PARTY SYSTEM & ELECTORAL POLITICS

1. PARTY SYSTEM & ELECTORAL POLITICS 

A. Party System & Ideological Bases

1. Comment: Personality factor and party system in India. (1992)
2. ‘Tradition is not always incompatible with Modernity’. Comment on the statement with reference to the modernisation trends in Indian policy. (1992)
3. “Political reforms must precede and not follow social reforms.” (Tilak). Discuss. (1994)
4. Indian democracy began with the unique advantages of an efficient civil service and a well-organized political party yet its record is dismal. What are the causes for such poor performance? (2001)
5. “Political reform must precede and not follow social reforms”. (Tilak). Elucidate. (2007)
6. Explain to what extent the concept of “one party dominance” (W.H. Morris-Jones) model is relevant in Indian politics today. (2013)
7. Comment in 150 words: Marginalization of the left ideology in India. (2014)
8. “Identity politics has trumped development politics in India.” Comment. (2015)
9. Account for the rise of regional political parties and assess their role in contemporary India. (2015)
10. Discuss the pattern of Political Parties from one dominant party system to coalition politics in national politics. (2016)
11. India has moved from ‘one-party dominant system’ to ‘one-party led coalition’. Discuss. (2017)
12. Comment in 150 words: Political personalities are more significant than political parties in India. (2018)
13. Explain the increasing role of regional political parties in the national politics. (2018)
14. The changing socio-economic profile of legislators does not augur well for the health of Indian democracy. Comment. (2019)
15. To what extent has the inadequate intraparty democracy affected the functioning of Indian Democracy? (2020)
16. “The Indian party system is shaped by a complex interaction of the country’s federal structure, electoral system and social cleavages.” Explain. (2021)
17. How far is it correct that the regional parties have strengthened Indian democracy and federal system? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. (2022)
18. The decade 1989–1999 has created an epochal shift in the Indian party system at the national level. Identify the major national trends in the party system during this era. (2023)

B. Coalition Politics & Minority Governments

1. Comment: Minority Governments in India. (1997)
2. Comment: Coalition Governments in India at the Centre since 1998. (2005)
3. Critically examine and comment: “The principle of collective responsibility, a la the Cabinet system of government, has eroded in the context of the emergence of coalition governments in India.” (2010)
4. Examine the impact of coalition-politics on Indian political system. (2012)

C. Pressure Groups

1. Differentiate a political party from a pressure group. Explain the role of R.S.S. and Bajrang Dal – units of Sangh-Parivar as pressure groups in the Indian political system. (1999)
2. Write: “Divisionism” in Indian political parties with special reference to Janta Dal, Congress, CPI and Akali Dal. (1999)
3. Identify the major pressure groups in Indian Politics and examine their role in it. (2003)
4. In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence in politics? In the Indian political context, discuss the implications of such influence being exerted. (2008)
5. Comment: Trade unions as pressure group in Indian politics. (2011)
6. Explain how pressure groups have been influencing public policy-making with suitable illustrations. (2014)
7. Critically assess the role of pressure groups in the decision-making process of the government. (2024)

D. Electoral Behaviour & Electoral Reforms

1. Comment: Politics of terrorism. (1995)
2. Comment: Proportional representation. (1996)
3. Comment: Politics of terrorism in India. (1998)
4. Comment: Revision in the Election Code of Conduct. (2008)
5. Comment: Implications of the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) on electoral politics. (2009)
6. Comment: Upsurge in political participation among the marginalised communities in the Indian General Elections during the last two decades. (2010)
7. Examine the changing pattern of electoral behaviour in India. (2011)
8. Discuss the nature of reforms of the electoral process in India and explain the further scope for reforms. (2014)
9. State subvention/funding may be an effective instrument in strengthening electoral democracy in India. Comment. (2017)
10. Electoral behaviour of voters is governed more by the social and economic factors than the political factors. Explain. (2022)