Short Essay on Redesigning of Democracy in India

Democracy was established in India on 26th January, 1950 when its new constitution came into force. Since then, many democratic institutions created by the Constitution have, by and large, proved workable and enduring. The principles embodied in the constitution have also proved to be of lasting value.

However, it is necessary that every constitution must be flexible enough to adopt it to the changes in the lives of the people and the society. Hence, since its adoption in 1950, our constitution has been amended almost 100 times to adopt it to the changing circumstances.

The first amendment in the Constitution of India was passed in 1951, to make provision for reservations, abolition of landlordism (Zamindari System) and the imposition of reasonable restrictions on individual freedoms. Many amendments were passed to establish the supremacy of Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

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After independence our party system has undergone many changes. Defections from one party to another for political or other gains became rampant which polluted the political atmosphere in the country. So the constitution had to be amended in 1985 to disqualify legislators if they change the party after they were elected on a party ticket.

Recently, the constitution has been amended again to plug the loopholes which had remained in Anti-Defection Act, 1985. Similarly, to make the working of local government institutions move effective and satisfactory constitution had to be amended to give other institutions more powers, functions and finances (73rd and 74th Amendments).

Panchayati Raj Institutions (from Panchayats, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parisada) and the Municipal Bodies like Municipal Corporation and Municipal Councils were given constitutional recognition.

Thus, our constitution has been amended several times to adopt it to changing circumstances and the changes in society.