How do You Define Democracy?

vote wisely, each citizen should listen to the views of the different parties and candidates, and then make his or her own decision on whom to support.

India ranked 38th on the 2012 Democracy Index and earned the moniker of a Flawed Democracy . While India got a high score on the electoral process and civil liberties, it was measured low on factors related to political participation and political culture.

Participation can also involve campaigning for a political party or candidate, standing as a candidate for political office, debating public issues, attending community meetings, petitioning the government, and even protesting.

India ranked 38th on the 2012 Democracy Index and earned the moniker of a Flawed Democracy . While India got a high score on the electoral process and civil liberties, it was measured low on factors related to political participation and political culture.

India’s adoption of democracy in 1947 is by no means its first experiment with this system – the Chola Empire of South India had an electoral system in place, 1,000 years ago.

A vital form of participation comes through active membership in independent, non-governmental organizations, what we call “civil society.”

India has the longest constitution in the world. It has 448 articles, 12 schedules and 94 amendments.

These organizations represent a variety of interests and beliefs:  farmers, workers, doctors, teachers, business owners, religious believers, women, students, human rights activists.

The drafting of constitution was handwritten and calligraphed the constitution - both in English and in Hindi. There was no typing or print involved.

It is important that women participate fully both in politics and in civil society.

A dispute regarding the distribution of the Zira and Firozpur administrative districts to India was settled as part of an agreement between the governments of India and Pakistan in 1960, thirteen years after partition.

This requires efforts by civil society organizations to educate women about their democratic rights and responsibilities, improve their political skills, represent their common interests, and involve them in political life.

The word “Interim Budget” was for the first time introduced by R.K. Shanmukham Chetty in his budget speech for 1948-49. From then onwards an interim budget began to mean a Budget for a short period.

In a democracy, participation in civic groups should be voluntary. No one should be forced to join an organization against their will.

The 1965-66 budgets contained the first disclosure scheme for black money.

Political parties are vital organizations in a democracy, and democracy is stronger when citizens become active members of political parties.

Gulzarilal Nanda was the acting Prime Minister of India two times but never became a prime minister

Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha based in Hubli is the only licenced flag production and supply unit in India.

However, no one should support a political party because he is pressured or threatened by others. In a democracy, citizens are free to choose which party to support.

Democracy gets the desired success when all the citizen are educated, civilized and cultured. Less than 50% would be educated, civilized and cultured still we call it ‘the biggest democracy in the world’

Democracy depends on citizen participation in all these ways.  But participation must be peaceful, respectful of the law, and tolerant of the different views of other groups and individuals.

Indian democracy is biggest in the world today because of the number of Indian Voters, After say 30 years it will become still bigger because of the number, regardless of quality of candidates and voters,

Most of the political parties are either run by a person or a family, still they claim to be absolutely democratic,

The Rights of Citizens in a Democracy

Position to be held post election results are already fixed, however, we claim to have belief in participatory democracy with representation from all the groups.