Semester - III

Indian Political System: Institutional and Political Dynamics

1. Meaning, Nature and Type of Political Systems

Meaning of political system: David Easton and Gabriel Almond-Characteristics of Political Systems
Type of Political Systems: Democratic and Authoritarian, Parliamentary and Presidential, Federal &
Unitary
Indian Political System – Structures, Processes and Functions

2. Constituent Assembly and the Constitution of India:

The Preamble to the Constitution of India: Ideological Basis and philosophical dimensions
Salient features of the Indian Constitution: Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles;
federalism, parliamentary system; amending procedures; judicial review

3. Fundamental Rights and Duties:

Constitutional provisions and political dynamics: Judicial interpretations and socio-political realities;
Fundamental Duties.

4. The Union Executive:

President, Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, Constitutional provisions/framework and political
trends.

5. Parliament: The Legislature

Powers and functions of the Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha; Parliamentary Committees; Functioning of the
Parliamentary System in India.

6. The Judiciary: The Supreme Court, High Court and Subordinate Courts; Judicial Review, Judicial
Activism, Public Interest Litigation; Judicial Reforms

7. The State Executive:

Governor, Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers; Constitutional Provisions and Political Trends.

8. Indian Federalism at Work:

Centre-state relations: legislative, administrative, financial and political; politics of regional
movement and National Integration.

9. Pressure Groups and Political Parties

Interest and Pressure groups in Indian politics: Types of pressure groups
Evolution of Party System in India: Ideology and social base of political parties; National and Regional
Parties- Contemporary trends in party politics; regionalization and fragmentation of the party system,
trends in electoral behaviour; coalition politics and governmental instability in India

10. Defections in Indian politics: Constitution 52nd Amendment Act, 10th Schedule of the Constitution

11. Local Self-Government in India: Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; Structure, Power &
Functions; Significance of 73rd and 74th Amendments; Changes in Rural Power structure and
empowerment of the marginalized groups such as SCs/STs and Women.

12. Challenges to Indian Democracy:

Caste, class, ethnicity and gender in Indian politics; Criminalization and corruption, politics of
regionalism, communalism, backward class and Dalit movements, Tribal people movements, struggle for
gender justice.
Indian Political System (Third Semester: July-November 2010)

1. Granville Austin (……)- Indian Constitution Cornerstone of a Nation, Oxford Publication

2. Granville Austin (1999) - Working Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience, Oxford
Publication.

3. Durga Das Basu (2006) – An introduction to the Constitution of India, Prentice Hall, New
Delhi, 2006.

4. W. H. Morris Jones - Government and Politics of India

5. A.C. Kapoor - Principals of Political Science
6. O. P. Gauba (2009) - An Introduction to Political Theory. Macmillan India Pvt Ltd.

7. J. R. Siwach (1990) – Dynamics of Indian government and politics, Sterling Publishers, New
Delhi

8. J C Johari (2001) - Indian Government and Politics, Shoban Nagin Lal & Co

9. J C Johari (2004) - Constitution of India (3rd Revised Edition), Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.,
New Delhi

10. J C Johari (2009) - Indian Polity, Lotus Press Publisher, New Delhi

11. J C Johari, Reflections on Indian politics; A critical commentary on development and decay
of the Indian political system, Sultan and Chand publications

12. Rajani Kothari - Politics in India

13. A S Narang - Indian Govt. and Politics

14. M.P. Singh and Himanshu Roy - Indian Government and Politics

15. M P Singh and Satish K Jha (2006) - Indian Government And PolItics : A Political
Commentary

16. P. C. Gupta (2009) – Indian Government & Politics, Sublime Publication

17. Archana Chaturvedi (2006). Indian Government and Politics, Commonwealth Publisher

18. Archana Chaturvedi (2006). Indian Political System, Commonwealth Publisher

19. K.K. Ghai (…..)- Indian Government and Politics…………………….