1)What are the main determinants of voting behaviour in India?
Ans:India is the largest functioning democracy in the world and every electoral process is largest in the world because of the sheer number. Elections are one of the crucial aspects this democracy. The voting behaviour in India has not been static and has shown variations across regions and across time.
During the first two general elections, voting behaviour was influenced by the charismatic leadership. Most of the leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar patel, etc. played important part in the national movemement and thus attracted huge support among masses.
Another factor affecting voting behavior is Caste and community. Indian society is highly plural and divided into multiple communities and sects. People often identify with the leaders of their group and this affects voting behavior.
With the rise of regional parties and emergence of regional aspirations, regionalism has also become one of the important factors during elections. This is well supported by the growth of strong regional parties in states like Andhra Pradesh, tamil nadu, Orissa etc.
In addition, sympathy with the certain leaders is also one of the important reasons affecting voting behaviour. The general elections of 1984 and 1991 were won by riding on the sympathy votes.
In addition, with the growing literacy and rising middle class, issues such as
developent, high inflation, misgovernance, corruption etc have become very important factors in determining the electoral results.
Thus the voting behavior in India has been dynamic and very complex. There are a mix of factors which operate and decide the voting behavior. Also, these factors are not uniform throughout the country, but vary accordingly.
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2)“The conditions of the urban poor are more deplorable than that of their rural counterparts”. Give your views.
Ans:Poverty is one of the major social challenges facing the country. Though, it affects people living in rural areas and urban areas alike, the situation of poor in the urban areas is particularly bad. Several reasons are responsible for this.
Urban areas have in the recent years seen a lot of growth in terms of population and density. This has resulted in lack of adequate facilities like sanitation, water, drainage etc. These conditions affect the poor the most as they rely solely on the governments’ efforts and can’t afford private facilities.
Growth of large urban centres has seen a great increase in the prices of land and housing has become extremely expensive in these areas. Poor people who are unable to afford houses in a good locality are forced to live in slum areas. The slums like Dharavi in Mumbai and slums in outskirts of Delhi lack basic facilities and people are forced to live in confined places.
In addition, most of the slum dwellers are mostly migrant who come for better future and livelihood prospects. These people often don’t have the required documents for opening bank accounts, getting ration cards etc. and are most often excluded from the government entitlements.
Also, unlike the rural areas, the social welfare schemes in the areas of health, maternity welfare, employment are lesser in the urban areas and their penetration is low.
Of late the government has realized the plight of urban poor and started a lot of welfare schemes for them. Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP), Swarnajayanti Shehari Swarjogar yojana, Rajiv Awas Yojana etc are few steps in that direction.
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3)How does the Parliament control the financial system in India?
Ans:India is the largest functioning democracy in the world and every electoral process is largest in the world because of the sheer number. Elections are one of the crucial aspects this democracy. The voting behaviour in India has not been static and has shown variations across regions and across time.
During the first two general elections, voting behaviour was influenced by the charismatic leadership. Most of the leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar patel, etc. played important part in the national movemement and thus attracted huge support among masses.
Another factor affecting voting behavior is Caste and community. Indian society is highly plural and divided into multiple communities and sects. People often identify with the leaders of their group and this affects voting behavior.
With the rise of regional parties and emergence of regional aspirations, regionalism has also become one of the important factors during elections. This is well supported by the growth of strong regional parties in states like Andhra Pradesh, tamil nadu, Orissa etc.
In addition, sympathy with the certain leaders is also one of the important reasons affecting voting behaviour. The general elections of 1984 and 1991 were won by riding on the sympathy votes.
In addition, with the growing literacy and rising middle class, issues such as
developent, high inflation, misgovernance, corruption etc have become very important factors in determining the electoral results.
Thus the voting behavior in India has been dynamic and very complex. There are a mix of factors which operate and decide the voting behavior. Also, these factors are not uniform throughout the country, but vary accordingly.
=========================================================================
2)“The conditions of the urban poor are more deplorable than that of their rural counterparts”. Give your views.
Ans:Poverty is one of the major social challenges facing the country. Though, it affects people living in rural areas and urban areas alike, the situation of poor in the urban areas is particularly bad. Several reasons are responsible for this.
Urban areas have in the recent years seen a lot of growth in terms of population and density. This has resulted in lack of adequate facilities like sanitation, water, drainage etc. These conditions affect the poor the most as they rely solely on the governments’ efforts and can’t afford private facilities.
Growth of large urban centres has seen a great increase in the prices of land and housing has become extremely expensive in these areas. Poor people who are unable to afford houses in a good locality are forced to live in slum areas. The slums like Dharavi in Mumbai and slums in outskirts of Delhi lack basic facilities and people are forced to live in confined places.
In addition, most of the slum dwellers are mostly migrant who come for better future and livelihood prospects. These people often don’t have the required documents for opening bank accounts, getting ration cards etc. and are most often excluded from the government entitlements.
Also, unlike the rural areas, the social welfare schemes in the areas of health, maternity welfare, employment are lesser in the urban areas and their penetration is low.
Of late the government has realized the plight of urban poor and started a lot of welfare schemes for them. Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP), Swarnajayanti Shehari Swarjogar yojana, Rajiv Awas Yojana etc are few steps in that direction.
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3)How does the Parliament control the financial system in India?
After the ‘ annual financial statement ‘presented in parliament, the demand for grants are referred to respective departmentally Related standing committees and later are discussed and voted upon.
Parliament can pass cut motions – policy cut disapproving the policy, economy cut disapproved the amount of expenditure and token cuts.
CAG audits the revenue and expenditure accounts of central and state govt. departments, PSUs and submits report to the parliament that is considered by the parliamentary affairs committee that points out the impropriety, loss, corruptions etc. from the action of the executive. Estimates committee examines the estimates and can suggest alternative policies to improve efficient and economy, suggest improvement in economies.
However over the last ten years,85 percent of demands are guillotined and in 2012, 92percent guillotined. No cut motions in reality can be passed as the government enjoys majority. Most of the recommendations of PAC are followed by administration. The estimates and PAC are in nature off post- Mortem report and all demands are never estimated, and PAC reports take considerable time to act upon.
Parliamentary control over public finances is the ultimate instrument of accountability and is an essential element of good governance.Steps like more powers to committee and accepting the recommendations of PAC etc. be taken to maintain the sanctity of control.