Q.Individual Parliamentarian’s role as the national law maker is on a decline, which in turn, has adversely impacted the quality of debates and their outcome. Discuss.
How to approach: Address all parts of the prompt systematically—covering positive dimensions, structural constraints, and a constructive Way Forward.
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Open in 3D PYQ RealmSyllabus Point
- Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.
Approach
- Introduction (Definition) (30-40 words): Introduce the role of individual MPs as lawmakers and highlight the statistical decline in their active legislative contributions.
- Body (Explanation) (80-90 words):
- Discuss the factors leading to the declining role of individual MPs (Anti-Defection Law, absenteeism, party dominance).
- Analyze the impact of this decline on the quality of parliamentary debates.
- Propose a way forward to empower individual legislators.
- Conclusion (20 words): Conclude by emphasizing that robust individual participation is essential for a healthy deliberative democracy.
Introduction
In a representative democracy, individual Members of Parliament (MPs) are the primary link between citizens and national law-making. However, their role has significantly declined. For instance, between 2014 and 2018, out of approximately 900 Private Member Bills introduced, less than 2% were even taken up for discussion.
Body
Factors Contributing to the Decline of Individual Parliamentarians
- Anti-Defection Law and the Whip System: The Tenth Schedule (enacted in 1985) penalizes voting against party lines. This rigid party discipline forces MPs to follow the party whip blindly, suppressing independent viewpoints and conscience-based voting.
- Absenteeism: Rising absenteeism indicates a growing indifference among politicians toward complex legislative debates, with many prioritizing constituency politics over active law-making.
- Dominance of the Ruling Majority: Strong majorities allow the executive to push bills through Parliament with minimal deliberation, reducing the legislative process to a mere formality.
- Frequent Disruptions and Logjams: Political polarization, walkouts, and protests often lead to sessions being adjourned, leaving little time for meaningful debate on bills.
- Politicization of the Speaker's Office: A perceived lack of neutrality in the Speaker's office has led to frequent trust deficits, causing disruptions instead of structured debates.
- Sensationalism and Media Gallery Play: The live telecast of proceedings has sometimes incentivized grandstanding and sensationalism over substantive legislative analysis.
Impact on the Quality of Debates and Outcomes
- Poor Legislative Quality: Laws are often passed without thorough scrutiny, leading to ambiguities and subsequent legal challenges in courts.
- Neglect of Diverse Issues: Important regional and niche issues raised through Private Member Bills are routinely ignored due to lack of parliamentary time.
Way Forward
- Reforming the Anti-Defection Law: The law should be restricted only to critical votes like No-Confidence Motions, allowing MPs free votes on general legislation (similar to the UK Parliament).
- Enhancing Institutional Support: Providing MPs with dedicated research staff and policy experts would improve their capacity to draft and analyze bills.
- Judicious Time Management: Parliament must allocate dedicated, uninterrupted hours for Private Member Bills and ensure higher attendance.
Conclusion
A true parliamentary system thrives on debate and deliberation. Empowering individual MPs to speak and vote freely is vital to restoring the legislative depth and credibility of India's Parliament.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2019 (Question 8) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper II — Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR → Indian Constitution & Polity |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 15 Marks • 250 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 11–12 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Discuss: Conduct a comprehensive, 360-degree exploration of the topic covering multiple perspectives. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~30–35 Words • Body: ~175 Words (4–5 sub-headings + diagram/data) • Way Forward: ~35–40 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
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The role of individual MPs (Members of Parliament) has diminished over the years and as a result healthy constructive debates on policy issues are not usually witnessed. How far can this be attributed to the anti-defection law which was legislated but with a different intention?
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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2019 GS2 (Polity & Constitution)
How should I structure the answer for this UPSC Mains 2019 GS Paper II question on Polity & Constitution?
This 2019 GS Paper II question carries 15 marks with a 250-word limit and uses the "Discuss" directive. Address all parts of the prompt systematically—covering positive dimensions, structural constraints, and a constructive Way Forward. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~30–35 Words • Body: ~175 Words (4–5 sub-headings + diagram/data) • Way Forward: ~35–40 Words) and aim to finish within 11–12 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2019 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper II — Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR under the syllabus module "Indian Constitution & Polity". You can explore all repeated questions from Polity & Constitution in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Polity & Constitution PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
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