Simone Lawson
India's constitution sets out the country's political code, federal structure, powers of government, and guarantees Indians' rights, including freedom of speech, assembly, and movement. The country's politics are complicated by the caste system, which divides the Hindu majority into groups. While caste-based discrimination is banned by the constitution, politicians still court voters according to their caste or religious affiliation. India's party system has evolved into a multi-party system, with more than two political parties having the ability to form the government, either in coalition or individually.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Party System | Multi-party system |
| Number of National Parties | 6 |
| Number of State Parties | 58 |
| Number of Unrecognized Parties | 2,763 |
| Election Commission | Election Commission of India (ECI) |
| Election Cycle | Every 5 years |
| Number of Members in Lok Sabha | 543 |
| Number of Members in Rajya Sabha | 245 |
| Head of State | President |
| Head of Government | Prime Minister |
| Secular State | Yes |
| Caste System | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- India's constitution sets out the country's political code, federal structure, powers of government and citizens' rights
- The Indian government is modelled after the Westminster system
- India has a multi-party system
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) grants recognition to national-level and state-level political parties
- The constitution is secular, prohibiting the persecution of individuals for their religious beliefs
India's constitution sets out the country's political code, federal structure, powers of government and citizens' rights
India's constitution is a quasi-federal system, a blend of both federal and union features. It sets out the country's political code, with a multi-party system of government, and guarantees citizens' fundamental rights.
Political Code
India's constitution establishes a multi-party system, where more than two political parties have the ability to form a government, either in coalition or individually. This is in contrast to a single-party system or a two-party system.
Federal Structure
The Indian constitution is based on federalism, with a clear division of powers between the centre and the states. The three lists contained in the constitution's seventh schedule detail the areas in which the union and state governments may legislate. The union list outlines the areas in which the union government has exclusive authority, including foreign policy, defence, communications, currency, and taxation on corporations and non-agricultural income. State governments have the sole power to legislate on matters such as law and order, public health and sanitation, local government, and taxation on agricultural income.
Powers of Government
The constitution grants the union government the power to create new states, combine or change states, and terminate a state's existence. It also has the authority to create and dissolve union territories. The union government consists of three branches: the executive, legislative, and the judiciary. The executive branch includes the president, vice president, and a Council of Ministers, led by the prime minister. The legislative branch is composed of the two houses of parliament: the lower house, or Lok Sabha, and the upper house, or Rajya Sabha. The judiciary is independent and integrated, with the Supreme Court of India at the top, followed by high courts at the state level, and lower and district courts at the bottom.
Citizens' Rights
The constitution guarantees six broad categories of fundamental rights to all citizens, individually and collectively. These include the right to equality, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of assembly and association, right against exploitation, and the right to conserve one's culture, language, or script.
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The Indian government is modelled after the Westminster system
The president of India is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. The president is also the first citizen of the country and is elected by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both houses of parliament, the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies of all States, and the elected members of the legislative assemblies of union territories with legislatures. The president is responsible for protecting, defending, and preserving the constitution and the rule of law in a constitutional democracy with constitutional supremacy.
The prime minister, on the other hand, is the senior member of the cabinet and is responsible for running the Union government. The prime minister is appointed by the president and is the head of the executive. They select and can dismiss other members of the cabinet, allocate posts to members within the government, and are responsible for bringing proposals of legislation. The prime minister is also the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet and is advised by the cabinet secretary, who acts as the head of the Indian Administrative Service.
The Parliament of India is bicameral in nature, with the Lok Sabha as the lower house and the Rajya Sabha as the upper house. The Lok Sabha represents the people of India as a whole, while the Rajya Sabha represents the states of the Indian federation. The members of the Lok Sabha are elected using a plurality voting system from single-member districts, while the members of the Rajya Sabha are either elected indirectly by the members of the state legislative assemblies or nominated by the president of India.
The judiciary in India consists of an apex supreme court, 25 high courts, and hundreds of district courts, all subordinate to the supreme court. The Supreme Court is composed of the chief justice and 33 associate justices, all appointed by the president on the advice of the Chief Justice of India.
In terms of the party system, India has evolved a multi-party system where more than two political parties have the ability to form the government, either individually or in coalition. This is due to the diversity present in India, which cannot be represented by just one or two parties.
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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 national party must fulfill at least one of three conditions: its candidates must secure at least 6% of the total valid votes in at least four states and have at least four members of parliament; it must win at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three states; or it must be recognised in four or more states. A state party must fulfill at least one of five conditions, including securing at least 6% of valid votes polled in an election to the state legislative assembly and winning at least two seats.
As of March 23, 2024, there were 6 national parties, 58 state parties, and 2,763 unrecognised parties. The diversity present in India, including its social and geographical aspects, is considered a factor in the evolution of its multi-party system. India's constitution sets out the country's political code, federal structure, powers of government, and guarantees Indians' rights, including freedom of speech, assembly, and movement. It is officially declared a secular and socialist state, prohibiting the persecution of individuals for their religious beliefs. However, religion and the caste system remain influential factors in Indian politics, with politicians courting votes according to caste or religious affiliation.
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The Election Commission of India (ECI) grants recognition to national-level and state-level political parties
India operates as a multi-party system, where more than two political parties have the ability to form the government, either in coalition, alliance, or individually. The country's first general election took place in 1951, and the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been conducting national and state elections since 1952. The ECI is responsible for granting recognition to national-level and state-level political parties, based on objective criteria. It is an all-India body that is common to both the Central government and the State governments.
The ECI plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring the participation of all eligible citizens. It has the power of direction, superintendence, and control of elections to parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of the president and vice-president of India. The ECI is also responsible for determining the electoral constituencies' territorial areas, preparing and revising electoral rolls, and registering eligible voters.
Recognition from the ECI comes with several privileges for political parties. Recognised parties enjoy a reserved party symbol, free broadcast time on state-run television and radio, consultation in setting election dates, and input in setting electoral rules and regulations. The ECI's criteria for recognition include factors such as the percentage of total valid votes polled in a state. As of 23 March 2024, there were 6 national parties, 58 state parties, and 2,763 unrecognised parties in India, according to the ECI.
The ECI also has the power to derecognise political parties if they fail to maintain inner-party democracy or do not meet the relevant criteria after a Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly election. This process of review was amended in 2016 to take place after two consecutive elections instead of after every election, allowing parties to retain their recognised status even if they do not meet the criteria in one election.
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The constitution is secular, prohibiting the persecution of individuals for their religious beliefs
India's constitution is secular, and its preamble contains the word "secular". Articles 25 to 28 of the constitution imply that the state will not discriminate, patronise, or interfere in the profession of any religion. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion as a fundamental right, and every citizen has the right to practice and promote their religion peacefully. This is further supported by Article 25, which states that all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality, and health.
However, despite the secular nature of the Indian constitution, there have been instances of religious intolerance and persecution of religious minorities. In recent years, there have been interreligious riots, and Hindu-nationalist groups have created a climate of intimidation in the country. Additionally, several Indian states have passed Freedom of Religion Bills, which aim to prevent people from converting to Christianity. These laws have been challenged by religious groups, such as Christians, who argue that they violate their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 25.
The Indian government is modelled after the Westminster system, and power is vested in the prime minister, parliament, and the supreme court, respectively. The country has a multi-party system, where more than two political parties have the ability to form the government, either in coalition or individually. The diversity present in India, both social and geographical, is represented by this multi-party system.
In conclusion, while the Indian constitution is secular and prohibits the persecution of individuals for their religious beliefs, there have been challenges and instances of religious intolerance in the country. The multi-party system in India allows for the representation of diverse social and geographical interests, contributing to the country's complex political landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
India has a multi-party system. This is a system in which more than two political parties have the ability to form the government, in coalition/alliance or individually.
Other types of party systems include the single-party system and the bi-party system.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) grants recognition to national-level and state-level political parties based on objective criteria.
A registered party is recognised as a national party if its candidates have secured at least 6% of the total valid votes in at least 4 states and the party has at least 4 MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls.
The Indian Constitution sets out the country's political code, federal structure, powers of the government, and guarantees Indians' rights, including equality before the law and freedom of speech, assembly, movement, and others.
