FLAME University’s Centre for Legislative Education and Research empowers young minds to shape India’s future through Mock Parliament with PRS
Pune: FLAME University recently held a mock parliament, for which the FLAME Centre for Legislative Education and Research and the Parliamentary Research Service (PRS) collaborated. The event drew over 100 students, divided into 25+ teams across 10 fields of study, including law, commerce, engineering, public policy, international relations, english, and liberal arts, from more than 10 different institutes in Pune.
Through the mock parliament, the students demonstrated their understanding of the legislative process. Conducted in English, Hindi, and Marathi, the event gave young ambitious minds an opportunity to take on the roles of legislators, ministers, and the Speaker, showcasing their skills and knowledge to better comprehend the workings of the Indian parliament.
The mock parliament started off with an icebreaker that was conducted by PRS. The Fields of View’s Constitution Exercise gave students an opportunity to understand the constitution’s various provisions, and the PRS-led Parliament Bootcamp provided them with the information and skills necessary to engage effectively in the mock parliament.
The second half of the day witnessed a mock parliament, starting with question hour, followed by resolution discussion and voting on universal basic income. The event culminated in bill discussion and voting on the Data Protection Bill, where each team answered as a ministry during the question hour. The participants showcased their expertise and abilities, leaving the audience in awe.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Maya Dodd, Faculty of Humanities, FLAME University, said, “FLAME Centre for Legislative Education and Research takes great pride in providing a platform for young minds to better understand the legislative process while simulating parliamentary sessions. We are thrilled to have collaborated with PRS on this event and to see our students showcase their skills and knowledge as they assumed the roles of legislators, ministers, and the Speaker. We believe that our youth has the potential to serve as future leaders and decision-makers, and we are committed to helping them develop the skills they need to make a positive impact on society.”
Also sharing his insights was Mr. M. R. Madhavan, President, PRS Legislative Research, who added, “We are thrilled to have collaborated with FLAME University for the mock parliament and to have been able to give our youth a stage to hold progressive conversations and debates about socially significant issues. The mock parliament stood witness to Indian youth’s potential as leaders and decision-makers, and the occasion was a resounding success.”
Saumya Gupta, Fellow at FLAME Centre for Legislative Research and Education, also shared her views and said, “It’s time we stopped engaging in frivolous understanding of parliament and parliamentarians. The lawmakers of this country need to be understood in detail. We at the FLAME Centre for Legislative Education and Research are precisely trying to do that.”
The event concluded with the award ceremony and brought the curtain down on a day full of learning, camaraderie, and fun. Students from Symbiosis Law School, Savitribai Phule University, Deccan Education Society’s Fergusson College, Modern College, and FLAME University won awards as best parliamentarians.