India’s political system: historical experience and prospects

Over 77 years of independence, India has put an end to its colonial past, consolidated its sovereignty, and embarked on the path of modernizing Indian society. Today it is a dynamically developing country with an efficient economy, a stable political system based on representative democracy, the principles of federalism and an independent judiciary. It confirms its leading position in the production and export of electronic products; produces a quarter of all the world’s medicines; strengthens its military-industrial potential, actively participates in the exploration of outer space, i.e. positions itself as a highly developed global power in political, economic, military, scientific and technological terms. However, about 22% of the population lives below the poverty line, and about half did not go to school. Over the years of independence, 17 parliamentary elections have been held in the country with the participation of about 60-70% of voters. Indian society is divided along confessional lines: 80.46% are Hindus, 13.43% are Muslims, 2.34% are Christians, and 1.87% are Sikhs. The division of Hindus into many castes often determines the nature of the country’s political life. The Constitution of India, adopted on January 26, 1950, laid the foundations for the existence of a republican system and parliamentary democracy. The Constitution of India guarantees all citizens social, economic and political justice and equality; freedom of expression, religion, worship; fraternity, ensuring the unity of the nation. The Constitution of India has stood the test of time: it provides for the possibility of changing it in accordance with the requirements of life. It provides for a strong center and autonomous states, whose powers are clearly delimited. The states do not have the right to secede from India. The parliamentary system of India provides a combination of legislative and executive authorities. India is one of the most diverse multiparty democracies in the world. About 300 political parties are participating in the general elections, of which up to 10 are all-Indian. In recent decades, there has been a significant strengthening of the role of regions and regional parties, which has made it almost impossible to create one-party governments in the center or in the regions. The population of the states increasingly identifies with the states rather than with the Center, which is happening against the background of growing confessional and caste consciousness and is accompanied by the drawing of dividing lines between individual religions and castes.