Public Opinion and Indian Democracy  Public opinion has been ignored by the democratic government in some of the countries of the world. Policies are implemented despite the fact that the people do not like them. Is it possible for any democratic government to ignore the public opinion when theoretically it is supposed that the government must bow before the people? No government can afford, they say, to flout the wishes...

  Challenges to Indian Democracy  The working of democracy is based on certain assumptions; people must be politically awakened and the leaders should be honest and committed to the welfare of the majority. Apart from it, proper checks should be placed upon the people in power; independent judiciary should check the implementation of the laws which cannot serve the interests of the public and which are against the Constitutional Law. Similarly,...

Today’s Women Women and girls are half the world’s population, do two-thirds of the world’s work hours, receive a tenth of the world’s income, and own less than a hundredth of the world’s property. It was to attack this world-wide “apartheid of sex” that the U.N. launched the Decade for Women back in 1975. At the World Conference of the U.N. Decade for Women which ended on July 31 at Copenhagen,...

The Menace of Terrorism Terrorism, as a method to achieve political aims has gained worldwide popularity. The terrorists, it is alleged, are financed and trained by the powers which are hostile to India. In the case of Punjab, Pakistan, it has been established beyond doubt, has been playing the ugly role. The terrorists are trained in Pakistan and then equipped with weapons before they are sent to India. A large quantity of...

  Religion And Politics  Essay No. 01 Terrorism in Punjab and J & K is endorsed and encouraged by the religious fanatics. Religious places have become the convenient place of refuge for the terrorists and threat to religion is the justification of terrorism. Secular-minded people condemn the induction of religion in politics whereas religious diehards believe that religion is the basis of politics. Is the latter view consistent with the secular...

  WTO-End of the Sovereign Nation State Concept   The World Trade Organisation (WTO) came into effect from January 1, 1995 as a successor to the General Agreement on Trade and Tariff (GATT). The scope of WTO is wider than GATT and it includes cross-border trade in goods, services and ideas and personnel. Its main objective is to promote free and fair world trade without protectionism and encourage economic reform. It...

  Electrical Reforms in India    Electoral reforms have become essential for the smooth functioning of democracy in India. A lot of malpractices are eroding the electoral systems which are threatening the roots of our democratic polity. Booths are captured. Mass rigging follows. Violence is often seen at the electoral booths. Bogus rolls are made. The use of caste and religion are often made for securing votes. Criminals are entering the...

Coalition Politics in India   Today’s era is of Coalition Politics. Indian politics is trying its best to adjust to the coalition politics. In the last nine years we have seen six Prime Ministers and four general elections. In the last two years three Prime Ministers assumed office. Prior to 1989 there used to be single party majority with stable governments. But now-a-days it is very uncertain to say that who...