📋 Group Discussion (GD) Analysis Guide
🌟 Can India’s Parliamentary System Handle Modern-Day Challenges?
🌐 Introduction to the Topic
India’s parliamentary system, inspired by the British Westminster model, has been the cornerstone of its democracy since independence. In the face of contemporary challenges, its adaptability and effectiveness are under scrutiny.
Established to ensure representation and accountability, India’s parliamentary system has evolved over decades. However, issues such as legislative inefficiencies, underrepresentation, and increasing partisanship raise concerns about its capacity to address modern-day challenges.
📊 Quick Facts and Key Statistics
- 🗳️ Legislative Productivity: Only 13% of bills were referred to committees in the 17th Lok Sabha compared to 60% in the 14th Lok Sabha.
- 👥 Representation Ratio: Each MP represents approximately 2.5 million citizens, up from 800,000 in 1952.
- 👩💼 Women’s Representation: Women constitute 14.4% of the Lok Sabha as of 2023.
- 📅 Parliamentary Sessions: Average annual sittings have reduced from 125 in the 1950s to around 70 in recent years.
🏛️ Stakeholders and Their Roles
- Government: Policy formulation and legislative proposals aligned with national interests.
- Opposition Parties: Scrutinize government actions and represent diverse viewpoints.
- Citizens: Influence parliamentary priorities through electoral participation.
- Media: Act as watchdogs, holding stakeholders accountable.
- Judiciary: Ensure adherence to constitutional principles, maintaining checks and balances.
🎉 Achievements and ⚠️ Challenges
🎉 Achievements:
- Democratic Continuity: Stable governance and peaceful transitions of power since independence.
- Economic Reforms: Enacted policies like 1991 economic liberalization through parliamentary consensus.
- Social Legislation: Landmark laws such as the Right to Information Act and GST.
⚠️ Challenges:
- Legislative Inefficiency: Declining scrutiny with fewer bills referred to committees.
- Underrepresentation: Growing population per MP limits constituent engagement.
- Partisanship: Political polarization leading to legislative gridlock.
🌍 Global Comparisons
Countries like the UK demonstrate robust committee systems ensuring detailed legislative scrutiny. India’s system, while democratic, can learn from such practices to enhance efficiency.
🛠️ Structured Arguments for Discussion
- ✅ Supporting Stance: “India’s parliamentary system has upheld democratic values and facilitated significant socio-economic progress over the decades.”
- ❌ Opposing Stance: “The system faces challenges such as legislative inefficiency and underrepresentation, questioning its effectiveness in contemporary governance.”
- ⚖️ Balanced Perspective: “While the parliamentary system has been foundational to India’s democracy, addressing its current challenges is essential for future resilience.”
🗣️ Effective Discussion Approaches
- Opening Approaches:
- 📈 “The evolution of India’s parliamentary system reflects both its strengths in maintaining democracy and the challenges it faces in modern governance.”
- ⚖️ “The decreasing number of parliamentary sittings raises concerns about legislative productivity and accountability.”
- Counter-Argument Handling:
- ✅ Acknowledge historical successes while emphasizing reforms for inefficiencies.
- 🌍 Suggest comparative examples from other democracies to inspire potential improvements.
📋 Strategic Analysis
- Strengths: Democratic representation, adaptability, diverse viewpoints.
- Weaknesses: Legislative inefficiencies, underrepresentation, partisanship.
- Opportunities: Technological integration, strengthening committee systems, electoral reforms.
- Threats: Political polarization, public disillusionment, external pressures.
💼 Connecting with B-School Applications
- Real-World Applications: Analyzing governance structures for organizational leadership and strategic decision-making.
- Sample Interview Questions:
- ❓ “What reforms would you suggest to enhance the efficiency of India’s parliamentary system?”
- ❓ “How does political governance impact economic policies and business environments?”
- Insights for B-School Students: Explore the interplay between political systems and economic policies for strategic management roles.