Parliament & State legislatures

Model Answer

Introduction

In India’s parliamentary democracy, the Parliament plays a pivotal role in ensuring the accountability of the executive. This relationship is essential for maintaining transparency and governance through various mechanisms that allow Parliament to scrutinize the actions and policies of the executive.

Body

Mechanisms for Accountability

1. Question Hour:
   • Members of Parliament (MPs) can ask questions to ministers regarding their ministry’s functioning. For instance, during the Question Hour in August 2021, MPs questioned the government on its COVID-19 response, including vaccination strategies and economic measures.
2. Parliamentary Committees:
   • Committees like the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) review budget allocations and policy implementations. In 2010, the PAC scrutinized the 2G Spectrum Scam, prompting significant political ramifications.
3. No-confidence Motion:
   • If the Lok Sabha majority votes for a no-confidence motion, the government must resign. A notable example occurred in 1999 when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government fell by just one vote.
4. Adjournment and Calling Attention Motions:
   • These motions enable MPs to raise urgent matters. In 2019, opposition MPs used a calling attention motion in the Rajya Sabha to discuss air pollution and climate change.
5. Debates and Discussions:
   • Parliament debates various issues, allowing MPs to express their views. The extensive discussions on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, highlighted diverse opinions and concerns.

Limitations on Accountability

Despite these mechanisms, certain factors limit Parliament’s effectiveness:

• Frequent Disruptions: Continuous disruptions in sessions can hinder thorough scrutiny of executive actions.
• Party Discipline: Ruling party MPs may hesitate to criticize their government, weakening accountability.
• Weak Opposition: A fragmented opposition may lack the strength to challenge the executive effectively.
• Bypassing Parliament: The executive may issue ordinances or executive orders, circumventing parliamentary oversight.

Conclusion

While the Indian Parliament possesses various mechanisms to ensure executive accountability, challenges such as disruptions, party discipline, and a weak opposition can impede its effectiveness. Addressing these issues is vital for fostering a robust environment for oversight and constructive debate, ultimately enhancing accountability within the executive branch.

Model Answer

Introduction

In a democracy, individual parliamentarians are vital as national lawmakers, responsible for debating and scrutinizing legislation that affects citizens. However, a noticeable decline in their roles has emerged, adversely impacting the quality of parliamentary debates and their outcomes.

Factors Contributing to the Decline

Several factors contribute to the diminishing role of individual parliamentarians:

1. Party Discipline:
   • Strict party discipline often compels parliamentarians to conform to the party line, suppressing individual opinions and dissent. This results in a lack of diverse viewpoints during debates.
2. Rise of Populism:
   • The rise of populist politics emphasizes rhetoric over substantive policy discussions. Politicians often prioritize catchy slogans over in-depth debates, leading to superficial discussions on critical issues (Source: Mounk, Yascha. The People vs. Democracy).
3. Influence of Interest Groups:
   • The lobbying power of interest groups can overshadow the contributions of individual parliamentarians. Financial backing often skews legislative priorities away from genuine concerns (Source: Schlozman, Kay Lehman, et al. The Unheavenly Chorus).

Impact on Debate Quality

The decline in individual contributions has significant repercussions on the quality of debates:

• Reduced Diversity of Opinions:
  • A homogeneous legislative process emerges, with fewer dissenting voices, leading to a lack of comprehensive discussions on laws.
• Less Rigorous Scrutiny of Bills:
  • When parliamentarians prioritize party loyalty over critical examination, bills may not receive the thorough scrutiny they require.
• Lack of In-Depth Discussions:
  • Superficial debates replace meaningful discussions, undermining the legislative process (Source: Parliament of India, Proceedings).

Adverse Legislative Outcomes

The decline also negatively impacts legislative outcomes:

• Poorly Drafted Legislation:
  • Legislation may become poorly crafted, potentially leading to unintended consequences or implementation challenges.
• Limited Accountability:
  • Reduced scrutiny means the government may evade accountability for its legislative actions, undermining democratic governance.
• Reduced Public Trust:
  • As debate quality declines, public trust in legislative processes and democratic institutions deteriorates.

Conclusion

Addressing the decline in individual parliamentarians’ roles is crucial for preserving the integrity of the democratic process. Ensuring well-crafted legislation and holding the government accountable are essential for maintaining public trust and effective governance.

Model Answer

Introduction

Simultaneous elections, or “One Nation, One Election,” propose conducting Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections at the same time in India. This concept aims to streamline the electoral process, reduce costs, and minimize disruptions caused by frequent elections.

Advantages of Simultaneous Elections

1. Saving Resources: Conducting elections concurrently can significantly reduce financial and administrative expenditures. The Election Commission of India estimates that simultaneous elections could save over ₹4,500 crores per election cycle, which can be redirected to development projects .
2. Policy Continuity: With fewer elections, governments can focus on long-term policy implementation rather than being driven by election cycles. This can lead to more stable governance and better execution of developmental programs .
3. Reduced Election Fatigue: Frequent elections can lead to voter fatigue, resulting in lower turnout. Simultaneous elections can alleviate this issue by consolidating the electoral process, encouraging higher voter participation .
4. Mitigating the Impact of the Model Code of Conduct: The Model Code of Conduct restricts government activities during elections, which can hinder developmental projects. Conducting elections simultaneously can limit these interruptions, allowing for continuous governance .

Disadvantages of Simultaneous Elections

1. Reduced Government Accountability: Fewer elections mean fewer opportunities for citizens to express dissatisfaction with government performance. This could lead to a disconnect between the electorate and elected officials, reducing accountability .
2. Dilution of Local Issues: Combining national and state elections may shift focus to national issues, overshadowing local concerns that are equally important to voters. This can diminish the representation of local interests .
3. Impact on Coalition Governments: In a scenario where a hung Parliament or Assembly arises, forming coalition governments could become more complicated with simultaneous elections, potentially leading to political instability .
4. Constitutional Challenges: Implementing simultaneous elections would require significant amendments to the Constitution, which poses logistical and political challenges, potentially disrupting the federal structure of the country .

Conclusion

While simultaneous elections offer clear benefits in terms of saving time and resources, they may also compromise government accountability and dilute local representation. A careful evaluation of these pros and cons, along with public consultations, is essential to ensure that such a system strengthens, rather than undermines, India’s democratic processes.