Jonah Patel
India is a parliamentary democracy with a figurehead president, established by the adoption of its constitution on 26 January 1950. This constitution, still in force, transformed India into a republic within the Commonwealth. However, India's history with monarchies is complex. At the time of independence, there were 565 princely states in India, some ruling over extensive lands and others over a few villages. This has led to discussions about whether India could have become a constitutional monarchy, with a native monarch from an illustrious family, or a system similar to Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates.
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What You'll Learn
India's constitution established a parliamentary model with a figurehead president
India is a republic with a parliamentary system of democracy. Its constitution, adopted on 26 January 1950, established this parliamentary model with a figurehead president. This constitution is still in force and sets out the country's political code, federal structure, powers of government, and guarantees Indians' rights, including equality before the law and freedom of speech, assembly, and movement.
The Indian Constitution describes a federal state with a parliamentary system of democracy. The federal structure is notable for the strength of the central government, which has exclusive control over defence, foreign affairs, railways, ports, and currency. The President, as the constitutional head of the government, has reserve powers to take over the administration of a state. The President of India is the head of state and an integral part of Parliament. The President is responsible for ensuring that laws passed by Parliament adhere to the relevant constitutional provisions and that the stipulated procedures are followed before granting approval to bills. The President is elected by the members of the Parliament of India and the state Legislative Assemblies and serves a five-year term.
The central legislature has two houses: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha, or the House of the People, has 543 members who are directly elected by Indian citizens every five years. The Rajya Sabha, or the upper house, has members who are nominated by the elected representatives in the states and serve staggered six-year terms.
Legislative proposals are introduced to either house of Parliament in the form of a bill. Once a bill is passed by both houses and assented to by the President, it becomes an act of Parliament. Money bills must originate in the Lok Sabha, while the Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations over the bills within a period of fourteen days.
India's government is loosely modelled on the British Westminster system. It consists of a president as head of state, an executive headed by the prime minister, a legislature consisting of a parliament with an upper and lower house, and a judiciary with a supreme court at its head.
While India is a republic, it could have emerged as a constitutional monarchy. At the time of independence, there were 565 princely states in India, each with its own ruler. India could have chosen a constitutional monarch from one of these illustrious families, most likely a descendant of the Mughals or the Marathas, the last two major Indian dynasties. Alternatively, India could have followed a similar path to Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates, with hereditary states electing a king for a fixed term.
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India's independence from the British Raj
India is not a constitutional monarchy. It is a republic with a parliamentary model and a figurehead president.
The British Raj was a period of direct British rule over the Indian subcontinent from 1858 until the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947. The Raj succeeded the management of the subcontinent by the British East India Company, after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The British government took possession of the company's assets and imposed direct rule, with Queen Victoria being proclaimed Empress of India in 1876.
The last quarter of the British Raj was marked by violent Hindu-Muslim conflict and intensified agitation for Indian independence. The nationalist movement was unified by the Khilafat movement, which aimed to preserve the caliphate. However, the forces of revivalist Hindus and Muslims were set in motion in separate directions, leading to the creation of independent dominions of India and Pakistan in 1947. The partition resulted in population exchanges, with migrations of Muslims into Pakistan and non-Muslims into India.
India's independence was formalized by the Indian Independence Act 1947, which also established an independent Dominion of Pakistan, comprising the regions of British India that are now Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Dominion of India, or the Union of India, remained "India" in common parlance but lost territories to Pakistan. The British government relinquished responsibility for governing these territories, and the King ceased to be the monarch of India.
The Government of India Act 1935 served as a model and framework for the Indian constitution, which established a federal state with a parliamentary system of democracy. The constitution also provided for the establishment of village committees, the illegality of "untouchability," and the derecognition of caste distinctions. On January 26, 1950, India celebrated Republic Day, commemorating the adoption of its constitution, which is still in force today.
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India's relationship with the British Crown
India is not a constitutional monarchy. It is a republic with a parliamentary model of governance and a figurehead president. However, it could have been a constitutional monarchy, and its relationship with the British Crown is a significant aspect of its history.
The Indian subcontinent was under the rule of the British Crown from 1858 to 1947. This period was known as the British Raj, derived from the Hindustani word 'Raj', meaning 'reign', 'rule', or 'government'. The British Raj was a period of Crown rule in India, during which the region was directly administered by the British government. The British Crown's rule in India was a significant part of the expansion and consolidation of the British Empire. India was often referred to as the "Jewel in the Crown" of the Empire, highlighting its strategic, economic, and military importance.
During the British Raj, the Indian subcontinent was intertwined economically with Great Britain due to the former being a source of raw materials and a market for British goods. The British built railroads, roads, canals, and bridges, as well as established telegraph links, to facilitate the transport of goods between the two regions. Additionally, the British reorganised the military in India, increasing the number of British troops relative to native troops to maintain control.
The British Raj also involved a system of princely states, where Indian rulers governed regions under British paramountcy. In 1858, Queen Victoria announced a policy of perpetual support for these "native princes" and non-intervention in religious matters, allowing them autonomy in their rule as long as they swore allegiance to the British Crown. There were approximately 565 princely states in India at the time of independence in 1947, with varying levels of power and influence.
The first steps towards self-governance in India were taken in the late 19th century, with the appointment of Indian counsellors and the establishment of provincial councils with Indian members. This process continued with the Indian Councils Act of 1892 and 1909, which gave Indians limited roles in the central and provincial legislatures. However, it was only in 1947, with the Indian Independence Act, that the British government relinquished its responsibility for governing India and the Dominion of India was established. The Dominion of India remained within the British Commonwealth of Nations, with the King of the United Kingdom as the sovereign monarch. This arrangement continued until 1950 when India adopted its constitution, establishing a parliamentary democracy and formally becoming a republic.
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India's decision to join the Commonwealth
India gained independence from British rule in 1947, and became a republic in 1950. However, in 1949, India decided to remain a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, despite the controversy this caused in the Constituent Assembly.
The Indian Independence Act of 1947, which formalised India's independence, also maintained the King of the United Kingdom as the monarch of India. This was a contentious issue, as India had just gained independence from the British Empire, and some felt that to linger in the shadows of its colonial past was contradictory and self-deprecating.
In May 1949, Jawaharlal Nehru, the then-Prime Minister of India, moved a motion in the Constituent Assembly to ratify the Indian government's decision to remain in the Commonwealth of Nations. This was surprising to many, as Nehru had previously declared that India would be a sovereign republic, rejecting dominion status and implying a severance of ties with the Commonwealth. However, Nehru believed that Commonwealth membership would bring political and economic benefits to India, and enable the country to maintain and develop friendly relations with the Commonwealth nations.
Nehru's motion was not without its critics. Some Assembly members, such as Shibban Saxena and H.V. Kamath, argued that Commonwealth membership was akin to dominion status and a remnant of India's colonial past. They believed that India should not join the Commonwealth but instead recognise and confirm the existence of a special relationship between the various Commonwealth nations. Others, like Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar and Frank Anthony, supported Nehru's motion, arguing that India's economic and military interests were served by having a cordial relationship with Britain, and that Commonwealth membership could achieve this.
In the end, the Assembly adopted the motion proposed by Nehru, and India remained a member of the Commonwealth. This decision has continued to be debated over the years, with some arguing that India's stature and colonial history call into question the necessity of its continued membership. Despite this, India still recognises the value of the Commonwealth as a forum to redefine itself on the global stage and build partnerships with other member states.
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India's post-independence economic and political development
India gained independence from the British Empire in 1947, and since then, it has undergone significant economic and political development.
Political Development
The Indian Constitution, which came into force in 1950, established India as a sovereign, secular, democratic republic, with a Westminster-style parliamentary system of government. The constitution also provided for universal suffrage and an independent judiciary. The democratic module has evolved over time, with political parties holding elections and power transfers occurring multiple times. India transitioned from a unicameral to a bicameral system, with the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha as the two houses of Parliament. The integration of princely states into the union was a key task in the early years, and the government employed negotiations and, occasionally, military action to ensure the central government's authority.
Economic Development
India's economic journey has been marked by policy shifts and reforms. Initially, the country adopted a centralised planning approach, inspired by the Soviet Union's Five-Year Plans, with a focus on agrarian reform, industrialisation, and technological advancement. The Planning Commission, established in 1952, oversaw these plans. Despite these efforts, India faced challenges in reducing poverty and improving living standards. By the 1980s, a transition phase emerged, characterised by increased investment activity and external financing. This set the stage for the 1991 economic liberalisation reforms, which accelerated economic growth, industry diversification, and integration into the global economy. The number of people living below the poverty line decreased significantly between 1993 and 2009, and India's share in world trade increased. However, challenges remain, including malnutrition, illiteracy, and lack of basic sanitation.
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Frequently asked questions
No, India is a parliamentary democracy with a figurehead president. On January 26, 1950, India adopted its constitution, which established a parliamentary model.
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a country is ruled by a king or queen whose powers are limited by a constitution.
Yes, it is possible that India could have become a constitutional monarchy. At the time of independence, there were 565 princely states in India, some of which were ruled by powerful monarchs. India could have chosen a constitutional monarch from one of these princely states or from the descendants of the Mughals or the Marathas, the last two major Indian dynasties.
