MAINS 2016
GS2
12.5 marks
The Indian party system is passing through a phase of transition which looks to be full of contradictions and paradoxes. Discuss.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Discuss how India's party system is changing and the contradictions in it.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1Phases: Congress dominance → coalitions (1989-2014) → single-party majority again (2014, 2019) → coalition dependence (2024)≈35 words
- 2Paradoxes: national dominance with strong regional parties; ideological claims vs opportunistic alliances; democracy outside vs no internal democracy; anti-defection law vs defections≈35 words
- 3Other issues: dynastic parties, criminalisation, opaque funding≈35 words
- 4Reforms: internal democracy, funding transparency≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Phases of changeContradictions with examplesCausesReformsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only a historical account of parties
- Partisan statements
Draw this
- Timeline of party system phases
Value addition
- ThinkerRajni Kothari described the early phase as the 'Congress system' of one-party dominance.Kothari, 1964
- Data43% of Lok Sabha MPs elected in 2019 had declared criminal cases.ADR, 2019
- ReportLaw Commission's 170th Report (1999) recommended internal democracy and transparency in parties.Law Commission, 1999
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Ritika Chitlangia · Page 16 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Abhishek Singh · Page 16 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
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