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In this article we will discuss about the political and economic institutions in India.
Political Institutions in India:
Society has social objectives and political system mobilises the total resources for achieving these objectives. The observance of values and norms, maintenance of law and order, and existence of power through re-organised channels and established processes is essential for stability and order with in the society.
The two main institutions which play significant role in maintaining social order in the society are:
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(i) State and
(ii) Government
The State is one of the most important agencies of social control. Government is an instrument of State through which it carries out its various policies.
Role of State and Government in Social Control:
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Following are main functions of a state as an agency of social control:
(i) Safeguards Fundamental Rights:
Freedom of speech, freedom to earn and maintain property, protection against exploitation etc. are some of the fundamental rights which are granted to every citizen and state safeguards them.
(ii) Regulates Family Relations:
State fixes up age of marriage, sets conditions for marriage, and defines rules of succession and mutual rights and duties of all members in a family. These rules fix up responsibility of looking after the children, wife and other member of the family.
(iii) Welfare Organisation:
Modern state makes policies to provide basic facilities to backward classes and tribes. At times one group is exploited by the other in society, and then it acts as welfare agency.
(iv) Control by Punishment:
State has power to give physical punishment to any criminal. Fear of punishment often checks the anti-social and illegal activities of the people.
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(v) Formulates Law:
In order to save society from splitting up into small vested interested groups, the State often formulates such laws as are essential for common welfare of society and it checks anti-social activities.
(vi) Spreads Education:
Most of the states are taking educational set up in their own hands to spread education to all—poor and rich. Different schemes are framed and scholarships are given to Backward Classes of Society.
(vii) Internal and External Protection:
With the help of Police, Army and Border Security Force (BSF) every State provides security against internal and external attacks.
(viii) Health Protection:
State sets up hospitals, maternity and child centres, dispensaries and health centres to protect its citizens against diseases. It also promotes family planning.
(ix) Miscellaneous Social Reforms:
It checks exploitation of a particular group e.g. It solves the problems of widows, dowry problems, child marriage and untouchability etc. by passing many acts.
If State can maintain law and order in society, then other institutions will also work effectively.
Economic Institutions in India:
Development of agriculture, commerce and industry necessitated elaborate marketing, exchange and greater investment of capital. All these economic processes affect social life too. Economy and society move in co-operation. Industrial revolution necessitated the setting up of big industries thus production on large scale also became possible which further required a change in distribution system. Specialisation and division of labour grow extensively and intensively in an industrialised society. Capitalism also grows fast along with it.
The economy is the institution that provides for:
(i) Production
(ii) Distribution and
(iii) Consumption of goods and services.
As with social institutions such as family, religion and government, the economic system shapes other aspects of social order and is in turn, influenced by them.
Basic Functions of Economy:
(a) Production:
Production refers to any activity which creates goods or renders services to satisfy human wants.
Different factors necessary to produce goods are:
(i) Natural Resources
(ii) Labour
(iii) Capital
(iv) Technology
(v) Entrepreneur and
(vi) Government
Ultimate end of all production is consumption. Consumption helps the economy to grow.
Consumption can be regulated through:
(i) Control on production and distribution
(ii) Advertising and Education
(iii) Legal restrictions by Government
(c) Distribution:
Distribution refers to the process by which the gross value of an economic good is divided among those who have contributed to its production. The one of the major functions which the economy provides for society is the distribution of goods and services among different individuals and groups of individuals.
The whole mechanism of distribution includes determination of the pattern of distribution by kinship, caste or religious affiliation or allocation may be by government control or through a price system. Wholesale and retail outlets, transportation and communication facilities all make contributions to the final distribution of the products.
(d) Property (Ownership):
Property is essentially part of distributive system. It consists of the rights and duties of one person or group as against all other persons and groups.