What is meant by democracy?

Democracy is a form of government, in which it is the people who decide who will rule them. Democracy was born in ancient Greece, in the city-state of Athens, during the 6th century BC. The very word is of Greek origin, and it means 'rule by the people'. In a democracy, each adult in a country, city, or specific area, can vote for a candidate who will represent him in the government. This means that power is not concentrated in the hands of one person, or a group of people, but is shared equally by all the members of a society. The idea of democracy is based on the belief that everyone should enjoy the same rights and freedom- in short, that all men and women are born equal.

What are the different forms of democracy?

We know that democracy is the rule of the people, but there are many different types of democracy. These include direct, semidirect, and representative democracy. In direct democracy, the citizens are personally involved in the process of decision-making. In a representative democracy, on the other hand, people elect representatives who make laws and enact them. Some modern democracies combine the elements of representative democracy, and direct democracy, and are known as hybrid, semi-direct, or participatory democracies. An example of a semi-direct or participatory democracy is Switzerland, where representatives are elected, but a referendum is often carried out so that the people can vote directly on an important issue.

Why can democracy be traced to Ancient India?

Ancient Greece is usually called the cradle of democracy, but a form of democracy existed in ancient India too. Self-governing communities existed in India even in the Vedic period. The Rig Veda makes a reference to two institutions, the Samiti and the Sabha, which have some forms of similarity with the modern parliament. The Samiti was an assembly of the tribe, and one of its important functions was to elect the king. The Sabha was the village assembly where the members would meet and discuss important matters. It was generally attended by nobles. In fact, Ancient India had many functioning republics, regional councils, city councils, and village councils - all of which are the elements of democracy.

What are the characteristics of Indian democracy?

India, the seventh-largest, and second-most populous country on Earth has the distinction of being the world's largest democracy. India is a multi-party democracy with six main national parties, as well as many other regional parties. Power is divided between the central government, the twenty-eight states, and eight centrally administered union territories, with New Delhi as the nation's capital. The head of the government is the prime minister, and the head of the nation is the president. Laws are enacted by parliament, which has two chambers- the popularly elected Lok Sabha, and the indirectly elected Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha has no more than 552 members, who have to stand for election every five years, while the Rajya Sabha has no more than 250 members, who serve 6-year terms. In India, every citizen above the age of 18 has the right to vote, and the Indian Constitution guarantees its citizens a lengthy list of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and religion.

What was the origin of the first sovereign legislature of Indian demoсracy?

In In 1947, when India became independent, a Constituent Assembly was created by the Indian Independence Act. This constituent assembly was declared a fully sovereign body with complete legislative powers. The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected by the provincial assemblies. The total membership of the Constituent Assembly was 389. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Chairman of this Constituent Assembly, the main function of which was to frame a constitution for independent India. The drafting committee under Dr. B. R. Ambedkar recommended the parliamentary type of government. This was approved and on 26th January 1950, the Constitution of India came into force.

How is the Indian parliamentary system different from that of Great Britain?

The Indian parliamentary system is modeled on the British system, yet there are many differences between them. The British Parliament has grown through some three hundred years. It is the only institution that exercises sovereign powers, and on which there are no limits because there is no written constitution. In India, we have a written constitution, and the powers and authorities of every organ of government and every functionary are defined. Our constitution provides for the fundamental rights of the individual that are upheld by the courts of law. Our parliament is the representative institution of the people- but it is not sovereign in the sense in which the British Parliament is sovereign.

What is the role of the legislature in Indian democracy?

In India, legislative power or the power to make or change laws- is exercised by the Parliament, which consists of the President, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha is considered to be the upper house and consists of members appointed by the president and elected by the state and territorial legislatures. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by the people themselves. The members of the cabinet, including the prime minister and the council of ministers, are either chosen from parliament or elected within six months of assuming office. The budget session of parliament always begins with the President's address, and if there is a deadlock in the legislation process between the two houses of Parliament, the President summons a joint session to break the impasse. The Indian Parliament does exercise some control over the executive branch or the government.

What is the importance of the judiciary in Indian democracy?

In India, the legislature makes and passes laws, the executive carries them out, and the judiciary ensures that justice is done if these laws are broken in any way. The judiciary prevents violation of the law, and by way of interpreting the existing laws, makes new laws. The highest federal court, namely the Supreme Court, decides constitutional questions. It consists of a Chief Justice and 30 other judges, all appointed by the President on the advice of the Chief Justice of India. The judiciary acts on its own without the limitations of the legislature and the executive. It ensures that all citizens are treated equally, and that every citizen in the land gets justice. The judiciary is regarded as the guardian of the constitution and the protector of the rights of the citizens