ABSTRACT

This book traces the trajectory of the Indian Parliament from its formation to present day. The essays presented here explore parliamentary democracy through the formative years and highlight the Parliament’s function as a representative and accountable institution, its procedures and responsibility, its connection with the other arms of the state, its relationship with grassroots democracy and the press, and its critical role in framing foreign policy and national security.

The volume frames major debates surrounding the Parliament through historical, conceptual and contemporary political perspectives. It also looks at how politics in practice is being continuously changed and challenged by new social media and further views the transformation of India’s apex legislative institution in terms of democratizing processes, constitutional values and changing mores.

The book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of Indian politics, history, comparative politics, political science and modern India.

chapter |34 pages

Introduction

part I|48 pages

Institutional perspective

chapter 1|6 pages

Parliament

The formative years, 1952–72

chapter 2|18 pages

Indian Parliament

Changing institutional moorings

part II|78 pages

Issues in representation

chapter 5|36 pages

Parliament as a representative institution

An assessment

chapter 6|26 pages

The nature of democratization of the Parliament

A study of membership profile of Lok Sabha 1

part III|112 pages

Making the system accountable

chapter 7|21 pages

Parliamentary accountability in India

Contestations and performance

chapter 8|19 pages

Parliament and accountability

Enforcing responsibility

chapter 9|15 pages

Opposition and parliamentary accountability

Who sets the agenda? 1

chapter 11|18 pages

Parliamentary control of delegated legislation

The hazards of erroneous delegation

chapter 12|22 pages

‘Responsibility’ and ‘accountability’

Confidence and No Confidence Motions in the Indian Parliament

part IV|36 pages

Parliament and other institutions

chapter 13|17 pages

From Panchayats to Parliament

Exploring interfaces

chapter 14|17 pages

The first and the fourth

part V|48 pages

Miscellaneous perspectives

chapter 15|19 pages

Parliamentary staffing

Expertise and coordination

chapter 16|12 pages

Parliament in India’s foreign and security policy

From a conscience keeper to an active arbiter

chapter 17|15 pages

Parliament as a spectacle

Politics by other means