Indian Parliament Explained in 5 Minutes | Why India adopted Parliamentary System? | Eclectic

Summary

This video provides a detailed explanation of the Indian parliamentary system, focusing on the structure and working of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. It begins with an introduction to the concept of democracy, touching on Athenian democracy and India's adoption of a parliamentary system due to its diversity. The video explores how elections are held, the roles of the executive and legislature, and the functions of both houses of Parliament. It also covers the role of the President, the election process, and the significance of the Parliament in India’s governance. The video concludes with a humorous anecdote about the first Rajya Sabha session.

Takeaways

• 😀 Democracy was first introduced by the Athenians in Greece during the 5th century BCE, with Cleisthenes considered the father of Athenian democracy.
• 😀 India is one of the largest democratic nations in the world, following a Parliamentary system, which divides power effectively in a diverse nation.
• 😀 India has a high level of social and cultural diversity, with over 3,000 castes and 9 recognized religions, making the Parliamentary system more suitable for its governance.
• 😀 The Parliamentary system, developed in the UK, ensures that the executive (Prime Minister and Cabinet) is responsible to the legislature (Parliament).
• 😀 In India, the executive, including the Prime Minister and Cabinet, is responsible for implementing laws made by the legislature, which consists of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• 😀 The President of India is a nominal executive and must take advice from the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
• 😀 Lok Sabha (House of the People) is directly elected by the people of India using the First Past the Post system, with members serving a fixed term of 5 years.
• 😀 The structure of the Lok Sabha is defined in Article 81 of the Indian Constitution, with 545 members, of which 543 are elected, and 2 are appointed by the President.
• 😀 Rajya Sabha members are elected by the State Legislative Assemblies, and the President appoints 12 members for their expertise in fields like arts, literature, and sports.
• 😀 Rajya Sabha is known as the permanent house because it cannot be dissolved entirely, with 1/3 of its members retiring every two years.
• 😀 The President of India plays a key role in examining laws and bills passed by the Parliament and is elected by the members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Q & A

Who is considered the father of Athenian democracy?

Cleisthenes, a political figure from Athens born in 570 BCE, is known as the father of Athenian democracy.

How many countries in the world follow democratic systems?

Out of all countries in the world, 123 countries are considered democratic.

What are the two main types of modern democratic government systems?

The two main types of modern democratic government systems are the Parliamentary system and the Presidential system.

Why does India follow the Parliamentary system instead of the Presidential system?

India follows the Parliamentary system because of its vast social and cultural diversity, which includes around 3000 castes, 9 recognized religions, and multiple languages. The Parliamentary system, developed in the UK, helps manage this complexity by dividing decision-making power.

What does the term 'Executive' refer to in the context of the Indian government?

In the Indian government, the term 'Executive' refers to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers, who are responsible for implementing laws and governing the country.

What is the role of the Indian President in the Parliamentary system?

The President of India is the nominal executive and must take advice from the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. The President also has the responsibility of examining bills and laws passed by Parliament.

How is the Lok Sabha structured?

The Lok Sabha, or House of the People, has a maximum of 552 seats, with 545 elected members. The remaining two members are appointed by the President of India. Seats are allocated based on the population of each state.

How are the members of the Lok Sabha elected?

Members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly by the people of India using the First-Past-The-Post voting system. A member must be at least 25 years old and serves a fixed term of 5 years, though the Lok Sabha can be dissolved earlier by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

How is the Rajya Sabha different from the Lok Sabha?

The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, differs from the Lok Sabha in that its members are not directly elected by the people. Instead, they are elected by the State Legislative Assemblies. Additionally, Rajya Sabha members serve a term of 6 years, and the house is not subject to dissolution, unlike the Lok Sabha.

How are members of the Rajya Sabha appointed?

Out of the 245 members in the Rajya Sabha, 233 are elected by State Legislative Assemblies. The President of India appoints the remaining 12 members based on their expertise or contributions in fields like art, literature, social work, or sports.