MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS
Q1. Evaluate the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 as a tool for promoting representation and inclusivity in the Indian political landscape.
GS III – Election-related issues
Introduction:
- The Representation of People Act, 1951 is a law that regulates the elections in India. It covers various aspects of the electoral process, such as the qualifications and disqualifications of candidates and voters, the conduct of elections, the resolution of disputes, and the prevention of corrupt practices and offenses. The act aims to ensure free and fair elections and uphold the democratic principles of the Indian Constitution
Some of the features of the RPA 1951 for promoting representation and inclusivity:
- Universal Adult Suffrage: The RPA ensures that every Indian citizen above the age of 18, without disqualifications, has the right to vote, promoting equal participation in the democratic process.
- Reservation of seats: Seats have been reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
- Allocation based on population proportion to ensure adequate representation for marginalized groups in law-making bodies.
- Political Party Registration: The Act allows for the registration of political parties, enabling a diverse range of parties reflecting different opinions and ideologies in Indian society.
- Contesting Election: Any citizen of India can contest an election from any constituency, irrespective of residence or domicile.
- Promotes mobility and diversity of candidates and voters, fostering a more inclusive electoral process.
- Corrupt Practices and Offenses: The Act defines corrupt practices and other offenses, such as bribery and undue influence, to ensure fair and transparent elections, discouraging illegal or unethical means to influence voters.
- Proxy Voting: The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2017, seeks to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to allow overseas voters to cast their vote in person or by proxy.
- Postal Voting: The RoPA, 1951, allows certain classes of voters such as election duty officers who can’t reach their polling stations to vote through postal ballot.
- The RPA 1951 is a landmark legislation that aims to uphold the democratic values and principles of India. It provides for a fair and inclusive electoral system that reflects the diversity and aspirations of the Indian people. It also empowers the Election Commission of India to conduct free and fair elections and to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
Q2. Discuss the evolving dynamics of the federal structure in India, highlighting the key issues and challenges faced by states.
GS II – Federalism related issues
Introduction:
- The federal structure of India is a system of governance that divides the power and responsibility between the central government and the state governments. The Constitution of India specifies the distribution of legislative, administrative, and executive powers between the union and the states in three lists: Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.
The federal structure of India has evolved due to various factors such as historical, political, economic, and social. Some of the major events that have shaped the federal structure of India are:
- The reorganization of states on linguistic and cultural basis, which increased the number and diversity of states and gave them a sense of identity and autonomy.
- The emergence of regional parties and coalitions, which challenged the dominance of the national parties and increased the bargaining power of the states in the federal system.
- The adoption of the recommendations of the Finance Commissions, which enhanced the fiscal autonomy and resources of the states and reduced the vertical imbalances between the center and the states.
- The implementation of the Panchayati Raj and the Municipal Acts, which devolved power and functions to the local governments and strengthened the
- The 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts, 1992, which recognized the third tier of local self-government and devolved some powers and functions to the panchayats and municipalities.
- The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 marked a major step towards achieving a unified economic system,
Key issues and challenges faced by states:
- Regionalism: The states assert their regional identity and interests, sometimes against the center or other states. This can lead to demands for autonomy, statehood, or secession.
- Examples: Telangana, Gorkhaland, Bodoland, etc.
- Fiscal federalism: The states complain that the center does not share enough resources or impose conditions on their spending.
- For Example, the GST Compensation Cess to compensate states against their reduced revenue collection, is not provided timely.
- Representation: The states are represented in the Rajya Sabha based on their population. The larger states have more seats and influence than the smaller states.
- Governor: The governor is often accused of acting as an agent of the center, and interfering in the state government’s affairs.
- For example, there have been several instances where the state governments have accused the Governors of acting as agents of the central government.
Way Forward:
- Strengthening the role of the Inter-State Council, which is a constitutional body that facilitates dialogue and consultation among the center and the states on various issues of common interest.
- Reforming the fiscal federalism system, which determines the allocation of financial resources between the center and the states.
- Enhancing the representation of the states in the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house of the parliament that represents the states. The states should have more seats and voice in the Rajya Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha should have more say in the legislation that affects the states.
- Respecting the role of the governor, who should act as a bridge between the center and the state, and not as an agent of the center. The governor should also refrain from interfering in the state government’s affairs, and respect the democratic mandate of the state legislature and the chief minister.
