Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
4. Of the three legitimate ways of engaging the State effectively and meaningfully, protest has become the only way in which the State under a powerful ruler can be influenced in India. Critically Analyze. (250 words)
Reference: Business Standard
Why the question:
Indians are facing momentous change, a shattered economy, an almost absent opposition, a reticent judiciary, and no real means to represent themselves before the power except with their physical selves.
Key Demand of the question:
To analyze the various ways that the citizens can engage with the state and to see the why people resort to protests rather than go through the electoral route or litigation.
Directive:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Write about three lawful ways to engage with the State: Vote, litigation and protest.
Body:
In the first part, mention why protests are seen as the only way to influence the government and reasons for increasing trends of protests over the past decades. Emergence of populism, Lack of effective opposition, lack of judicial checks and single party majority etc. Give examples to substantiate your points.
In the next part, though protests are a constitutional right, mention about the limitations of protests and the need to make use of all the three modes available in the democracy to hold the government accountable. Suggest steps to strengthen the voter accountability and litigation.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
