27 Important Modes of Corruption in India

Government
Corruption need not necessarily be in the form of money. The Central Vigilance Commission has identified following twenty-seven modes of corruption.1. Acceptance of substandard stores/works. ADVERTISEMENTS: 2. Misappropriation of public money and misappropriation of stores.3. Incurring pecuniary obligations of persons with whom the public servants have official dealings. Image Source: blogs-images.forbes.com4. Borrowings money from contractors/firms having official dealings with officers.5. Showing favours to contractors and firms. ADVERTISEMENTS: 6. Claiming of false travelling allowance, house rent, etc.7. Possession of disproportionate assets.8. Causing loss to government by negligence or otherwise.9. Purchase of immovable property, etc. without prior permission or intimation. ADVERTISEMENTS: 10. Abuse of official position/powers.11. Acceptance of illegal gratification in recruitments, postings, transfers and promotions.12. Misuse of government employees for personal work.13. Production of forged certificates of age, of birth of…
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11 Important Powers and Functions of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Government
The speaker is endowed with a wide range of powers. His powers are:1. To see that there is decorum and discipline in the House.2. To decide who shall hold the floor and speak in deliberations of the House. ADVERTISEMENTS: 3. To safeguard the rights and privileges of the members of the House.4. To put the motion of the vote to announce the result. He does not vote but in case of a tie, he casts his vote.5. To act as administrative head of the Lok Sabha Secretariat. Image Source: top10wala.in ADVERTISEMENTS: 6. To accept resignations sent by members of Lok Sabha.7. To protect the House from unnecessary executive intrusion.8. To allot time for each item on the agenda of the House.Some of his special powers are ADVERTISEMENTS: 9. To certify…
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Short Essay on the Prime Ministerial System of Government

Elections
The Parliamentary system of government as practiced in the United Kingdom and other countries functions on the basis of majority party working under the leadership of the Prime Minister.His position is of pre-eminence and is more powerful than the President in Presidential system. In recent times, there has been increasing use of the term ‘Prime Ministerial’ as synonymous with ‘Parliamentary’ Government. This change has occurred due to continuous widening of the powers of the Prime Minister.So important is the stature of the office, that every Parliamentary election is the Prime Ministerial elections. Every party puts its leader as probable Prime Ministerial candidate. He is leader of majority party in the Lower House. Image Source: bizsummit.mn ADVERTISEMENTS: In his capacity he garners support of his party colleagues on various issues and…
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Procedure Relating to An “Ordinary Bill” and “Money Bill” in Indian Parliament

Government
Ordinary Bill Provisions regarding ordinary bill are contained in Article 10. It can be introduced in either house of Parliament except bills under Article 3; this bill does not require prior recommendation of the President.Both houses enjoy equal legislative jurisdiction over ordinary bill. The ordinary bills are passed by simple majority. ADVERTISEMENTS: In case of deadlock between the two houses, a joint sitting is convened by the President.President enjoys the right to send the ordinary bill for reconsideration only once. Image Source: cdn.publishyourarticles.netThe draft of the proposed bill has to be sent to the Secretariat of the House. The presiding officer of the house, after consulting the Business Advisory Committee determines the day and time when the Bill is to be moved in the house.On the appointed day and time…
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9 Reasons for the Decline of Parliament in India

Elections
India’s experience with Parliamentary form of Government is closely intertwined with the British system. For, India adopted the Westminster Model as it was deemed necessary remedy for evils confronting Indian Society.But, in recent years Parliamentary system has shown tendencies that have belied the expectations. It is more and more becoming a hand maiden of Cabinet under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Image Source: preview.turbosquid.com Reasons: ADVERTISEMENTS: The major reasons for decline of Parliament in India have been1. Growing authority of the Cabinet.2. Changing socio-economic composition.3. Changing quality of debate and irrational conflict and hatreds among members. ADVERTISEMENTS: 4. Lack of enlightened public opinion to enforce accountability on representatives.5. Political populism and nepotism.6. Lack of accommodative as well as assertive posture on the part of leadership in view of coalition…
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Relationship between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy – Explained!

Government
Despite being part of the same constitution, a contrast is often made between part III and part IV i.e. between fundamental rights and directive principles. The main reasons are the judicial enforceability of FR and its nature being negative obligation of the state.The directives are non ­justifiable and are more in the nature of positive affirmations of the state. However in recent time, some of the directives have been made a part of chapter on Fundamental Rights to be in tune with the requirements of changing polity. History: The relationship between the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles is best illustrated in the Article 37. It provides that Directives are not enforceable in a court of law. But, they are fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be…
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Was Hobbes Individualist or Absolutist?

Government
An overview of Hobbes’s theory of sovereignty put forward in his work, ‘Leviathan’ might suggest being a case for absolutism, but this is not the case.Hobbes starts up with the individual and ends up with the individual. Individual’s security is the pivot round which call his other political ideas revolve. ADVERTISEMENTS: Sharing the similar concern Prof. Sabine says, “The absolute power of the sovereign—a theory with which Hobbes’s name is more generally associated—was really the necessary component of his individualism. In the same tone, Prof. Way per says “the Leviathan is not merely a forceful enunciation of the doctrine of sovereignty
 it is also a powerful statement of individualism”.Hobbes accords a prominent position to the individual. He allows his individual the right to resist the sovereign if the latter attacks…
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7 Important Causes of the Downfall of the Slave Dynasty in India

Military
The Sultans of the so-called slave dynasty ruled over Delhi from 1206 to 1290 A.D.Thus within a century, this dynasty came to an end and a new dynasty called Khajis flourished. Image Source: i.ytimg.comThe following circumstances contributed to the downfall of the slave dynasty. ADVERTISEMENTS: Sultans Being Foreigners: The people of India did not cooperate with the Sultans of slave dynasty as they considered them as foreigners. The feeling of har­mony between the Hindus and Muslims had not yet emerged and the Hindus revolted against the Muslim rulers off and on. image source: laphamsquarterly.orgIt created chaos and confusion in the Sultanate. As the Muslim rule was based on the Quran and its principles were brought from Ghazni, Ghor and Baghdad, they could not be applicable in India and gave rise…
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Essay on “Social Contract” Theory of Thomas Hobbes

Government
Hobbes in his political philosophy mainly proceeds on the essential wickedness of human nature. Even though the law of nature shows the way out of state of nature, it does not ensure harmony.To ward off such apprehension, he supports an all powerful sovereign authority to enforce the laws of nature. For ‘”covenants’ without sword are butt words” and of no strength to secure a man at all. 1. Why Contract? To end the state of nature, every individual enter into, what Hobbes calls ‘contract’ with each individual. Through contract: ADVERTISEMENTS: Individuals undertake not “to will their own will”Individuals “accept to undertake limitation on their will”They “submit the wills of all to the will of one”. ADVERTISEMENTS: Social contract is the basis of Hobbes’s state whereby individuals .of their own impulse,…
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8 Important Ideas of “Machiavelli” on State

Military
Machiavelli was a practical politician who was greatly disturbed by the conditions of his native state. He never claimed to be political philosopher. His ‘Prince’ contains the tips given to the fictional prince.The ‘Prince’ as mainly a handbook on the art of ruling and maintaining oneself in power in his advice; he is mainly concerned with the actual state of his time without bothering about its origin, nature, functions etc. Allen says “The Prince was written of a Prince, for a Prince and for no one else”?However in subsequent period, his ideas were concretized to develop a systematic whole. The following are the various ideas of Machiavelli on state that can be said to have formed into a systematic political theory. Image Source: a5.files.biography.com ADVERTISEMENTS: 1. For Machiavelli, state has…
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