UPSC Mains 2016 GS Paper 2 Q3: model answer

India had one dominant party till 1967, a coalition era from 1989 to 2014, single-party majorities in 2014 and 2019, and in 2024 a coalition again, led by a party with 240 seats. Few democracies have changed their party system this often.

Phases

'Congress system' (Rajni Kothari), multi-party coalitions, a new dominant-party phase, and now a coalition with a dominant core.

Paradoxes

• More parties, fewer real ideologies: over 2,500 registered parties, yet most fight on welfare and identity.
• Democracy outside, dynasty inside: parties contest elections but rarely hold internal polls.
• National parties, regional faces: national parties depend on State leaders.
• Anti-incumbency and loyalty together: voters punish governments and yet re-elect strong welfare States.
• Ideology and alliances: parties ally with opponents after the vote.
• Cash and clean politics: demands for transparency while election spending rises; the electoral bonds scheme was

struck down in 2024.

Causes

Caste and regional identities, welfare politics, money, media and the anti-defection law.

Way forward

Inner-party democracy laws, state funding (Indrajit Gupta Committee, 1998), and transparency in funding.

The paradoxes show a democracy still finding its shape. Transition is not a disease; it is how a young, plural electorate tests its choices. The risk lies only if parties stop renewing themselves from within, through open elections, new leaders and honest accounts.