to citizens.
The judiciary also plays a crucial role in settling disputes between different levels of government. It intervenes in conflicts between the central government and state governments, as well as in disputes between different states. This role helps maintain a balance of power and ensures that all levels of government function within the framework set out by the Constitution.
In addition to its role in constitutional interpretation and dispute resolution, the judiciary is responsible for the administration of justice. The Supreme Court and the various High Courts across the country hear appeals from lower courts and provide final judgments in legal cases. The judiciary's independence and authority are essential to ensuring fair and impartial trials, protecting the rights of accused persons, and upholding the rule of law.
The Indian Constitution, with its detailed provisions and specific spelling out of government powers, has been amended over 100 times since its enactment in 1950. This reflects the dynamic nature of the Constitution and the judiciary's role in interpreting and shaping it over time. The judiciary's power of judicial review allows it to address new challenges and ensure that the Constitution remains relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of Indian society.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indian Constitution does not recognise any political parties. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) grants recognition to national-level and state-level political parties. As of 23 March 2024, there are 6 national parties, 58 state parties, and 2,763 unrecognised parties.
A registered party is recognised as a national party if it fulfils any one of the following three conditions:
- The party's candidates have secured at least 6% of the total valid votes in at least 4 states (in the latest Lok Sabha or Assembly elections) and the party has at least 4 MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls.
- It has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from at least 3 states.
- It is recognised in four or more states.
A registered party is recognised as a state party if it fulfils any one of the following five conditions:
- The party should secure at least 6% of valid votes polled in an election to the state legislative assembly and win at least two seats in that state assembly.
- The party should secure at least 6% of valid votes polled in an election to Lok Sabha and win at least one seat in Lok Sabha.
- The party should win at least 3% of the total number of seats or any fraction thereof allotted to that state.
