Indian Democracy: Elections, Governance, and Social Movements

Posted on Aug 7, 2025 in Social sciences

Rights-Based Approach to Development

In the decades after independence, progress was made towards more and more democratization of India. However, in this process, citizens were considered beneficiaries. In the last few decades, development is considered a right of the citizens.

Establishing Social Justice and Equality

Establishing social justice involves removing those social conditions which are responsible for injustice and insisting on the equal dignity for all individuals. The principles of justice and equality aim at ending discrimination in social status, such as superior or inferior, based on caste, religion, language, gender, place of birth, race, property, and providing equal opportunity for development to every individual.

Understanding Midterm Elections

If the elected government loses its majority before completing its term in the Parliament, or if the parties of the coalition government withdraw their support resulting in the loss of majority support for the government, and if no alternative government is possible, then elections are held before the completion of the term. They are called Midterm Elections.

Key Functions of the Election Commission

  • Preparing the Voters’ List:

    To prepare the list of eligible voters, to update the existing voters’ list, and to include the names of new voters is the responsibility of the Election Commission.

  • Deciding the Election Timetable and Program:

    The Election Commission decides when to conduct elections and in how many stages elections will be held in each state.

  • Scrutiny of Candidate Applications:

    1. Selected candidates of political parties, as well as independent candidates, have to submit applications containing their personal information.
    2. The Election Commission scrutinizes all applications and allows eligible candidates to contest the election.

  • Granting Recognition to Political Parties:

    1. In our country, we have a multi-party system.
    2. The Election Commission has the right to recognize or de-recognize political parties.
    3. The Election Commission also allots election symbols to the political parties.

  • Resolving Election Disputes:

    1. The Election Commission has the responsibility to resolve any disputes that may arise regarding elections.
    2. The Election Commission can declare any candidate disqualified or conduct re-elections in a particular constituency.

Characteristics of Political Parties

  • Achieving Power:

    To achieve power through elections is the main objective of political parties.

  • Pursuing an Ideology:

    The policies and thoughts of political parties are called ideology.

  • Having a Party Agenda:

    On the basis of ideology, political parties prepare a party agenda.

  • Establishing a Government:

    Political parties establish government and govern the nation.

  • Link Between Government and People:

    1. Political parties work as a link between the people and the government.
    2. Political parties communicate the demands and complaints of the people to the government.


Understanding Political Parties: True or False Statements

  • Political parties act as a link between government and the people. (True.)

    1. Political parties communicate the demands and complaints of the people to the government.
    2. Government tries to get support of people for its policies and programs through political parties.

  • Political Parties are social organizations. (True.)

    1. Political parties are like social organizations, have their own goals and objectives, and take initiative in resolving social problems.
    2. They involve in various social movements and their work.

  • Coalition politics leads to instability. (False.)

    1. The belief that coalition government brings instability was proved wrong by the political party system in India.
    2. In fact, the coalition government system has stabilized in India.

  • Shiromani Akali Dal is a national party. (False.)

    1. Shiromani Akali Dal is a regional political party which has assumed power in Punjab for many years.
    2. It was established in 1920, a prominent regional party in Punjab with the objective of cultivating religious and regional identity.

Understanding Regionalism

  • The feeling of affinity developed for one’s own language and region gradually turns into identity consciousness, giving rise to regionalism.
  • People think primarily about the interest and development of their own region.
  • They start feeling proud of their language, literature, traditions, history of social reforms, and cultural movements, and this gives rise to the development of linguistic identity.
  • Regional identity develops from the consciousness about the development of a region and the feeling that people belonging to that region should have claim over its resources and employment opportunities.

Evolution of Political Parties in India

  • The Congress was a strong political party in the post-independence period. Congress had a majority at the Centre and in most states; Indian politics was controlled by the Congress Party. This era was described as the era of a ‘Single Dominant Party System’.
  • The non-Congress parties came together and challenged the ‘Single Dominant Party System’ in 1977.
  • After the 1989 Lok Sabha Elections, the system of one party emerging as dominant came to an end. Since then, different parties began to come together to form coalition governments. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress Party experimented with establishing coalition governments.

The Autonomous Election Commission of India

In India, the Election Commission is central to the process of elections. Article 324 of the Indian Constitution established this autonomous body, which consists of one Chief Election Commissioner and two other Election Commissioners. The President appoints these election commissioners. The Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed from their post easily or for political reasons. This is necessary to preserve the independence of the Election Commission.


The Role of Movements in Democracy

  • Importance of Movements in Democracy

    1. Different problems exist in society, and social problems can be discussed through these movements.
    2. When social problems become public issues, the government must pay attention to them.
    3. The right to protest is considered an important right in a democracy.
    4. Moreover, when leaders and activists provide necessary information about social issues, the government can use such information for policymaking in a democracy.

  • Leadership in Social Movements

    Movements do not need a strong leadership. (False.)

    1. Without a leader, active participation of the people and success of the movement is not possible.
    2. Leaders are the links between the people and the government.
    3. Leaders keep the movement active; they chalk out the objectives, programs of action, and the strategy of agitation.
    4. Strong leadership makes the movement effective.

  • Emergence of the Consumer Movement

    Consumer movement came into existence. (True.)

    1. Due to the changing nature of the social and economic system, consumers face various problems.
    2. Problems such as adulteration, increased cost of items, frauds in weight and measures, etc., have been prevalent in society.
    3. Hence, to protect consumer rights and interests, the Consumer Protection Act came into existence in 1986.

Key Social Movements in India

  • Women’s Movement: Pre-Independence Reforms

    Following reforms were pursued for women in the pre-independence period:

    1. Elimination of injustice against women and ending their exploitation.
    2. Helping them lead a respectful life and ensuring their active involvement in social life.
    3. Ending the practices of Sati and child marriages.
    4. Widow remarriage.
    5. Women’s education and the right to vote for women.

  • Environmental Movement: Activities and Role

    1. Environmental degradation is a serious problem at national and international levels.
    2. At the international level, several movements are working to stop environmental deterioration.
    3. In India, many movements are working on different aspects of the environment.
    4. Environmental movements are addressing issues like biodiversity protection, forest conservation, green belts, river pollution, and the use of chemicals and their ill effects.

Impact of Corruption on Governance and Democracy

Government’s working capacity is reduced due to corruption at the political and administrative levels. People develop distrust and dissatisfaction with the entire governmental system due to delays in governmental work, poor public services and facilities, and various financial blunders. Corruption in the electoral process, including bogus voting, bribing voters, and abducting voters, reduces people’s confidence in the democratic process.


Nature of the Farmers’ Movement in India

  • In British India, farmers organized against anti-agricultural policies and colonial revenue collection methods.
  • Such farmers’ movements in Bardoli and Champaran are well known. They were inspired by the thoughts of Mahatma Phule, Justice Ranade, and Mahatma Gandhi.
  • In the post-independence period, the Green Revolution did not benefit poor farmers, creating a divide between rich and poor farmers. Dissatisfaction among poor farmers led to the beginning of the farmers’ movement.
  • Appropriate prices for agricultural products, treating agriculture as an industry, acceptance of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, debt relief, debt cancellations, and a National Policy for Agriculture are some of the demands of the farmers’ movement.

The Tribal Movement in India

In the pre-independence period, the British government deprived tribal people of their right to livelihood from forest resources. Tribal uprisings occurred in Kolam from Chota Nagpur, Gond from Odisha, Koli, Bhilla, and Ramoshi from Maharashtra, and Santhal and Munda from Bihar. The tribal struggle has continued since those years. Tribals in India face several problems. One major problem is that they are denied rights over forests. The main demand of the tribal movement is to accept their rights over forests. They should be allowed to collect forest products and also have a right to cultivate forest land.

History of the Labour Movement in India

The Labour movement in India emerged in the background of industrialization. Textile industries and railway companies were established in India in the latter half of the nineteenth century. In 1899, railway workers went on strike for their demands. However, the first organization for resolving workers’ issues was established in 1920. This organization is known as the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

Criminalization of Politics and Transparency Efforts

  • Effects of Criminalization of Politics:

    1. Increased participation of criminals in the political process becomes a serious problem for democratic systems.
    2. Political parties give candidature to individuals with criminal backgrounds, criminal allegations, and allegations of corruption.
    3. This increases the role of money and muscle power in politics.
    4. This may also lead to violence during elections.

  • Efforts for Transparency in the Political Process:

    1. The judiciary in India is making conscious efforts to make the political process transparent.
    2. To prevent the criminalization of politics, the judiciary has adopted measures like strict punishment for criminals and prohibiting criminals from participating in the political process.
    3. Increased participation of people at all levels of government, administration, and judiciary.
    4. Public policies should be made through interaction with the people, including those not in power.