A hungry man is given on a silver platter to choose from a 15 day old apple, a few rotten bananas, and cold paav bhaji -- that's The Great Indian democracy for you. We have one of the most efficient election commission in the world, a vigilant media, Thousands of the brightest minds of their generation graduating every year from IITs, IIMs, and various other institutes of excellence, still we do not have the competent leadership to guide the country.
So, how can we improve the system? Here's my view of the ideal Indian government.
We should look at our own strengths first. India has excelled in the system of competitive examinations by conducting various exams like UPSC, IIT-JEE, AIEEE, CAT, etc. year after year successfully and impartially.
We need an examination at par with UPSC, CAT, etc.The top 2000 candidates may be called for personal interviews by the two national parties the Congress and BJP. This will in effect make these parties function as corporations instead. After their appointment, the selected candidates will go through a 1-year management course and specific training related to the department of their interest.
The function of local parties will be performed by regional think tanks, comprising the other selected candidates of the exam, who are still part of the decision making process. These candidates will also be a part of their state legislative assemblies, so that they can coordinate with the implementation of the decisions made by them in the parliament. The lack of local parties will lead to centralized power, while the think tanks will ensure that regional interests are not neglected.
The local think tanks will also comprise eminent industrialists, environmentalists, and economists of the region selected by the Governor of the state.
There will be a retirement age of 65 years, for all members of parliament, except for former prime ministers, who can still be a part of advisory board on the foreign policy.
One year before the General elections, 1 candidate will be selected from each party, it may be through a mock election by the party in the country, as was the case in the recent US elections, or by internal mechanisms.
In the end, Indian people around the world (Yes, there will be polling stations at all the Indian consulates. This will make the elections more popular around the world and give a fillip to the democratic credentials, besides including non-resident Indians in the process), will have to choose from 2 candidates. The election campaigns of both the candidates will be funded by corporates, so as to decrease direct expenditure by the state. Major public debates will be conducted by various news agencies, every Sunday, and broadcast rights will be sold as is the case with cricket matches.
The election manifesto declared by the parties will be treated as a legal document, and a 15-20% deviation on the lower side at the end of 5 years will call for a re-election. This will make the parties to be realistic in their promises, and more committed to achieve the goals.
We do not need to have an authoritarian rule, just a responsible central government, and a chaotic system that exists today, can never provide that.What do you say???
So, how can we improve the system? Here's my view of the ideal Indian government.
We should look at our own strengths first. India has excelled in the system of competitive examinations by conducting various exams like UPSC, IIT-JEE, AIEEE, CAT, etc. year after year successfully and impartially.
We need an examination at par with UPSC, CAT, etc.The top 2000 candidates may be called for personal interviews by the two national parties the Congress and BJP. This will in effect make these parties function as corporations instead. After their appointment, the selected candidates will go through a 1-year management course and specific training related to the department of their interest.
The function of local parties will be performed by regional think tanks, comprising the other selected candidates of the exam, who are still part of the decision making process. These candidates will also be a part of their state legislative assemblies, so that they can coordinate with the implementation of the decisions made by them in the parliament. The lack of local parties will lead to centralized power, while the think tanks will ensure that regional interests are not neglected.
The local think tanks will also comprise eminent industrialists, environmentalists, and economists of the region selected by the Governor of the state.
There will be a retirement age of 65 years, for all members of parliament, except for former prime ministers, who can still be a part of advisory board on the foreign policy.
One year before the General elections, 1 candidate will be selected from each party, it may be through a mock election by the party in the country, as was the case in the recent US elections, or by internal mechanisms.
In the end, Indian people around the world (Yes, there will be polling stations at all the Indian consulates. This will make the elections more popular around the world and give a fillip to the democratic credentials, besides including non-resident Indians in the process), will have to choose from 2 candidates. The election campaigns of both the candidates will be funded by corporates, so as to decrease direct expenditure by the state. Major public debates will be conducted by various news agencies, every Sunday, and broadcast rights will be sold as is the case with cricket matches.
The election manifesto declared by the parties will be treated as a legal document, and a 15-20% deviation on the lower side at the end of 5 years will call for a re-election. This will make the parties to be realistic in their promises, and more committed to achieve the goals.
We do not need to have an authoritarian rule, just a responsible central government, and a chaotic system that exists today, can never provide that.What do you say???
