indian polity

List of Longest Serving Chief Ministers of India from 1947-2024

India, a union of 28 states and 9 union territories, is governed at the state level by Chief Ministers (CMs). Appointed by the Governor as per Article 164 of the Constitution, the CM is the head of the state government....

What is a Hung Parliament?

A Hung Parliament is a critical concept in parliamentary systems, where no single party secures an absolute majority of seats in the legislature. This situation can profoundly influence the political dynamics, governance stability, and policy-making processes of a country. This...

NOTA Votes in Indore: Why NOTA was Introduced and its Consequences

Context: In Indore, the winning candidate secured a victory by a substantial margin of 10.09 lakh votes, tallying a total of 1,226,751 votes. The closest competitor was the NOTA option, which received 218,674 votes. NOTA votes rank 3rd in 24...

10 Years of Andhra Pradesh’s Bifurcation Completed in 2024

Context Ten years after Andhra Pradesh was split into two states—Andhra Pradesh and Telangana—the strong emotions from the split have calmed down. While the initial acrimony has subsided, the division has raised fundamental questions about the organising principles of India's...

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Updates, Phase 7 Voting

India's national election 2024 started from April 19 to June 1, 2024. With seven phases over 44 days, 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha will be elected. Incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a third term. Approximately 970 million...

Consumer Protection Act, Key Features, Recent Scenario

Context The Supreme Court ruled that lawyers, as professionals, cannot be subjected to legal proceedings for providing faulty services under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 (CPA). However, it rejected similar arguments for medical professionals and decided that its judgement in...

Powers of Prime Minister, Functions and Constitutional Provisions

In the Indian parliamentary system, the Prime Minister holds a pivotal role within the Union Executive, alongside the President, Vice-President, and Council of Ministers. While the President serves as the symbolic head of state, it's the Prime Minister who acts...

Karnataka Women’s Quota, Background and Status

Context: The Karnataka government has mandated a 33% reservation for women in services and posts outsourced by various government departments and organisations. More In News Currently, over 75,000 employees hold outsourced jobs in government departments. The government typically hires third-party...

Political Parties in India, Criteria, Issues and Recommendations

Context: The Election Commission of India (ECI) emphasised in its report on the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) that star campaigners should set positive examples and not disrupt societal harmony. This has sparked a debate about the ECI's authority to...

Citizen Charter, Evolution, Features, Significance and Challenges

A citizen charter is a document or an initiative that outlines the rights, responsibilities, and standards of service delivery that citizens can expect from a particular government department, agency, or organization. It serves as a mechanism for promoting transparency, accountability,...