International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Democratic Politics and Governance in India

Democratic politics is a system where power rests with the people, who participate directly or through elected representatives, emphasizing equality, justice, accountability, and rule of law, contrasting with centralized power in authoritarian regimes. Key aspects include free and fair elections, constitutional limits on government, protection of minority rights, power-sharing, and public engagement in decision-making, all designed to ensure governance within defined limits and uphold citizen rights. It upholds citizens rights, rule of law, sovereignty of the people, accountability and power sharing. Democratic politics involves continuous negotiation, conflict, and cooperation over interests, ideas, and resources, as seen in debates over issues like representation, language, or economic policy. It's a dynamic process where citizens and leaders work to shape society within a framework that aims for stability, justice, and inclusive governance. The nature of polity and the role of civil society plays a vital role in reshaping democratic politics and governance. Governance is the system of processes, rules, and structures for making and implementing decisions, involving government, civil society, and the private sector to manage public affairs, ensuring accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in achieving societal goals, going beyond just the formal government to include interactions and networks. It's about steering society, defining acceptable conduct, and wielding authority through agreed-upon norms, values, and laws for collective well-being and resource management. Governance determines a society's capacity to deliver services, manage resources, ensure stability, and promote sustainable development, directly impacting citizen welfare and public trust. Accountability, transparency, rule of law, participation, responsiveness, equity and inclusiveness is the buzz words of governance.