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SHUBHRA RANJAN IAS STUDY PVT LTD


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ONLINE PSIR ANSWER WRITING SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND

TEST SERIES 2017

TEST 9

ALL QUESTIONS ARE COMPULSORY

MAX MARKS: 120 MAX TIME: 1.5 hours

1) Is India a case of ‘Judicial Sovereignty’? Substantiate your views.

2) How does the regionalisation of party system in India has impacted Indian
politics?

3) What are the weaknesses of human rights movements in India and how
human rights activists can strategise themselves?

4)

a) Impact of coalition politics on the institution of Prime Minister.

b) Supreme Court’s view with regards to discretionary power of Governor

5) What is politicisation of caste? How Rajni Kothari explains the interaction of

caste and politics India?

6) Explain the interaction between democratic politics and ethnicity with

reference to at least case studies.

7) Write short notes on


a) Changing socio-economic profile of parliamentarians.

b) Changing nature of pressure group politics.

8) What are the weaknesses of Indian environmental movement? Explain with

reference to Narmada Bachao Andolan.

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SERIES 2017

ANSWER KEY : TEST 9

1) Is India a case of judicial sovereignty? Substantiate your views.

Define Sovereignty & Judicial Sovereignty

Sovereignty is understood in jurisprudence as the full right and power of a governing body to
govern itself without any interference from outside sources or bodies. In political theory,
sovereignty is a substantive term designating supreme authority over some polity. Judicial
sovereignty refers to the independence of the judiciary, and its ability to conduct judicial
review of legislation and executive action.

Tell whether India is a case of Judicial sovereignty

Nehru subscribed to the view that we are not creating passive judiciary, but making it active
participant in process of revolution. It can be said that Constitutional sovereignty
automatically results in judicial sovereignty as Justice Hughes of USA says that though we are
under Constitution, but Constitution is what judges say. Hence, Judicial sovereignty is
inherent in polity structure of India.

Several evidences prove this phenomenon like India being only country where judiciary has
power to review Constitutional Amendment Acts, the presence of Collegium system which
rules out executive interference in judicial appointments, Kesavananda Bharti Case (1973)
which forbids the legislature to pass any amendments that alter the “basic structure of the
constitution”, and is itself a judicial innovation. With the introduction of “Public Interest
Litigations” and diluting the locus standi, judicial sovereignty is at its optimum level.
Provisions in the constitution such as “contempt of court” and intricate impeachment
procedures of judges are some other evidences of Judicial sovereignty in India.

Conclude on following lines

However, Judicial sovereignty needs to be exercised responsibly as Pratap Bhanu Mehta agrues
that India’s courts have been playing a growing role in the country’s political life, but in lieu
of Judicial sovereignty they will have to exercise great discretion and resist the intoxication
which comes from the view that judges are the last, best hope of the republic.

2) How does the regionalisation of party system in India has impacted Indian politics?

Brief define party system and regionalization of party system in India


Sartori defines party system as not shaped by the number of political parties in existence, but
by the number of parties having systemic influence. Regionalization of Indian party system in
words of Myron Weiner refers to political decentralization or the growth of regional parties
and governments with the changing balance of power between India's state and central
governments.

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Explain the effects of such regionalization on Indian politics


Amongst several effects of regionalization of Indian politics, one of the most prominent one is
emergence of coalition politics and end to Congress System. Such coalition politics is words of
Prakash Sarangi has led to 5 changing trends in India: namely from centripetal to centrifugal,
from consensual to coalitional, from ideological to pragmatism, from holistic pluralism to
segmental pluralism and the emergence of multi-dimensional space leading to catch-all
parties. Regional parties have brought upon a culture built around personalities, parties
associated with dynasties, emergence of socialist and parochial State agendas which are
closer to the people.

Professor Yogendra Yadav terms such changes as parties going through institutionalization and
deinstitutionalization at the same time.

This trend was largely intensified after 1989, with the emergence of multi-party system and
extremely competitive party system.

MP Singh says that extremely polarized multi-party system has emerged with problems like
horse trading, defection, muscle, money power.

End on following lines


Since 1999, coalition culture is moving on path of maturity as one finds different
combinations at different levels. The culture of “identity + ” politics as defined by Professor
Yogendra Yadav and in context of rising inequalities with frustrated economic aspirations,
gradually development has started to trump identity.

3) What are the weaknesses of human rights movements in India and how human
rights activists can strategise themselves?

Briefly define human rights & related movements in India


Human rights are moral principles or norms, commonly understood as inalienable fundamental
rights "to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being. In
words of Ashwini K Ray Human Rights movement in India, with its very obvious influences
drawn from western democracies, had rather fortuitous beginnings in India. From a largely
limited activist base from the emergency period of the 1970s, it has since moved into newer
areas, with newer sources of support especially among more marginalised sections. But the
movement, unlike its counterpart in the west, remains constantly challenged by prevailing
complexities of the political process.

Tell the weakness such movements face in India


In words of Nandita Haksar the Indian human rights movement till 1970s was broadly divided
into those who emphasised social and economic rights of the poor and those who stressed on
civil liberties of individuals. The first group, largely influenced by communism, focused on
what they called “democratic rights”; while the social democrats and liberals focused on the
classic first generation rights. In 1980s, during crisis in North East and Punjab, Human Right
movements found it difficult to move out of the framework of individual human rights and
take up the collective rights of oppressed nationalities living within Indian borders. Moreover,
Human Rights movements also did not make serious interventions in the area of women’s
rights violations and patriarchy. Thus the human rights movement was dominated by upper
caste, upper class males and there was not much self-criticism. Other major weakness like
the flow of funds from foreign funding agencies and promotion of what Upendra Baxi has so

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aptly called human rights industry, the attack of the post-modernists and relativists who
undermined the basic premise of human rights by emphasising differences. In words of Haksar,
perhaps the biggest weakness of the human rights movement in India has been its inability to
challenge in any substantial way the growth of the Hindu fascist forces and their systematic
attack on human rights values and democratic norms. She further adds that zero tolerance
towards terrorism has resulted in zero tolerance towards human rights.

Explain how such movements can strategize themselves


Huma Right movements can strategize themselves by engaging with the legal fraternity to
educate them on the need to protect human rights standards and how harmful to society is
the stand of certain bar associations who have refused to defend anyone accused of
terrorism; to fight for the rights of political prisoners, especially detained within so-called
high risk cells; engage with the media (film industry, electronic media and print media) and to
come up with guidelines for reporting on the war against terrorism; develop a concept of
Solidarity which is based on a vision of multi-cultural society but distinguish it from State
sponsored integration policies which are both patronising and oppressive.

Conclude on following lines


In 2012, Universal Periodic Review of UNHRC doesn’t give promising picture of Government of
India and mentions the continuation of practice of torture by police, slow Judiciary, and large
number of undertrials. However, Human Right Movements should also be sensitive to
restrictions put by State and adhere to them for continued effectivity in their work.

4) Write short notes on :

a) Impact of coalition politics on the institution of PM

Give brief note on coalition politics

A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political
parties cooperate, reducing the dominance of any one party within that coalition. The usual
reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the
parliament.

Tell the impact of coalition politics on the Institution

Position of PM in India is stronger than US President as he is also the leader of House. PM has
been identified by terms like Inter-stellas Luna Minores (moon among stars) and Nehru called
PM as linchpin of Government. With the rise of coalition politics which William Harrison Riker
called coalition bargaining arrangement for power sharing has led to weakening of post which
previous PM Manmohan Singh also acknowledged by talking of Policy Paralysis plaguing the
polity structure.



Prof N K Singh also acknowledges this fact and calls coalition Government as "fractured govt",
due to presence of not one but many PMs. The post of PM is reduced to manager of Council of
Ministers rather than leader of Council of Ministers. Prof M P Singh also acknowledges this fact
and feels that federation is shaped by party equation and since Indian federation was made
on belief that One Party system will continue, the emergence of coalition politics has led to
undesired outcomes.

However, some scholar who call PM as Primus Inter Pares (first among equals) deny such
arguments like Rajni Kothari who believed that PM like Indira Gandhi facilitated with her
Kitchen Cabinet distorted democratic Institution of PM and make PMO excessively powerful
which was undesirable.

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Conclude on following lines

Coalition politics especially after 1989 has made a visible difference to political structure of
the country with other serious impacts on post of Governor, Centre-State relations, Autonomy
of States along with the post of Prime Minister.

b) Supreme courts view and verdict on discretionary power of governor

Comment on Governor & its Constitutional Powers

Governor in India appointed through Article 155 have similar powers and functions at the
state level as that of the President of India at Union level, with a slight difference due to
Article 163(2) giving discretionary power to decide which areas they wish to use their
discretion at. This clause is not in accordance with Article 74 which doesn’t confer similar
powers to President. This forms the core of dispute between Centre-State over the post of
Governor.

Give Supreme Court Views


Supreme Court in Hargobind Pant vs Raghukul Tilak, 1979 says that even when Governor is
appointed by Union Government, he is not employee of Union Government, Office of
Governor is independent, and Governor is not answerable to Union for the manner in which he
exercises his power. Governor holds office by pleasure of President, but this doesn’t mean he
is subordinate to President.

Recently, Supreme Court in Arunachal Verdict (Nabab Tuki case, 2016) gave following views:
and doesn’t leave any doubt that Governor is mere figure head. Governor can’t unilaterally
summon Assembly or send messages. Discretionary action of Governor is thrashing of
Constitution as Governor is not elected representative but only nominee. Governor is not
ombudsmen of Legislature, nor are mentor of Speaker and what happens within four walls of
political party not the concerns of Speaker. Governor to keep itself away from horse trading,
manipulation as Governor is not the conscience-keeper of the “Legislative Assembly” and that
he had to stay away from the business of the Assembly

Conclude on following lines

To conclude in Chief Justice of India, Justice Khehar words, unelected Governors were never
envisaged as wielding significant powers related to State administration, but merely as safety
valve in case of Constitutional breakdown.

5) What is politicisation of caste? How Rajni Kothari explains the interaction of caste and
politics India?

Briefly define politicization of caste in India


Politicization of Caste means that the political leaders belonging to different castes seek to
secure political and other advantages for themselves” at the expense of others and to this
end they utilize the caste sentiment. Caste consciousness and caste prejudices which exist
among the masses are thus turned by politicians into caste passions.

Give Rajni Kothari views on the interaction 


In words of Rajni Kothari the process of politics is one of identifying and manipulating existing
structure in order to mobilize support and consolidate positions when the caste structure
provides one of the most important organizational clusters in which population is found to
live, politics must strive to organize through such a structure. The alleged casteism in politics
is thus no less than politicization of caste. Rajni Kothari says interaction of caste & democracy

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has led to traditionalization of modernity and modernization of tradition. Politicization of

caste is due to the introduction of democracy in traditional society and politics in different
regions is politics between entrenched & ascendant caste. The two impacts include structural
& ideological basis for mobilization which has led to organization of caste for economic &
political purpose. Rajni Kothari has also talked about the three aspects of politicization of
caste namely secularization, integration, and ideological. Kothari believes caste to be the
reason of success of democracy in India & the prominent reason why others failed to secure
democracy in third world.

Conclude on following lines


Rajni Kothari believes that caste identifications have given a new relevance to the electorate
system and several studies like those of Kothari, Mayer, Verma and Bhambhri, Ramashray Roy,
Cohn, etc, have shown that due to politicization of caste their influence has enhanced and
even smaller caste have gained a bargaining power because of their voting strength.

6) Explain the interaction between democratic politics and ethnicity with reference to at
least case studies.

Give brief inter-relationship between democratic politics and ethnicity


All over the world, the political processes have ascended out of social environment. Tribes,
clans, castes, classes have existed around a social organization, and when elaborating the
Indian society, it is multi-ethnic as well as multi-religious. This has led to deep interaction
between democratic politics and ethnicity in India which can also be witnessed in the case
study related to Hindutva politics by Bhartiya Janta Party.

Take a case study 


In words of Ramachandra Guha, the arrival of identity politics during the 1980s, whereby
people mobilise politically around particularistic identities, be it religion, caste, jati or
language, has promoted the political expediency of organisations and political parties such as
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While arguably the BJP is now considered a more centrist
and ethnically inclusive party, for many, it will always be tainted with its nascent associations
with the particularly violent brand of Hindu nationalism, Hindutva.

It was the ideology of Hindutva that was said to have inspired the most notable incidents of
Hindu-Muslim violence in recent times, the Mumbai riots (1992, 1993) and the Gujarat riots
(2002). In the studies of William Crowne for region of Gujarat, VHP and Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Gujarat played a fundamental role in cementing intra-Hindu
solidarity by providing resources for poor slums. The VHP and RSS were very active in the
fields of health and education, running mobile doctors and schools services.

The subsequent willingness of the urban poor to support the Hindutva cause and an effective
grassroots campaign in slums attracted many poor people to take part in the religious
spectacles to emphasize their support. Gujarat has today become the hub of Hindutva and the
bastion of BJP since 1998.

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Conclude on following lines


To summarize, caste, religion and ethnicity is entrenched into Indian politics. By partaking in
the modern political system, ethnicity is now visible to divisive influences and a new form of
integration resulting from a new system of universalist-particularistic relationships. Ethnicity
has gained a powerful position in Indian politics and co-exists with it in India.

7) Write short notes on

a) Changing socio-economic profile of parliamentarians.

Write briefly about Parliamentarians in India


Parliamentarians are Members of a Parliament; used especially to refer to a group of Members
of Parliament who are dealing with a particular task and contribute in making of rules,
procedures of Parliament and taking an active part in debates. Indian Parliament is now
around 70 years old which creates a need to study the changing socio-economic profile of
Parliamentarians during the course of history which has witnessed several upheavals and
downturns.

Give the changing socio-economic profile of them


A classification by Shankar & Rodrigues has broadly divided socio-economic profile of
parliamentarians to current day. The study reports that till 1960s most of the MPs were from
privileged, Brahmins class, where majority studied from foreign universities, and many of
them practised in Supreme Court. Lawyers were the largest in number and second largest
were agriculturalist. Lesser number of minorities, women, OBCs were present and Women
were known as "back-benchers", who didn’t really represent their constituency in true sense.

The times of 1970s-1990s are popularly called Twilight zone of Indian politics as it was the
decade of greater politicization, awareness, along with sense of betrayal & loss of faith in
elites which resulted into assertion by sub-altern class. Consequently, it led to rise of bullock
capitalist and Ruralization of Parliament. However, minorities, women didn’t become more
representative but led to rise of youth as JP movement, Sanjay Gandhi Youth Congress
became popular.



Since 90s which Professor Yogendra Yadav calls as second democratic upsurge, the number of
educated MPs increased, but OBCs were still in majority. There was limited change with
respect to women, minorities representation, but led to increasing number of criminals.
These 2014 General Elections comprises of more number of educated MPs and around 75%
graduates, 42% post graduates. But there are also much higher non-matric pass, and 58% MPs
are first timers. The women representation is highest ever (62), along with highest number of
MPs who have pending criminal case.

A study by Devika Malik and Rohit Malik says that the percentage of MPs without secondary
education has decreased from 23 per cent in 1952 to 3 per cent in 2009. The percentage of
graduates has increased from 58 per cent in 1952 to 79 per cent in 2009 (This includes MPs
with post-graduate and doctorate degrees). More MPs have post-graduate degrees than in
1952. The percentage of post-graduates has increased from 18 per cent to 29 per cent.

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Conclude on following lines


Amongst the changing socio-economic profile of Parliamentarians, the area which has lagged
behind continuously in considerable terms include decline in quality of deliberation, and
women representatives relatively stagnating with low number. It is time that 108th
Constitution Amendment Bill is passed in Lok Sabha to make a requisite change in
parliamentarian profile of India.

b) Changing nature of pressure group politics.

Define Pressure Group politics


Robert Dahl called democracy as polyarchy where exists Rule of Many including Pressure
Groups who exert outside influence on functioning of democratic government. In Indian
context, Pressure Group development is generally regarded as vital element of process of
political modernization as it represents response to increasing functional differentiation & to
breakdown of traditional types of authority.

Explain how it is changing


Previously after independence, Pressure Groups had negligible role in Indian democratic polity
because of Nehru, Congress socialistic monopoly and policy of patronage. Rajni Kothari said
that conventionally Pressure Groups didn’t enjoy legitimacy; they were viewed with moral
indignation & alarm. It was held that they lead to a distortion of democratic process.
However, later on their role increased. 

Myron Weiner said that adoption of overtly socialistic policies have reduced the role of
Pressure Groups.



Professor Ananda Chakravarty writes that caste, communal groups have played more
prominent role than associational Pressure Groups. Government of India has accommodated
certain Pressure Groups but projected some as illegitimate who have failed to reconcile &
hence got alienated.



Stanley Kochanek said that Pressure Groups politics started changing from State dominated
pluralism to more autonomous politics under forces of Liberalization & Globalization since
1991.



Robert Hardgrave was of the view Pressure Groups acted as agents of modernization, provided
reservoir of political leadership, and played role in political awareness.

After 1991, due to "rolling back of State", NGOs have occupied the vacuum. This has increased
space for growth of civil society activism. Rajni Kothari says that after 1990s, Pressure Groups
are more diffused in society which has increased their relevance.

Conclude on following lines


Pressure Groups have make democracy pluralist or polyarchy. They were not present
significantly before 1990, when there was presence of communal pressure groups. But, after
90s, Associational and Corporate class Pressure Groups along with Foreign Pressure Groups
have started to influence politics.

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8)What are the weaknesses of Indian environmental movement? Explain with reference to
Narmada Bachao Andolan.

Define environmental movements


The environmental movement (sometimes referred to as the ecology movement), also
including conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political
movement for addressing environmental issues. Environmentalists advocate the sustainable
management of resources and stewardship of the environment through changes in public
policy and individual behavior.

Give the weakness of such movements with reference to NBA


In words of Ramachandra Guha, India is basket case of environment issues. Polluted skies,
depleted forests, displaced peasants & tribals are what we see as result of 40 years of
environmental movements. One such movement was Narmada Bachao Andolan which gained
momentum and worldwide coverage with policy of Sangharsh, Navnirman, Ahinsa. It was one
of the foremost grassroot environmental movements in India which gained much but felt short
of its goal due to inherent weaknesses.

Environmentalism in India lacks comprehensive approach, and is limited to specific projects.

Environmental groups lack pro-active approach as they rather go for fire-fighting approach.
Such groups come into action at the last moment when rolling back of the projects is near
impossible. Such movements lack the ability to provide alternative options and are one-way in
their approach of being rejectionist in the approach of Government which is what happened
in Narmada Bachao Andolan.

Environmentalism is not an election issue in India, and unlike West, India lacks Green party.
Civil society which led Narmada Bachao Andolan lacked expertise understanding of the
complex aspects of environment. There was lack of social discipline among protestors in
Narmada Bachao Andolan, where gradually protests turned violent and faced wrath of State.
Charges of corruption got alleged and mis-management became the faultlines of Narmada
Bachao Andolan.

Conclude on following lines


Sunita Narain has coined the term "New environmentalism" which allows us to embrace ideas
without dogma which reflect idealism with purpose as we can't neglect development.
Environmentalism in India trapped between polarized debates of development vs
environmentalism. She mentions that the need is to find a way for harmonious coexistence
between economy and environment. She opposes activism without any alternate solutions and
calls for a way to incorporate environment in the economic agenda.

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