Indian Political Institutions and Processes

Paper Code: 
POL 411
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

The focus of this paper is on the political processes and the actual functioning of the political system in India. One needs to understand that the Indian Constitution was intended to provide a framework for a modern, secular and democratic society and simultaneously be discussing the working of select political institutions like the Union Executive, the Parliament and the Judiciary.

 

9.00
Unit I: 
UNIT I

The Constituent Assembly of India- Meaning, Formation, Working and Criticism

Preamble to the Constitution

 

9.00
Unit II: 
UNIT II

Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles; Nature of Indian Federal System

 

9.00
Unit III: 
UNIT III

Union Executive-President; Prime Minister; Council of Ministers

 

9.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT IV

Union Parliament; Methods of Amendment; Centre-State Relations

 

9.00
Unit V: 
UNIT V

Supreme Court of India;

Judicial Review; Public Interest Litigation; Judicial Activism

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Granville Austin, Working A Democratic Constitution,  Oxford University Press,New Delhi,2000
  • RC Agarwal, Indian Political System,  Sultan Chand & Sons,New Delhi,2009
  • Granville Austin, The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation, Oxford University Press, New Delhi,1966
  • DD Basu, Shorter Constitution of India, Prentice Hall of India,New Delhi,1994
  • BL Fadia, Indian Government and Politics,, Sahitya Bhawan,Agra, 2013
     

     

     

    References: 
    • Iqbal Narain, Secularism in India,  Classic Publishing House, Jaipur,1995
    • Arora, Balveer and Verney, Douglas (ed.), Multiple Identities in a Single State : Indian Federalism in a Comparative Perspective, Konark, Delhi, 1995.
    • Brass, Paul, Politics of India since Independence, Orient Longman, Hyderabad, 1990
    • A.G. Noorani., Constitutional Questions in India : The President, Parliament and the States, OUP, 2000.
    • Lawerence Saez, , Federalism without a Centre : The Impact of Political and Economic Reforms on India’s Federal System, Sage, New Delhi, 2002.
    • Rajendra Vora and Suhas Palshikar (eds.), Indian Democracy : Meanings and Practices, Sage,New Delhi, 2003.
    •  Christophe, Jaffrelot, India’s Silent Revolution : The Rise of the Low Castes in Northern Indian States, Permanent Black, Delhi, 2003.

     

    Academic Year: 
    2015-16
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