Political Parties

Meaning of a Political Party - A group of people with some common political aims. Want to achieve these aims by coming to power, thus they contest elections.
three components - Leaders, Active Members, Followers
Functions of a Political Party -
(i) contest elections
(ii) put forward different policies and programmes
(iii) decisive role in making laws for a country
(iv) Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government
(v) parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition
(vi) Parties shape public opinion.
(vii) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes
Necessities -
(i) for forming the government ( to make any promises, to ensure utility of the govt., to ensure responsiblity for how the country will be run)
(ii) parties provide us a group of candidates
How many parties should we have -
(i) Single party system - countries where only one party is allowed to control and run the government. for e.g. China. one-party system is not a good because this is not a democratic option
(ii) Two party system - Several parties may exist, but only two main parties have a serious chance of winning majority of  seats to form government. for e.g. the USA & UK
(iii) Multi party system - several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power. When several parties in a multi-party system join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and winning power, it is called an alliance. NDA & UPA in India
Party system evolves over a long time, depending on the nature of society, its social and regional divisions, its history of politics and its system of elections. Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances.
National Political Parties

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) : Launched on 1 January 1998 under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. Recognised as a national party in 2016. The party’s symbol is flowers and grass. Committed to secularism and federalism. Has been in power in West Bengal since 2011. Also has a presence in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura. In the General Elections held in 2019, it got 4.07 per cent votes and won 22 seats, making it the fourth largest party in the Lok Sabha
Country- wide parties, which have their units in various states. By and large, all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategy. Are given a unique symbol.
Are 'recognised' by the Election Commission thats why called, 'recognised political parties'
Party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha
Six national recognised parties in the country in 2006
Indian National Congress - One of the oldest parties of the world, founded in 1885. Wants to build a modern secular democratic republic in India. A centrist party, espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities. Supports new economic reforms but with a human face. Leads the United Progressive Alliance coalition.
Bharatiya Janata Party - Founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Draws inspiration from India's ancient culture and values. Emphasises on Cultural nationalism, full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code and ban on religious conversions. Came to power in 1998 as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance.
Bahujan Samaj Party - Formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram, seeks to represent and secure power for the bahujan samaj, gets inspiration from the ideas and teachings of dalit leaders, main base in Uttar Pradesh, formed government in Uttar Pradesh several times.
Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M): Founded in 1964. Believes in Marxism-Leninism. Supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism. Enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. Critical of the new economic policies
Communist Party of India (CPI): Formed in 1925. Believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy. Opposed to the forces of secessionism and communalism. Accepts parliamentary democracy. presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Nationalist  Congress Party (NCP): Formed in 1999, Wants that high offices in government be confined to natural born citizens of the country. A major party in Maharashtra, significant presence in Meghalaya, Manipur and Assam.
State Parties - Has made the Parliament of India politically more and more diverse. has contributed to the strengthening of federalism and democracy
party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party.
Challenges to Political Parties -
(i) Lack of Internal Democracy - Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly. Ordinary members do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party, neither have the means nor the connections needed to influence the decisions. Those who disagree with the leadership find it difficult to continue in the party. Personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important than party loyalty.
(ii) Challenge of dynastic succession - the leaders favour people close to them or even their family members. top positions are always controlled by members of one family. many a times people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of  power.
(iii) money and muscle power in parties - To win elecetions parties tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money. Rich people and companies have influence on the policies and decisions of the party. Parties often support criminals who can win elections.
(iv) Lack of meaningful choice - in order to offer meaningful choice, parties must be significantly different. In recent years there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world. Those who want really different policies have no option available to them.
How can parties be reformed?
(i) Anti-defection law - the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature
(ii) Affidavit - The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now, it is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an AFFIDAVIT giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him.
(iii) Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns
Suggestions to reform political parties -
(i) law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties
(ii) political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates. a quota for women in the decision making bodies of the party
(iii) There should be state funding of elections.
two ways by which Common people can reform political parties
(i) People can put pressure on political parties. This can be done through petitions, publicity and agitations. Ordinary citizens, pressure groups and movements and the media can play an important role in this.
(ii) Political parties can improve if those who want this join political parties.

Announcement of Entrance Test for IESO 2015

The Geological Society of India will be conducting an objective type entrance test to select about 20 students to attend a training camp in Earth Sciences during the summer of 2015. Four students will be finally chosen from among the training camp participants who will represent India at the 8th International Earth Science Olympiad to be held at Spain.
For syllabus and application form, do visit
http://www.geosocindia.com/ieso2015/entrance.html

GLOBALISATION AND THE INDIAN ECONOMY

Production Across Countries
Multinational Corporations - A company that owns or controls production in more than one nation. The goods and services are produced globally. Production is organized in increasingly complex ways.
Interlinking Production Across Countries
MNCs set up production where it is close to the markets; where there is skilled and unskilled labour available at low costs; and where the availability is assured. MNCs might look for government policies that look after their interests.
Ways in which the MNCs spread their production across the globe -
(i) Joint production with local companies
(ii) Buy up local companies
(iii) Place orders for production with small producers
Foreign Trade And Integration of Markets
Foreign trade creates an opportunity for the
(i) Producers to reach beyond the domestic markets
(ii) For buyers, expanding the choice of goods beyond what is domestically produced
(iii) Prices of similar goods in the two markets tend to become equal. Producers in two countries closely compete against each other even though they are separated by thousands of miles.
What Is Globalisation ?
Globalisation is the process of rapid integration or interconnection between countries.
More and more goods and services, investments and technology are moving between countries.
People usually move from one country to another in search of better income, better jobs or better education.
Factors That Have Enabled Globalisation
(i) Rapid improvement in technology has been one major factor that has stimulated the globalization process.
(ii) Even more remarkable have been the developments in information and communication technology.
Liberalisation of foreign trade and foreign investment policy
Trade Barrier - Restrictions on export and import. Governments can use trade barrier to increase or decrease foreign trade and to decide what kinds of goods and how much of each should come into the country. After independence, the Indian government had put barriers to protect the Indian producers from international competition.
Starting around 1991, the government decided that the time had come for Indian producers to compete with producers around the globe. Thus barriers on foreign trade and foreign investment were removed to a large extent. Removing barriers or restrictions set by the government is what is known as liberalisation.
World Trade Organisation
A group of 149 countries (2006), this organisation say that all the barriers to foreign trade and investment are harmful. There should be no barriers. Trade between countries should be free. All countries in the world should liberalise their policies.
Impact of Globalisation in India
Positive Impacts
(i) MNCs have increased their investments in India, new jobs have been created. Local companies supplying raw materials, etc. to these industries have prospered.
(ii) Several of the top Indian companies have been able to benefit from the increased competition.
(iii) Globalisation has enabled some large Indian companies to emerge as multinationals themselves.
(iv) Created new opportunities for companies providing services, particularly those involving IT.
Negative Impacts
(i) Small producers : Compete or perish
(ii) Competition and uncertain employment
The Struggle for a Fair Globalisation
Not everyone has benefited from globalisation. People with education, skill and wealth have made the best use of the new opportunities. On the other hand, there are many people who have not shared the benefits.
Steps that can be taken by the Government to ensure a fair globalisation :
(i) Policies to protect the interests of all the people in the country.
(ii) Proper implementation of labour laws.
(iii) Support to small producers, use of trade and investment barriers.
(iv) Negotiation at the WTO for ‘fairer rules’.

Peasants and Farmers

The Coming of Modern Agriculture in England

Captain Swing Movement - Attacks were made on the houses of farmers, grain stores were put on fire and machines were broken. Farmers recieved letters urging them to stop using machines, were signed by Captain Swing. Govt. arrested the suspects, were tried, nine hanged, some transported and many were put behind bars.
The Time of Open fields and Commons
Open Fields - Stripes of land in the countryside of varying qaulity, given to peasants for agriculture.
Commons - Land accessible to all villagers, where they can graze their animals, collect forest products, catch fish and hunt animals.
Enclosures - With the rise in population, demand also increased. Rich farmers began dividing and enclosing common land, preventing the poorsfrom entering the enclosed lands. British Parliament passed 4000 Acts legalising these enclosures.
New Demands for Grain
(i) Rise in Population
(ii) People began to live and work in urban areas
(iii) War between France and England
The Age of Enclosures
In nineteenth century grain production in England grew as quickely as population. This was done by -
(i) by bringing new land under cultivation
(ii) by growing turnip and clover, these crops improved the soil and made it more fertile
What happenned to the poor ?
(i) Enclosures deprived poor of their customary rights of collection of the forest products, now everything was avialable on payment basis only
(ii) Deprived of their rights and driven off the lands, workers moved in search of work
(iii) Work became insecure, employment uncertain, income unstable. For large part of the year the poor had no work.
The introduction of Threshing Machines
(i) Napoleonic wars created a shortage of labour on the other hand demand of food grains increased, hence farmers brought machines
(ii) Once the war was over soldiers returend back and the damand also fall
(iii) People were not able to find jobs as their jobs were taken over by the machines. In frustration, they started attacking on machines.

Bread Basket and Dust Bowl

(i) Till the end of the eighteenth century maximum land in America was covered under natural vegetation
(ii) White Americans lived in a narrow strip of coastal land in the east
(iii) Native American groups survived by hunting, gathering, fishing or by doing shifting cultivation
The Westward move and Wheat Cultivation
(i) With the formation of USA, white settlers started moving towards west, America seemed to be a land of promise.
(ii) White settlers drove American Indians westwards and settled in the Applachian, than in Mississippi valley, cleared land and sowed corn and wheat.
The Wheat Farmers
(i) Rise in urban population led to rise in deamnd of wheat
(ii) Spread of Railways and First World War led to more demand

(iii) US President Wilson said -’Plant more wheat, wheat will win us war.’

The coming of New Technology

(i) When the farmers entered the mid-western prairies they needed new types of implements to break the sod and the soil
(ii) To harvest crop they initially used cradle or sickle. In 1831 Cyrus McCormick invented the first Mechanical reaper. By early twentieth century most farmers were using combined harvesters to cut grain.
(iii) With power-driven machinery, four men could plough, seed and harvest 2000 to 4000 acres of wheat in a season.
What happenned to the poor ?
(i) Those who were not able to pay back their debts, deserted their farms and looked jobs elsewhere
(ii) Production expanded rapidly, unsold stocks piled up, storehouses overflowed with grain, all this led to the Great Agrarian Depression of the 1930s.
Dust Bowl
(i) In the 1930s terrifying duststorms i.e. Black Blizzards rolled in. People were blinded and choked, cattle were suffocated to death. Sand buried fences, covered fields and coated the surfaces of rivers till the fish died. Machines were logged with dust, damaged beyond repair.
(ii) The entire landscape was ploughed, stripped of all grass, tractors had turned the soil over and broken the sod into dust. Whenever there were years of drought, blowing wind turned ordinary storms into Black Blizzards.

The Indian Farmer and Opium Production

During the colonial time period, British rulers tried to impose a regular system of land revenue, increase revenue rates and expand the area under cultivation.
By the end of the century, India became a major centre for production of sugarcane, cotton, jute, wheat and several other crops for export. More and more farmers were now producing for feeding the urban population and to supply to the mills of Europe.
A Taste for Tea: The Trade with China
(i) The English East India Company was buying tea and silk from China. The quantum of the tea trade was so much that it affected the profitability of the East India Company.
(ii) The Confucian rulers of China, the Manchus were not willing to allow the entry of foreign goods. This meant an outflow of treasure from England because tea could be bought only by making payment in silver coins or bullion. The English traders wanted a community which could be easily sold in China so that the import of tea could be financed in a profitable way.
(iii) Western merchants began an illegal trade in opium in the mid-eighteenth century. Opium was unloaded in a number of sea ports of south-eastern China and carried by local agents into the interiors.
Where did Opium come from?
(i) After conquering Bengal, the British went on to produce opium in the lands under their control. With the growth of market for opium in China, export from Bengal ports increased.
(ii) The Indian farmers were not willing to produce opium becouse
a. They were not willing to divert their best fields for opium cultivation because it would have resulted in poor production cereals and pulses.
b. Many cultivators did not own land. For opium cultivation, they had to lease land from landlords and pay rent.
c. The cultivation of opium was a difficult process and time consuming. This would have left little time for the farmers to care for other crops.
d.The government paid very low price for the opium which made it an unprofitable proposition.
How Were Unwilling Cultivators Made to Produce Opium?
The British introduced a system of advances to attract the unwilling farmers into opium cultivation. The farmer could not grow any other crop after taking the advance for opium cultivation. Moreover, he also had to accept the low price offered for the produce. The government was never keen to increase the procurement prices. It wanted to buy very cheap and sell at high premium to the opium agents in Calcutta. Thus, the British wanted to earn huge profit in opium trade.
This system was not in favour of farmers and hence many of them began agitating against the system by the early eighteenth century. They also began to refuse the advances. Many cultivators sold their crop to travelling traders who offered higher prices.
By 1773, the British government in Bengal had established a monopoly to trade in opium. No one else was legally permitted to trade in the product. By the 1820s, the British found that there was a drastic fall in opium production in their territories. The production of opium was increasing outside the British territories. It was produced in Central India and Rajasthan which were not under British control. The local traders in these regions were offering much higher prices to peasants. Armed bands of traders used to carry the opium trade in the 1820s. The Government instructed its agents in those princely states to confiscate all opium and destroy the crops.

Working of the Institutions

Office Memorandum dated August 13/1990, issued by Joint Secretary, Department of Personal and Training.
27% reservations for the SEBC
Second Backward Classes Commission in 1979, Mandal Commission gave its report in 1980
Janda Dal promised 27 % reservation for OBC if voted to power in 1989 elections
6. August.1990, Union Cabinet took a formal decision to implement the recommendations of Mandal Commission
People who opposed this order filed cases in the courts. This case came to be known as 'Indira Sawhney and others V/s Union of India case
SC declared the order valid, but excluded the well-to-do persons from the benefit of reservations.
Need for Political Institutions
Persons who have to take decisions - Legislature
Persons who have to implement these decisions - Executive
To determine what is wrong and what is right - Judiciary
Why do we need a Parliament ?
Final authority to make laws
Control over those who run the government
All public money that government spent can be by the permission of Parliament only
Highest forum of discussion and debate on public issue and national policy
Two Houses of Parliament
Lok Sabha - directly elected - has real power
Rajya Sabha - indirectly elected - performs some special functions only

Lok Sabha is more powerful that Rajya Sabha
Larger number of members
More power in money matters
Controls the Council of Ministers
Political and Permanent executive
Political -
Elected by the people for a specific period only
No educational qualification required, may be experienced or may not be
Are answerable to the people
Takes the decisions
Permanent -
Selected for a long term basis
Are experienced and qualified
Not answerable to the people
Helps in taking the decisions
Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
Prime Minister is appointed by the President for a maximum of 5 years, minimum as long as enjoys the majority in Lok Sabha
Leader of the majority party/parties in Lok Sabha
Other ministers are selected by P.M and appointed by the President
If not a member of Parliament, than has to become a member of Parliament within 6 months of the appointment s P.M or appointed in the Council of Ministers
Council of Ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State with Independent charge and Ministers of State
Has to follow Collective Responsibility
Powers of the Prime Minister
Appoints and dismisses the Council of Ministers,
Chairs and Coordinates the meetings of the Council of Ministers, is the final decision maker
Controls the Cabinet and Parliament through the party
P.M of a coalition cannot take independent decisions, has to accommodate different groups and factions in his party as well as among alliance partners.
President
Head of the State, enjoys nominal powers
Elected indirectly (by elected members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Legislative Assemblies)
Enjoys Legislative powers, Executive powers and discretionary powers
Judiciary
Independent & Integrated Judiciary
Supreme Court - highest court of appeal in Civil and Criminal cases
Judges of SC and HC are appointed by President in consultation with P.M, Council of Ministers and Chief Justice of India
Judges can be removed only by an impeachment motion, passed seperately by 2/3 members of the two houses of Parliament
SC and HC have the power to interpret constitution, can declare a law invalid if is not according to the Constitution, can do the Judicial Review
Public Interest Litigation

Electoral Politics

PPT on
Electoral Politics
Chapter No. IV, Civics, Class IX

http://www.slideshare.net/viduvinodkumar/electoral-politics-42254709