National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of the above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards.

The thrust of the NHRC, in accordance with the legislation that created it, is w.r.t civil and political rights, and not socio-economic ones. The NHRC cam review safeguards and treaties, inquire into violations of human rights by public servants, educate ..

The setting up of a Rail Tariff Authority to regulate fares will subject the cash strapped Indian Railways to demand subsidy for obligation to operate non-profitable routes and services. Taking into account the experience in the power sector, discuss if the proposed reform is expected to benefit the consumers, the Indian Railways or the private container operators.

The RTA (Rail Tariff Authority) has been constituted to engage with all the stakeholders, including Railways, consumer groups, container operators etc before it advises the government on determination of fares and freight rates. Other than rationalizing the fare structures, the ..

Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the Government is mulling over the proposal for increased FDI in news media for quite some time. What difference would an increase in FDI make? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.

Currently, 26% FDI is allowed in news media, and the government has tabled a proposal to increase it to 100%. Increase of FDI to 49% would ensure that ownership of the media company would still be Indian hands, but 100% ..

The size of the cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far the efficacy of a government then is inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss.

Article 75 (1) of the Constitution of India states that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers must not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha. Though there ..

Instances of President's delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.

The law as it stands now provides no time limit for the President to decide if he wishes to exercise his right to grant a pardon. However, a recent decision of the Supreme Court granted pardon to 15 persons on ..

What do you understand by the concept "freedom of speech and expression"? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss.

Freedom to express whatever they wish and state/speak their opinion is an important feature of any healthy democracy. Any person expressing his/her opinion must be able to do so without free of repercussion. So, freedom of speech and expression has ..

Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, but it is equally true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a strong Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism. Discuss.

India is neither wholly federal nor unitary; it is quasi-federal with more of a federal leaning than a unitary one. The Indian constitution provides for devolution of powers to the states, by under the purview of a strong central entity, ..

The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?

Article 105 of the Indian constitution broadly identifies two rights of parliamentary members and committees, namely their right to freely expressly themselves in Parliament and right to not be prosecuted for publication of comments/statements or vote made in Parliament. These ..