Governance and Political Studies
Is Federalism in Danger Through Central Activism?

Article One of the Constitution makes India a Union of States. The words of the Article are “India, that is, Bharat, shall be a Union of States”, The key words are, ‘India’, ‘Bharat’, ‘Union’ and ‘States’. Adi Sankara broug....

How Should The Executive Government Function?

The Constitution of India in Part V for the Union and Part VI for the States divides the functions of the State between separate, equal and interconnected wings, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Article 53 of the Constitution ....

UPA-II: Limping along with Uncertain Friends

The declining image of the United Progressive Alliance government in the context of mounting corruption charges, signs of non-governance and dramatic shifts in political allegiances have all added up to render the United Progressive Alliance Governme....

Some Bold Ideas from Mr. Purno Sangma

The former Lok Sabha Speaker Mr. Purno Sangma has recently flagged some weighty issues which are extremely pertinent in the context of the crisis of governance in India, the declining influence of national parties, the decay of institutions, the frac....

Setting up a Central University: Vision, Issues and Debates

Though the setting up of a Central University is the prerogative of the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) it shall be in the right spirit of adherence to the Constitution and to our federal structure if it is done in consultation w....

Vimarsha: A Talk on ‘Functioning of Parliamentary Democracy in India’ with Mr. Purno A. Sangma

The focus of VIF’s Vimarsha (a series in monthly talks on subjects of national importance with contemporary relevance) for the month of March 2012 was ‘Functioning of Parliamentary Democracy in India’, a subject which has agitated minds ....

Worrisome Trends For National Parties

The two main national parties – the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - are going to take a long time to digest the bitter medicine that has been administered to them by the electorate in the recent assembly elections held in five state....

Do We Ever Think Before We Act, Or Is It Ad-hocism Zindabad?

Britain has a coalition government in power, with David Cameron as Prime Minister, the Conservatives as the lead party and the Liberals as the junior partner. The Deputy Prime Minister is a Liberal. The common ground between the partn....

A Perspective on Subsidies in Our Economy

One of the favourite whipping boys of economists with a free market bias, neo-liberals, businessmen and ultra conservative right wing politicians is the question of subsidies. The whole economic scenario in India is said to be vitiated by subsidies ....

Some Lessons from Elections – 2012

Elections 2012 have been over for some time. Media and public have analyzed the results. Political parties are currently busy either celebrating or finding alibis for failure. They also claim to be waiting for a deeper analysis. In the public view th....

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