POLITICAL CHALLENGES

INDIA’S GOVERNMENT 1949: Indian leaders gathered to write a

constitution Created a federal system consisting of a federal

government and the governments of 25 states and 7 territories

President of India appoints the state governors and has the power to dissolve state government in an emergency

PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY

Power in the hands of the political party that wins the most seats in parliament

Leader of that party is the prime minister Upper house (Council of State) chosen by state

legislatures Lower house (House of the People) is more

powerful and voters elect members directly

POLITICAL PARTIES More than a dozen representing different

castes, languages, or religious groups Vote at age 18, use symbols because many

voters can’t read and write

POLITICAL PARTIESIndian National Congress (INC) Bharata Janata Party

(BJP)

DIVIDING AND UNIFYING FORCES

Growing population and high rates of poverty and illiteracy Efforts to help the lower castes have been met with much

protest from the higher castes. Cultural diversity Sikh separatism: believe they don’t get a large enough

share of government resources Hindu-Muslim clashes United by Hindu traditions, democratic traditions, modern

communication, and strong leadership

INDIA’S LEADERS Nehru: India’s first prime minister after

independence, wanted a secular nation (no official religion)

1966: His daughter Indira Gandhi became PM, was killed by her two Sikh bodyguards in 1984 because she stormed the Golden Temple

Rajiv Gandhi, Indira’s son, was elected PM and was murdered in 1991 by Tamil guerrillas from Sri Lanka

MANMOHAN SINGHThe first Sikh PM. Belongs to the INS party

FORMER AND CURRENT PRESIDENT

Pratibha Devisingh Patil Pranab Mukherjee

The Rashtrapati Bhavan (New Delhi)

Where the President of India resides