A multiparty system is often criticised for causing political instability. Yet, many political scientists argue it is better suited for a country like India than a two-party system. Do you agree? Justify your answer by weighing both the drawback and the advantage of a multiparty system in the Indian context.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:19 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Yes, I agree that a multiparty system is better suited for India, despite its drawbacks.
Drawback: A multiparty system often appears messy and leads to political instability. Coalition governments formed by multiple parties can be fragile, as alliance partners may have conflicting interests, making governance difficult.
Advantages in the Indian context:
- Reflects diversity: India has vast social, regional, linguistic and religious diversity. A two-party system cannot easily absorb this diversity, whereas multiple parties give representation to varied interests and opinions.
- Strengthens federalism: State/regional parties have become key coalition partners at the Centre. Since 1996, nearly every State party has been part of a national coalition, strengthening federalism and democracy.
- Evolved naturally: India's multiparty system was not chosen — it evolved due to the country's social and geographical diversity. Party systems cannot be changed quickly; each country develops one suited to its own circumstances.
Thus, while instability is a real concern, a multiparty system ensures broader representation and federal balance, making it more appropriate for India.
Source: Chapter 4 — Political Parties, "How many parties should we have?" and "State parties" sections.
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Explanation
- Examiners expect both sides — name the drawback (instability/messy coalitions) and then outweigh it with India-specific advantages.
- Key phrases to use: "social and geographical diversity," "coalition," "federalism," "variety of interests and opinions."
- The textbook explicitly states: "if India has evolved a multiparty system, it is because the social and geographical diversity in such a large country is not easily absorbed by two or even three parties." Quote or paraphrase this — it is the core justification.
- Do not list parties unnecessarily; one or two examples (NDA, UPA) are enough for illustration.