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India

GOVT 122: Comparative Politics
Sweet Briar College
Instructor: Dr. Andrew Clem
For use of enrolled SBC students ONLY.

Years Leader(s)
1950- Jawaharlal Nehru
1955- Jawaharlal Nehru
1960- Jawaharlal Nehru,
1965- Indira Gandhi
1970- Indira Gandhi
1975- Morarji Desai
1980- Indira Gandhi
1985- Rajiv Gandhi
1990- P. J. Rao
1995- P. J. Rao
2000- Atal Bihari Vajpayee
2005- Manhoman Singh

Years indicated above are approximate. For more detail, see the Foreign Leaders page, with a year-by-year chronology.

Basic facts:
Political system:Parliamentary republic
National leader:P.M. Manmohan Singh (2004-)
Structure:Federal
Regime founded:1947
Democracy:Established
Population:1.1 billion
Per capita GDP:$3,800

Distinctive features:

  • Extreme diversity of languages; English widely used
  • Hindu-Muslim religious conflict; wars with Pakistan.
  • Tradition of nonviolent protest by Mahatma Gandhi
  • Green revolution in agriculture has mostly kept up with population growth, but widespread poverty persists.
  • Shift toward market economics since mid-1980s
India map

To see a continental-scale map, roll the mouse over the map above.
Click on it to see a key that explains the map symbols.

Political parties:

Name Communist Party Samajwadi Party Indian National Congress others Bharatiya Janata Party
Seats*: 43 (0) 38 (0) 147 (217) 188 (137) 129 (185)

NOTES: * Seats in lower house.
SOURCES: Mark Kessleman, et al., Introduction to Comparative Politics; CIA World Factbook, various newspapers, indian-elections.com.

Videos about India

Advani named BJP's PM candidate (youtube.com)

Indian parliament fight between hindu and muslim MPs (youtube.com)

THE TRUTH ABOUT INDIAN MISSILES (youtube.com)