THE MDS MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2026
(MDSMUN 2026)
BACKGROUND GUIDE
AGENDA
Committee: Lok Sabha (House of the People)
Agenda: Assessing Political Competition, VIP Culture, Electoral Violence, Corruption, and
Administrative Governance: A Comparative Review of BJP and Congress Eras
Prepared by:
Executive Board Members of Lok sabha
Introduction
1. Letter from the Executive Board
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to this session of the Lok Sabha. As members of the Executive Board, it is our distinct
privilege to welcome you to a debate that strikes at the very core of India’s democratic fabric.
The agenda before this committee demands an analytical, objective, and deeply nuanced evaluation
of India's governance trajectory. By comparing the eras of the Indian National Congress (primarily
focusing on the UPA I & II regimes from 2004–2014, while contextualizing post-independence
foundations) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (the NDA regimes from 2014–present), we aim to dissect
the mechanics of Indian democracy.
This background guide is not an exhaustive chronicle, but a foundational framework. As
representatives in the Lok Sabha, you are expected to look past partisan rhetoric and engage with
empirical data, legislative precedents, institutional shifts, and socio-political realities. We expect a
high standard of deliberation, sharp parliamentary wit, and a commitment to constructive policy
critique.
Best regards,
The Executive Board, Lok Sabha
2. Introduction to the Agenda
India’s democratic journey is often celebrated for its scale, resilience, and vibrancy. However, the
operational reality of its political ecosystem faces continuous scrutiny. This agenda structuralizes a
comparative study of the two dominant political forces of modern India across five critical pillars:
1. Political Competition: The evolution from a one-party dominant system to coalition politics, and
subsequently to a "fourth party system" characterized by a new dominant-party model, alongside
the changing dynamics of the federal structure.
2. VIP Culture: The institutionalized manifestation of elitism, entitlement, and the misuse of state
machinery, balanced against legitimate security protocols for public representatives.
3. Electoral Violence: The shift from physical booth-capturing and localized intimidation to digital
misinformation, hate speech, cash-for-votes, and targeted political violence.
4. Corruption: The transition from systemic, large-scale bureaucratic and allocation scams to
structural changes in political funding, corporate-state nexuses, and the weaponization of central
investigative agencies.
5. Administrative Governance: A comparative look at policy paralysis versus centralized
executive drive, grassroots welfare delivery models, and the independence of democratic
institutions.
3. Pillar-by-Pillar Comparative Analysis
A. Political Competition & Federalism
Political competition dictates how power is contested and shared. The two eras present
fundamentally different models of political dominance and federal engagement.
The Congress Era (Focus on UPA 2004–2014):
Coalition Politics: Characterized by "Coalition Dharma," where policy-making required
consensus among ideologically diverse regional partners (e.g., DMK, NCP, Left parties).
While highly pluralistic, it frequently led to compromise, internal vetoes, and perceived
regional blackmail.
Federal Relations: Often relied on cooperative federalism through bodies like the National
Development Council (NDC). Critics, however, point out historical overuses of Article 356
(President’s Rule) to dismiss state governments during older Congress regimes.
The BJP Era (2014–Present):
The New Dominant Party System: The rise of a highly centralized, ideologically driven
electoral machine under a clear majority. This shifted political competition into a highly
polarized, nationalized narrative, often putting regional parties on the defensive.
Federal Relations: Championed "Cooperative and Competitive Federalism" via the creation
of NITI Aayog(replacing the Planning Commission) and the implementation of the Goods
and Services Tax (GST) Council. Conversely, opposition-ruled states frequently allege
"fiscal federalism asymmetry," centralization of power, and the politicization of the Governor’s
office.
B. VIP Culture and Public Entitlement
The visible divide between the governing elite and the citizenry has been a long-standing critique of
Indian public life.
EVOLUTION OF VIP CULTURE REDUCTION]
Congress Era Regime BJP Era Regime
- Proliferation of red beacons (Lal Batti)
- Discretionary quotas (e.g., KV seats)
- Decentralized, elite entitlement privileges
BJP Era Regime -
- Ban on Lal Battis (2017) - Discretionary quotas (e.g., KV seats)
- Scrapping of discretionary quotas
- Focus on "Every Indian is a VIP" (EIV)
- Continued high-tier security protocol
The Congress Era:
VIP culture was widely seen as institutionalized. The pervasive use of red beacons (Lal Batti), extensive discretionary quotas
(e.g., in school admissions, gas connections), and massive state-funded privileges for politicians were normalized. Security
clearances and traffic stoppages for VIP convoys frequently disrupted civilian life.
The BJP Era:
The current administration made a conscious effort to dismantle the visible symbols of VIP culture, most notably banning the
use of red beacons on all non-emergency vehicles in 2017. Discretionary quotas for MPs (like the Kendriya Vidyalaya
admissions quota) were also systematically dismantled to project an egalitarian ethos under the slogan "Every Indian is a VIP
(EIV)".
Counter-argument: Critics argue that while the aesthetic symbols have changed, systemic VIP culture persists through
extensive Z+ security allocations to political figures, state-backed privileges, and unequal enforcement of law and order
favoring ruling party members.
C. Electoral Violence and Malpractices
The nature of subverting democratic elections has evolved from overt physical coercion to covert structural and digital manipulation.
The Congress Era:
Historically, older Congress eras faced severe challenges with physical electoral violence, particularly "booth-capturing,"
rigging, and muscle-power politics in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
By the UPA era, the Election Commission of India (ECI) successfully curbed booth-capturing through multi-phase elections
and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). However, the era still grappled with localized violence, inner-party clashes, and the
traditional "cash-for-votes" phenomenon.
The BJP Era:
While physical booth-capturing has become largely obsolete, electoral violence has taken on localized, hyper-polarized forms
(e.g., post-poll violence in West Bengal, localized clashes during panchayat elections).
The battlefield has decisively shifted to Digital and Psychological Warfare. The proliferation of fake news, weaponized
social media (WhatsApp, IT Cells), micro-targeting, hate speech, and deepfakes present a new frontier of electoral
malpractice. Furthermore, structural issues regarding the independence of the ECI and the timing of model code of conduct
enforcements are fiercely debated.
D. Corruption and Financial Integrity
Corruption remains one of the most potent electoral issues in modern Indian history, acting as the catalyst for the political transition in
2014.
Focus Area The Congress/UPA Era The BJP/NDA Era
Nature of Scams Decentralized, retail, and resource- Allegations of structural/crony
allocation based (e.g., 2G Spectrum capitalism (e.g., Adani-Hindenburg
Scam, Coal Allocation Scam, controversy, Rafale deal defense
Commonwealth Games Scam). procurement allegations).
Political Funding Heavily reliant on unaccounted cash, Introduction of Electoral Bonds (2018),
briefcases, and opaque corporate which was struck down as
donations via trusts. unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
in 2024 for violating the right to
information.
Institutional Action Rise of civil society movements (India Unprecedented spike in investigations
Against Corruption), leading to the by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)
passage of the Lokpal and and CBI against political opponents.
Lokayuktas Act (2013).
Key Discussion Point: While the UPA era was marred by systemic scams exposed by the
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the current era faces intense debate regarding the
"weaponization" of central investigative agencies (ED, CBI, Income Tax) to target opposition
leaders, creating an uneven political playing field.
E. Administrative Governance and Institutional Autonomy
The efficiency of state machinery and the independence of checks-and-balances institutions
form the bedrock of democratic stability.
The Congress Era:
Policy Paralysis: The latter half of the UPA-II regime was widely criticized for "policy
paralysis"—a state where bureaucrats were hesitant to sign off on projects due to the
fear of investigative backlash following major scams.
Rights-Based Governance: The era excelled in institutionalizing a rights-based
framework for citizens, passing landmark legislations such as the Right to Information
(RTI) Act (2005), MGNREGA (2005), and the Right to Education (RTE) Act (2009).
The BJP Era:
Executive Drive and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Marked by a highly centralized,
efficient executive model. By bypassing bureaucratic red tape through the JAM Trinity
(Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar, Mobile linking), the government revolutionized welfare
delivery, drastically reducing leaks in subsidies.
Institutional Strain: Critics voice deep concerns over the systematic weakening of
institutional autonomy. The RTI Act was amended (reducing the independence of
Information Commissioners), the judiciary has faced public friction regarding
appointments (NJAC vs. Collegium system), and parliament has seen record
suspensions of opposition MPs alongside the passing of critical bills via voice votes
without parliamentary committee scrutiny.
4. Key Focus Areas for Deliberation
Delegates must center their arguments, documentation, and draft resolutions around the
following core questions:
1. Quantifying Democratic Health: How do we objectively measure democratic progress
when comparing a regime of consensus-driven "policy paralysis" against a regime of
centralized "executive efficiency" that faces allegations of democratic backsliding?
2. The Evolution of Corruption: Has India genuinely transitioned into a clean political
economy, or has corruption simply been institutionalized and legalized through complex
corporate-political funding mechanisms?
3. The Digital Democratic Deficit: What legislative and regulatory frameworks must the Lok
Sabha introduce to curb digital electoral malpractices, foreign interference, and
algorithm-driven polarization without infringing on free speech?
4. Safeguarding Federalism: How can we balance national security and uniform economic
policies (like GST) with the constitutional autonomy guaranteed to states under the basic
structure of the Constitution?
5. De-politicizing Central Agencies: What structural reforms are required to ensure that
oversight and investigative bodies (CBI, ED, ECI) function independently of the ruling
party’s executive influence?
5. Blueprint for Research & Preparation
To excel in this committee, delegates should look beyond standard news editorials and
ground their speeches in authoritative sources:
Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): Review historical reports on
spectrum/coal allocations alongside current reports on infrastructure spending (e.g.,
Dwarka Expressway costs).
Supreme Court Judgments: Analyze landmark rulings such as the Striking down of the
Electoral Bonds Scheme (2024), rulings on the Directorate of Enforcement’s powers
under PMLA, and judgments regarding the appointment of Election Commissioners.
Law Commission of India Reports: Review recommendations on electoral reforms,
simultaneous elections (One Nation, One Election), and hate speech laws.
Parliamentary Standing Committee Reports: Examine the legislative history and scrutiny
(or lack thereof) of major bills passed in both eras.
Delegates are urged to maintain parliamentary decorum. Remember, your objective is not just
to attack or defend a political party, but to perform a comprehensive legislative review that
proposes actionable, structural policy solutions for the future of Indian governance.