PoliticsGovernment

Polity

• “If men were angels, there would be no need for government.” James Madison

• The constitution was written by 1949

• The constitution was adopted in 1950

• India is a federal republic, a representative democracy

• Parliament is based on a bicameral system

Judicial system

House of Parliament Presidential Residence• New Delhi

• Sansad Bhavan

• Rashtrapati Bhavan

Hierarchy of governments

Political Parties

Party AbbreviationGeneral Secretary / President

Bharatiya Janata Party

BJP Rajnath Singh

Indian NationalCongress

INC Sonia Gandhi

Nationalist CongressParty

NCP Sharad Pawar

Communist Party ofIndia

CPISuravaram

Sudhakar Reddy

Communist Party ofIndia (Marxist)

CPI(M) Prakash Karat

Bahujan Samaj Party BSP Mayawati

Leaders

UPA chairperson

INC president

Sonia Gandhi

and Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh

President

Pranab Mukherjee

Rights

• Equality before the law.• Freedom of speech.• Freedom of association and peaceful assembly.• Freedom of religion.• Freedom of movement within the country.• The right to live in India where a citizen chooses and

select the occupation he or she desires.• Protection from discrimination on the basis of religion,

caste, sex, race, or place of birth.• The right not to be a witness against himself/herself.• The abolishment of untouchability.• The prohibition of forced labor or trafficking of people.

Responsibilities• To abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the

national flag, and the national anthem.• To cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired our national

struggle for freedom.• To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.• To defend the country and render national service when called upon

to do so.• To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst

all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic, and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.

• To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.• To protect and improve the natural environment including forests,

lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.• To develop the scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry

and reform.• To safeguard public property and to abjure (renounce) violence.• To strive toward excellence in all spheres of individual and collective

activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.

International Affairs

• Decolonization movement• Non-alignment movement based on 5

principles:

1. Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty

2. Mutual non-aggression

3. Mutual non-interference in domestic affairs

4. Equality and mutual benefit

5. Peaceful co-existence

Territorial disputes

Territorial disputes• PakistanThe unresolved Kashmir dispute and the status of Kashmir with Pakistan, India claims

the disputed territories in Pakistan known as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, while Pakistan disputes India's administration of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dispute over Sir Creek and the maritime boundary regarding the Rann of Kachchh area of India.

Water-sharing problems with Pakistan over the Indus River (Wular Barrage). • Bangladesh6.5 km of the border between India and Bangladesh remains to be demarcated.Ongoing discussions with Bangladesh to exchange 162 minuscule enclaves between

the two.• People's Republic of ChinaIndia claims Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram Tract, as part of Jammu and Kashmir.China claims most of Arunachal Pradesh, a contested disputed territory of north-east

India by not recognising the McMahon Line.NepalKalapani village of India is claimed by Nepal and Nawalparasi district of Nepal is

claimed by India.• MaldivesSome in the Maldives claim that Minicoy Island is Maldivian.

Peace