Overall Goal:
This seminar series is designed to review and assess the working of the Indian Parliament over six decades.
Brief Description:
Parliament – a representative institution in a democracy – plays a central role in our political systems. It has become the public face of both political engagement and disengagement. Parliament is the highest law-making body, linking the government to the people. The 21st Century brings myriad new questions regarding its status, legitimacy, accountability, resilience, competence, authority, etc.
Over seven decades, the workings of the Indian Parliament warrant scrutiny to assess its successes and shortcomings. A critical analysis of the Indian Parliament is a missing aspect of legislative studies scholarship in India. It needs to be understood from different perspectives, thereby bringing robust reform debates and convincing efforts to realise the reform proposals.
This Parliamentary Seminar Series aims to provide a platform to voice concerns, initiate debate, and collectively arrive at constructive solutions. Bringing together renowned political scientists, scholars, parliamentarians, leaders, and policy practitioners, this seminar series is the first of its kind. It will attempt to answer the pertinent questions of parliamentary reforms.
Objectives:
- Initiating a dialogue on the parliamentary reforms and suggesting applicable measures.
- Examine the institutional, operational and contextual working of Parliamentary institutions.
- Channelising the debates to build and strengthen representative democracy institutions in India.
- To promote and build a comparative legislative scholarship in parliamentary studies.
Themes:
Parliamentary Seminar Series is a programme of the Centre for Legislative Research and Advocacy (CLRA) – a legislative think tank – based in New Delhi. CLRA proposes holding this seminar series in collaboration with various national and international organisations, including media and academic institutions. This brochure outlines the broader and specific themes for the seminar, but it will also include a range of topical sub-themes.