Indian Democracy and Government
Overview
India is the world's largest democracy, functioning under a parliamentary system established by the Constitution of 1950. This topic forms the backbone of the Civics portion in MP TET Varg-2 Social Studies, testing your understanding of how India's three pillars—Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary—work together while maintaining checks and balances.
Questions typically focus on the composition and functions of Parliament, powers of the President and Prime Minister, structure of the judiciary, and the electoral process. You must know specific numbers (members in Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha, tenure periods, age qualifications) and understand the relationships between different organs of government. This is a scoring area if you memorise key facts and understand the flow of power in Indian governance.
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Key Concepts
- **Parliamentary Democracy**: India follows the Westminster model where the executive (Council of Ministers) is drawn from and accountable to the legislature (Parliament). The real executive power lies with the Prime Minister, not the President.
- **Separation of Powers with Checks and Balances**: Legislature makes laws, Executive implements them, Judiciary interprets them—but each organ can check the others (e.g., judicial review, no-confidence motion).
- **Bicameral Legislature**: Parliament has two houses—Lok Sabha (House of the People) represents citizens directly; Rajya Sabha (Council of States) represents states and ensures federal balance.
- **Nominal vs Real Executive**: President is the nominal/constitutional head (de jure); Prime Minister is the real executive head (de facto) who exercises actual power.
- **Independent Judiciary**: Courts are independent of the executive and legislature. Supreme Court is the guardian of the Constitution with power of judicial review.
- **Universal Adult Franchise**: Every citizen aged 18 and above has the right to vote, regardless of caste, religion, gender, or economic status.
- **Federal Structure with Unitary Features**: Power is divided between Centre and States, but the Centre has overriding powers during emergencies.
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Key Facts
| Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Lok Sabha members** | 545 (530 from states + 13 from UTs + 2 Anglo-Indians nominated—now discontinued after 104th Amendment) | | **Rajya Sabha members** | 250 (238 elected + 12 nominated by President) | | **Lok Sabha tenure** | 5 years (can be dissolved earlier) | | **Rajya Sabha tenure** | 6 years (1/3 members retire every 2 years; permanent house) | | **President's tenure** | 5 years; eligible for re-election | | **PM qualification** | Must be member of either House of Parliament | | **Minimum age for Lok Sabha** | 25 years | | **Minimum age for Rajya Sabha** | 30 years | | **Minimum age for President** | 35 years | | **Voting age** | 18 years (61st Amendment, 1988) | | **Election Commission** | Article 324; CEC + Election Commissioners | | **Supreme Court judges** | 1 Chief Justice + 33 other judges (total 34) |