I85PREP
⌘ K
Tamil Nadu HSE Second Year Political Science study materials
Tamil Nadu HSE Second Year Political Science study resources

Tamil Nadu HSE Second Year Political Science: Indian Political Process and Public Policy

Tamil Nadu HSE Second Year Political Science · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Indian Political Process and Public Policy

This domain covers how Indians compete for power - elections, parties, pressure groups and the policy process - and the rules that structure that competition.

Elections

  • The Election Commission (Art 324) conducts elections to Parliament, State legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President.
  • First-past-the-post in single-member constituencies: the highest poller wins, so a party can win a seat majority on a minority of votes.
  • The 61st Amendment (1988) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
  • NOTA was introduced after PUCL v Union of India (2013); it records dissatisfaction but does not trigger a re-election.
  • The Model Code of Conduct operates from the announcement of the election.

Parties and anti-defection

The Tenth Schedule, inserted by the 52nd Amendment (1985), disqualifies a legislator who voluntarily gives up party membership or defies the party whip. The 91st Amendment (2003) deleted the 'split' defence and capped the Council of Ministers at 15 per cent of the House. Parties are recognised as state or national by the Election Commission on vote-share and seat criteria.

The policy process

Policy moves through agenda-setting, formulation, adoption, implementation and evaluation. Institutions matter: NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015; the RTI Act 2005 made information a routine claim; MGNREGA 2005 guarantees wage employment; the National Food Security Act 2013 and Aadhaar frame debates on targeting and delivery.

Worked example

'A party gets 35 per cent of votes but 60 per cent of seats. Is the system undemocratic?' Reasoning: FPTP exaggerates the winner's seat share but keeps a clear MP–constituency link; proportional representation mirrors votes but often produces coalitions. The strong answer names the trade-off rather than choosing a side.

Traps

Claiming NOTA invalidates an election; confusing the 52nd and 91st Amendments; treating pressure groups as parties (they seek influence, not office); and describing the Model Code as a statutory law.