How is a Major Policy Decision Taken

Working of Institutions

Major Policy Decision

  • Government of India appointed a Commission in 1979, headed by B.P. Mandal, called Second Backward Commission.
  • Commission gave a report in 1980. One of the suggestions was to reserve 27 percent of government jobs for Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC).
  • This issue was discussed this for many years.
  • Janata Dal won elections in 1989. V.P. Singh, the Prime Minister, decided to implement reservations.
  • The President announced it in his address to the Parliament.
  • On 6 August 1990, the Cabinet decided to implement and the Prime Minister announced it in both Houses of Parliament.
  • The senior officers drafted an order, signed by an officer and it became the Memorandum issued on 13 August 1990.
  • There was a heated debate on the issue and it was finally taken to the Supreme Court. The case was known as “Indira Sawhney and others vs Union of India case.”
  • In 1992 Supreme Court declared the Mandal order as valid but asked for some modifications.

Need for Political Institutions

  • A government has to perform various duties, formulate policies and implement them.
  • Some have to formulate schemes, some have to take decisions, some have to implement the decisions.
  • Hence the need for institutions to do all the above.
  • The Constitution of a country lays down basic rules on powers and functions of each institution.
  • The prime minister and the cabinet take all policy decisions.
  • The civil servants take the steps to implement ministers decisions.
  • Supreme court solves disputes between citizen and government.
  • The institutions are the Legislative (Parliament), the Executive (the Government) and the Judiciary.

Parliament

Parliament :

In all democracies , an assembly of elected representatives exercises supreme  political authority on the behalf of the people. At national level it is parliament and at state level it is legislative assembly.

  1. It is needed as final authority to make laws in the country.
  2. To exercise control over the workings of the government.
  3. To control the expenditure of the government,and control public money.
  4. As the highest forum of discussion and debate it decides public issues and national policies.

• Two Houses of Parliament. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The former has elected representatives and is the House of People.

•The Rajya Sabha elected by the elected members of each State Assembly is called the Council of States.

• Lok Sabha is more important in money matters, control over the executive and council of ministers., has more members. It is also called as lower chamber.

•Rajya Sabha is more important in matters concerning the states. It is called as upper chamber..

• Lok Sabha is elected for a period of five years. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House, with one third members retiring every two years. The term of each member is for six years.

The President of India is part of the parliament although she is not a member of either house.