Explore Our Affordable Courses

Click Here

Challenges To The Indian Political System – Enhancing Representation, For a Just Electoral System

Challenges To The Indian Political System – Enhancing Representation, For a Just Electoral System

Context:

Relevancy for Prelims: Indian representation system

Relevancy for Mains: Challenges and solution to  Indian representation system.

What challenges does the Indian Political System face in terms of its representation system?

  • Lack of adequate legislators: An Indian Member of Parliament (MP) is said to represent 2.5 million citizens, on average.
    • This year so far, India has around 4,126 Members of the Legislative Assembly, 543 Lok Sabha MPs, and 245 Rajya Sabha MPs.
    • United States: The U.S. House of Representatives members represent approximately 7,00,000 citizens. 
  • Lack of adequate grassroots-level representation: There is a clear deficit in terms of adequate representation in order to raise critical issues and enable law-making.
  • Unequal representation in Rajya Sabha/UnIssue of Malapportionment: It is currently elected by State legislatures, giving disproportionately more representation to larger/more populous States. 
    • Malapportionment: It refers to a discrepancy between the share of legislative seats and the share of the population.
    • Case in US: Unlike India, the United States has a political system where each State is given two senators in the U.S. Senate. Thus, giving equal powers to all states.
    • Constitutional reforms: These can be pursued to give each state the same number of Rajya Sabha MPs.

The Possible Solutions:

  • Need for Proportional representation: India’s first-past-the-post system ensures quicker election results but in this system, a legislator represents a constituency without a majority of votes.
    • Thus, Proportional representation can be considered, especially for the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. 
    • Direct elections for Rajya Sabha MPs: These should be promoted while ensuring that a domicile requirement is added and stringently adhered to.
  • Need for more states: India needs to have more States from 28 to around 50/75. For example, Uttar Pradesh is too big to be governed well as a single unit. 
    • Case in the US:  its largest state California, has a population of just 39 million. In contrast, around 22 Indian States/Union Territories have a population higher than that. 
    • New State Reorganisation Commission:  It may be set up to evaluate the socio-economic and administrative viability of select to-be States.
  • Having a fixed tenure mayor:  India has 8,000-plus urban settlements, but very few number mayors are selected in cities.
    • Every Census town may have a fixed-tenure mayor elected in direct elections. 
    • Empowering Mayors: Such mayors must be provided with decision-making powers of over 18 critical functions. 
  • Increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats:  The 84th Amendment Act of the Constitution froze the number of Lok Sabha seats until the first Census after 2026 (i.e., 2031).
    • Conducting delimitation: The 2021 Census is currently expected to take place in 2024 with findings anticipated to be published by 2026. Thus, delimitation may be carried out sooner.
    • Delimitation not based on population: Geographical determinism, economic productivity, linguistic history, and a sense of fairness should be considered.

Also Read: Decoding Political Funding in India: Electoral Bonds, Challenges, and Reform Perspectives

Conclusion:

  • Enhancing local democratic representation:  This will help strengthen India’s democracy. 
  • Promoting democracy: This might help alleviate the concerns of citizens and enhance democracy.

 

Mains Question: Critically analyze the representation deficit in Indian democracy highlighted by the inadequate number of elected representatives vis-a-vis the large population. Suggest suitable measures to enhance democratic representation across all levels of governance in the country. (250 words, 15 Marks)

 

To get PDF version, Please click on "Print PDF" button.

/*
*/

Need help preparing for UPSC or State PSCs?

Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing

Download October 2024 Current Affairs.   Srijan 2025 Program (Prelims+Mains) !     Current Affairs Plus By Sumit Sir   UPSC Prelims2025 Test Series.    IDMP – Self Study Program 2025.

 

THE MOST
LEARNING PLATFORM

Learn From India's Best Faculty

      

Download October 2024 Current Affairs.   Srijan 2025 Program (Prelims+Mains) !     Current Affairs Plus By Sumit Sir   UPSC Prelims2025 Test Series.    IDMP – Self Study Program 2025.

 

Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">







    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.