Indian Democracy

Overview

Indian Democracy is a foundational topic in PSTET Paper II Social Studies, testing your understanding of how India's government functions at the Union level. Questions typically focus on the structure and powers of Parliament, the relationship between executive and legislature, the independence of judiciary, and the electoral process. This topic connects directly to the Indian Constitution section and forms the basis for understanding governance.

For PSTET, you must know the composition of each organ of government, key constitutional provisions (article numbers for major features), and the roles of important offices. Expect questions on qualifications for membership, tenure of offices, types of majorities, and landmark features of Indian elections. Mastery here also helps in teaching civics effectively to Classes VI-VIII students, making governance concepts accessible and engaging.

Key Concepts

• **Parliamentary Democracy**: India follows the Westminster model — the executive is drawn from and accountable to the legislature. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers must enjoy the confidence of Lok Sabha.

• **Bicameral Legislature**: Parliament has two Houses — Lok Sabha (House of the People, lower house, directly elected) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States, upper house, indirectly elected). Both participate in law-making, but Lok Sabha has primacy in money matters.

• **Separation of Powers with Checks**: Legislature makes laws, Executive implements them, Judiciary interprets them. Each organ checks the others — Parliament can impeach judges, Judiciary can strike down unconstitutional laws, President can send bills back.

• **Collective Responsibility**: The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha (Article 75). If Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion, the entire ministry must resign.

• **Judicial Independence**: Judges are appointed through a collegium system, have security of tenure, and can be removed only by impeachment. This insulates courts from political pressure.

• **Universal Adult Franchise**: Every citizen 18 years and above has the right to vote (Article 326), regardless of caste, religion, gender or economic status.

• **Election Commission as Independent Body**: Article 324 vests superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission — a constitutional authority independent of the government.

Key Facts

| Institution / Office | Key Facts | |---------------------|-----------| | **Lok Sabha** | 545 members (530 states + 20 UTs + 2 nominated Anglo-Indians — now discontinued after 104th Amendment); term 5 years; quorum is 1/10th of total membership | | **Rajya Sabha** | Maximum 250 members (238 elected by state assemblies + 12 nominated by President); permanent body — 1/3rd retire every 2 years; member term 6 years | | **President** | Elected by electoral college (elected MPs + elected MLAs); term 5 years; can be re-elected; impeachment by Parliament with 2/3rd majority in each House | | **Prime Minister** | Appointed by President; must command majority in Lok Sabha; head of Council of Ministers | | **Supreme Court** | Chief Justice + 33 other judges (current sanctioned strength 34); original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction; guardian of Constitution | | **High Courts** | One for each state or group of states; Article 214; writ jurisdiction under Article 226 | | **Election Commission** | CEC + Election Commissioners; CEC removal only by impeachment-like process; conducts Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, state assembly and presidential elections | | **Voting Age** | 18 years (61st Amendment, 1988 — reduced from 21) | | **Article 324** | Vests election conduct in Election Commission | | **Article 326** | Adult suffrage for elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies |